How to Find Hidden Cameras

This wikiHow teaches you how to find hidden cameras in your house or building. Even though hidden cameras are incredibly small and easy to hide, there are a few techniques you can use to search for them under the right conditions.

EditSteps

EditUsing Basic Techniques

1. Know where to look. Unfortunately, hidden cameras can be as small as the end of a pen, making it easy to hide them virtually anywhere. When searching a room for hidden cameras, look in places such as the following:^[1]
   
   • Smoke detectors
   • Electrical outlets
   • Power strips
   • Night lights
   • Books, DVD cases, or video game cases
   • Shelves
   • Small holes in the wall
   • Pictures or other decorations
   • Stuffed animals
   • Lava lamps
2. Understand what part of the camera to look for. Most of the camera will usually be hidden, but the camera's lens must always be visible for the camera to be effective. This means that you can always spot a camera by looking for its lens.
   
   • Any camera installed by an expert will not display wires or lights, but the lens must be visible.
3. Consider the best angle for coverage in a room. It's easiest to search for the camera from the perspective of someone wanting to record the center of activity in a room; for example, if you're worried someone is recording your kitchen, it doesn't make much sense to look for the camera in the floorboards.
   
   • Corners of rooms often provide the best picture of the whole room, though cameras placed in the corner are often less inconspicuous than most hidden cameras.
4. Look for oddly placed mirrors or decorations. While things like stuffed animals and books can be placed pretty much anywhere, mirrors and decorations (e.g., pictures or paintings) often aren't. If you see a mirror or decoration at a weird height or in an otherwise odd location, there may be a hidden camera embedded.^[2]
   
   • You can check to see if a mirror is a two-way to confirm whether or not a camera is embedded. If the mirror is a two-way, it's suspicious at the very least.
5. Check stuffed animals and clocks. The eyes of stuffed animals and the screws or details on clocks can often conceal a camera.
   
   • Since both stuffed animals and clocks are easy to move, consider removing them from your vicinity if you suspect that they house cameras.
6. Turn off the lights to search for camera indicators. Most cameras have red or green lights which blink or display steadily; if the hidden cameras were poorly installed, you may be able to see these lights when you turn off the room's lights.
   
   • Chances are slim that anyone who installed hidden cameras was too sloppy to hide the camera's indicator lights, so don't rule out hidden cameras if you don't see any.
7. Create a DIY camera detector. Professional camera detectors can cost several hundred dollars, but you can make a cheap one with nothing but a paper towel and a flash light:^[3]
   
   • Turn off all the lights in the room, and draw the blinds (or wait until nightfall).
   • Hold up a paper towel roll to one eye, then close the other eye.
   • Place a flashlight at eye level (in front of the closed eye) and turn on the flashlight.
   • Scan the room, keeping an eye out for glints as you do so.
8. Use your cell phone to scan for interference. This isn't a perfect system, but it will help you find certain types of cameras:
   
   • Make a call on your cell phone, and leave the caller on the line.
   • Walk around the room with your phone on speakerphone.
   • Listen for crackling, clicking, or buzzing from your phone.
9. Purchase and use an RF detector. An RF detector allows you to scan for hidden cameras by physically sweeping the detector around a room and listening for feedback; if you hear sudden crackling or beeping through the detector, there's a good chance you'll find a hidden camera in front of it.
   
   • When using an RF detector, you'll need to unplug any items which broadcast radio signals. These include things like kitchen appliances, baby monitors, routers and modems, gaming consoles, TVs, and so on.
   • You may need to cycle through several different frequencies before you find the correct one.
   • RF detectors can be found anywhere from electronics stores to Amazon, and you can expect to spend between $15 and $300 on one.
10. Search for public cameras. While public cameras tend to be less nefarious and more conspicuous than their personal counterparts, it may be good to know where the nearest "hidden" camera is if you're attempting to dispute a traffic incident or something similar. You can usually find cameras in the following locations:
    
    • ATMs
    • Store ceilings
    • Two-way mirrors in stores and high-profile shops (e.g., jewelry fronts)
    • Gas stations
    • Traffic lights

EditUsing Your Smartphone's Front Camera

1. Open your smartphone's Camera app. On an iPhone, you'll usually find this app on the Home Screen, while Android users can search for the Camera app in the App Drawer.
   
2. Switch to the front-facing camera. If the camera isn't showing your face while you hold the screen side facing you, tap the "Rotate" icon (which usually resembles a circular arrow or two) to flip it.
   
   • You can't perform this process with the rear camera.
3. Verify that your smartphone can see infrared light. In order to search for hidden cameras, your smartphone's front camera cannot have an infrared filter. You can determine whether the camera has an IR filter by using a TV remote:
   
   • Point a remote control at the camera.
   • Press any button on the remote control.
   • Look for a flash on the remote control's front light.
4. Turn off the lights in the room you want to scan. In order to scan for infrared light, you'll need to have the room as dark as possible.
   
   • If there are any other lights in room (e.g., night lights, power strip indicators, etc.), unplug their sources if possible.
5. Use your smartphone's camera to look for flashing lights. With your phone's screen facing you, rotate while looking for flashing spots. If you see a flashing area, it's most likely a hidden camera's IR light.
   

EditTips

• Wireless cameras operate with a wireless transmitter and tend to be bit larger because they contain the wireless transmitter. These can operate on a battery and be transmittable to a recording device within a range of about 200 feet (60.96 m). This type can be popular for people looking to spy on other individuals.^[4]
• Perform the same discrete visual checks and sweeps in hotels and in workplaces. In a workplace and in other business settings, realize that dummy cameras may be set up to intimidate you into good behavior.
• Hardwired cameras are typically the kind used in businesses to prevent crime. These can connect with a recording device or with television monitors.

EditWarnings

• If you do find a hidden camera in your home or office, it's best to contact authorities immediately.
• There are several paid smartphone apps which claim to sense cameras. These apps often have poor reviews and even poorer performance, so steer clear of them.

EditRelated wikiHows

• Detect Hidden Cameras and Microphones
• Build a Hidden Camera Detector
• Tell if a Mirror Is Two Way or Not

EditSources and Citations

EditQuick Summary

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