How to find hidden cameras

Do a slow visual sweep of anything that faces the bed, shower or toilet. Then turn off the lights and look for lens glints and tiny LEDs with a flashlight and your phone camera. On Airbnb, indoor security cameras are banned outright, so any indoor camera you find there breaks the rules.

Updated November 5, 2026 · Sources linked below

Where hidden cameras are usually placed

A camera needs a view and, usually, power. Check items with a clear line of sight to private areas: smoke detectors, alarm clocks, USB chargers and power strips, wall outlets, picture frames, air purifiers, speakers, TV boxes, decor on shelves, vents and stuffed toys. Be most suspicious of anything that's plugged in, faces the bed or shower, or looks out of place (two smoke detectors in one small room, say).

How to check, step by step

1. Visual sweep. Stand where you'd sleep or shower and look at what faces you. Look for pinholes, odd shiny dots or unusual cables.
2. Flashlight glint test. Turn off the lights and slowly sweep a bright flashlight across the room at eye level. Camera lenses often reflect a small, sharp glint.
3. Phone camera for infrared. Many night-vision cameras use infrared LEDs, which can show up as purple-white dots on a phone camera in a dark room. Test it first by pointing a TV remote at your phone: if you can see the remote's light on screen, your camera picks up IR. Some phones' rear cameras filter IR, so try the front camera too.
4. Check the Wi-Fi. Look at nearby network and device names. Many cameras connect over Wi-Fi, though plenty won't show obvious names.
5. Feel for warmth. Powered electronics run warm. An "ordinary" object that's warm is worth a closer look.
6. Cover or unplug anything suspicious in a room you're renting. Don't damage it, since it may be evidence.

Airbnb, hotels and rentals

Since April 30, 2024, Airbnb bans security cameras that monitor any indoor space in listings, even if they're disclosed or turned off. Hidden cameras have always been banned. Outdoor cameras must be disclosed and can't cover places like an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna. Violations can lead to listing or account removal (Airbnb newsroom, Airbnb policy). Hotel listings on Airbnb may still have cameras in indoor common areas such as lobbies, hallways and restaurants (Airbnb).

If you find one

• Photograph and video it in place, showing where it points.
• Leave if you feel unsafe.
• Report it to the platform (Airbnb, Vrbo, the hotel) and to local police, especially if it covers a bedroom or bathroom.
• Keep your booking records and messages.

At home or at work

If you think an ex-partner or someone you live with is recording you, the same checks apply. Also look at shared accounts for cameras, baby monitors and smart speakers, and check your phone for stalkerware. NNEDV's Safety Net project has a technology safety plan. Public cameras are a different issue. Those you can map: see plate readers and CCTV near you.