How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Your Airbnb and Protect Your Privacy

Introduction

Hidden cameras in Airbnb rentals have become an unsettling concern for travelers. Stories of guests discovering secret surveillance devices in their accommodations have made headlines, raising serious privacy issues. While Airbnb’s policies prohibit hosts from hiding cameras in private areas, a few bad actors have violated these rules, leaving unsuspecting guests feeling vulnerable. In this blog post, we’ll explore how real the hidden camera problem is, the common places these devices might be concealed, and how to detect hidden cameras in your Airbnb. By staying vigilant and using the right tools, you can protect your privacy during your stay.

Are Hidden Cameras in Airbnbs a Real Problem?

Airbnb officially bans any undisclosed cameras, especially in sensitive areas like bedrooms or bathrooms (Airbnb says sorry after man detects hidden camera with network scan – Sophos News). The vast majority of hosts follow the rules, and Airbnb emphasizes that incidents are extremely rare given the millions of stays booked (over 500 million guest arrivals to date) (More Than 1 in 10 Airbnb Guests Have Found Hidden Cameras: Survey - Inman). However, “rare” doesn’t mean nonexistent – and for the guests who do encounter a hidden camera, it’s a distressing and very real problem.

Recent surveys and reports reveal that concerns about hidden cameras aren’t just paranoia. In one survey of Airbnb guests, 58% said they worried hosts might have hidden cameras, and 11% of respondents actually reported finding a hidden camera during a stay (More Than 1 in 10 Airbnb Guests Have Found Hidden Cameras: Survey - Inman). There have been several notable cases in the news as well. For example, a family on vacation in Ireland discovered a live-streaming camera cleverly camouflaged as a smoke detector in the living room of their Airbnb (Airbnb says sorry after man detects hidden camera with network scan – Sophos News). In another case, Florida police arrested an Airbnb host in 2017 after guests found a camera hidden in a bedroom smoke alarm (How to Scan Your Airbnb for Hidden Cameras – Travel – Welcome to Lawyers’ Arena Forum). These incidents show that, although most stays are safe, hidden cameras in rentals do happen – so it’s wise to be aware and know how to check for them.

Common Places Where Hidden Cameras Might Be Found

If a host were to hide a camera, where might they put it? Spy cameras today can be incredibly small and disguised as ordinary household items. Here are some common places and objects where hidden cameras are often concealed:

• Smoke Detectors and Fire Alarms: A popular hiding spot is inside a smoke detector on the ceiling. These devices are positioned for a wide view of the room, and a tiny pinhole camera can be installed behind the plastic cover. Always inspect smoke alarms, especially if they look unusual or have an extra lens or LED light that doesn’t belong. (In suspicious cases, you might even notice two smoke detectors in one room when only one is needed – a giveaway of a possible spycam setup.)
• Electrical Outlets and Chargers: Fake outlet plates or USB charging blocks can house small cameras. If you see an outlet or nightlight positioned strangely (such as directly facing a bed or shower), it could contain a camera. Similarly, that innocent phone charger plugged into the wall could be a covert camera recording to a memory card.
• Clocks and Electronics: Hidden camera manufacturers often embed lenses in alarm clocks, wall clocks, Wi-Fi routers, digital photo frames, or speakers. These items naturally sit on shelves or nightstands and blend in. Check any clock or gadget that’s pointed at the living area or seems bulkier than usual for its type.
• Mirrors: A two-way mirror can hide a camera behind the glass. In bathrooms or bedrooms, a suspiciously placed mirror (especially if it’s fixed to the wall) might conceal a lens. You can perform the “fingernail test” by touching your finger to the mirror – if there’s no gap between your finger and its reflection, the mirror could be two-way (and worth inspecting) (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App).
• Decorative Items: Household decor can be hiding spots too. Things like stuffed animals, potted plants, picture frames, air fresheners, books, or even screws in the wall can contain tiny cameras (Many Airbnbs have cameras installed, especially in the US, Canada and Singapore - VPNOverview.com). For instance, a teddy bear in the bedroom or a random decorative LED can be more than it appears. Keep an eye out for anything with an odd hole or that seems purposely angled.

(Many Airbnbs have cameras installed, especially in the US, Canada and Singapore - VPNOverview.com) Hidden cameras can be disguised in everyday objects – from clocks and toys to plant pots – without arousing suspicion (Many Airbnbs have cameras installed, especially in the US, Canada and Singapore - VPNOverview.com). Always be curious about items that seem out of place or overly positioned towards private spaces.

The key takeaway is that hidden cameras come in all shapes and sizes. If something in your Airbnb looks strangely placed, points toward where private activities occur, or has an unexplained hole or dark glassy area, treat it with caution. A bit of detective work during your initial walkthrough can go a long way in spotting covert devices.

How to Detect Hidden Cameras in an Airbnb

Suspecting that a rental might have a hidden camera is unsettling, but there are effective ways to check your Airbnb for hidden surveillance. By combining physical inspection with a few tech tricks, you can sweep the space for any secret cameras. Here are the best methods to detect hidden cameras:

Visual Inspection

Your first line of defense is a thorough visual sweep of the rental space. Take a slow walk through each room and inspect everything that looks even slightly out of the ordinary. Use these tips during your inspection:

• Look for odd objects or placements: Scan shelves, countertops, and furniture for any gadget or decoration that seems out of place or unnecessary. An alarm clock facing the bed in a room that already has one, or a new smoke detector in an odd spot, could be a red flag (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App). Trust your instincts if something just doesn’t seem to belong.
• Check for tiny lenses or LEDs: Hidden cameras need a line of sight. Watch for any small, glassy pinhole—often the size of a pencil tip—or a subtle reflection off a lens. Also note any small LED lights (especially if they’re glowing or blinking when the room is dark) (Does Your Airbnb Have Hidden Cameras? Here's How to Check | PCMag). A camera might have a tiny indicator light that wasn’t fully disabled by the person who installed it.
• Examine mirrors: As mentioned, do a fingernail test on mirrors in private areas (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App). Also see if wall mirrors can be moved or looked behind. If a mirror is actually a two-way glass, you might notice a void or room on the other side when shining a flashlight at it. Tap on the mirror as well – a two-way mirror often produces a slightly hollow or different sound than a normal mirror.
• Use a flashlight in dark rooms: Turn off the lights and close the curtains, making the room as dark as possible. Then slowly sweep a flashlight (or your phone’s flashlight) around each area (Many Airbnbs have cameras installed, especially in the US, Canada and Singapore - VPNOverview.com). Move the beam slowly and watch for any bright glint or reflection bouncing back. Even a tiny camera lens can reflect light and show up as a flicker or sparkle when hit by a flashlight beam (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App). Pay extra attention to suspicious objects you noted earlier—shine the light directly on them from various angles.
• Listen for unusual sounds: In total silence, see if you can hear any faint electrical humming or clicking noises (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App). Some older or cheap hidden cameras emit a slight buzz or tick when operating (for example, an autofocus or IR filter click). It’s a subtle clue, but your ears might pick up something your eyes miss.

(Who’s Watching? Simple Ways To Spot Hidden Cameras - Housely) Making the room dark and scanning with a bright flashlight can reveal the reflective glint of a hidden camera lens that’s otherwise hard to spot. Thoroughly inspect any object that bounces back light or seems suspicious.

Take your time with the visual inspection – this “low-tech” approach can often detect concealed cameras if you know what to look for. Check vents, smoke detectors, curtain rods, or anyplace a small device could be peeking out. Often, your intuition and a flashlight are your best friends in spotting a hidden lens.

Using a Smartphone

Your smartphone is a powerful tool to help sweep for spy cameras in two ways: scanning for devices on the network and detecting infrared lights. Here’s how to leverage your phone:

• Scan the Wi-Fi network: Many hidden cameras (especially Wi-Fi cameras) will be connected to the Airbnb’s local network to stream or send footage. Upon arrival, connect to the rental’s Wi-Fi and use a network scanning app on your phone (popular options include Fing, Angry IP Scanner, or similar) to see all devices on the network (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App) (Many Airbnbs have cameras installed, especially in the US, Canada and Singapore - VPNOverview.com). Look for any odd device names or manufacturers that you don’t recognize. For instance, if you see a camera brand or an IP camera listed, that’s a huge warning sign. Also check if there are multiple networks; some hosts might hide cameras on a second private network (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App). (If you find an unknown device, you could temporarily unplug the Wi-Fi router after your scan to see if any “hidden” second network signals disappear as well.)
• Check Bluetooth devices: Similarly, put your phone in Bluetooth scanning mode and see if there are any strange Bluetooth signals or device names nearby (Many Airbnbs have cameras installed, especially in the US, Canada and Singapore - VPNOverview.com). Some wireless cameras or bugs might show up here. If you see an ID that doesn’t match any of your own devices, it could be a clue. It might just be a neighbor’s speaker, but it’s worth noting anything unexpected.
• Use your phone’s camera to detect infrared: A lot of hidden cameras (especially those meant to work in the dark) use infrared (IR) LEDs for night vision. IR light is invisible to our eyes, but smartphone cameras can often pick it up. To test this, first point your phone’s camera at a TV remote and press a button – you should see the remote’s IR emitter blinking on your screen. Now, in a dark room, use your phone’s front-facing camera (the front cam usually has less IR filtering) and slowly pan around the room (Does Your Airbnb Have Hidden Cameras? Here's How to Check | PCMag). Look on your screen for any small, bright purple or white light that appears – that could be an IR LED from a hidden camera (Does Your Airbnb Have Hidden Cameras? Here's How to Check | PCMag). This technique won’t catch cameras that don’t use IR, but it can occasionally catch a stealthy lens that your eyes would miss in the dark.

(Who’s Watching? Simple Ways To Spot Hidden Cameras - Housely) Using your smartphone’s connectivity scanners can help uncover hidden devices. For example, apps like Fing show all gadgets on the Wi-Fi network – any unknown device listed could be a hidden camera broadcasting footage (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App).

One important note: Not every hidden camera will show up on a network scan (some might record locally to an SD card), and not all will use infrared. So while your smartphone can drastically improve your odds of finding something, it’s not foolproof on its own. Use it in combination with a careful visual inspection.

Using a Hidden Camera Detector

The most comprehensive method to find hidden cameras is to use a dedicated Hidden Camera Detector device (this is a specialized gadget designed to locate spy cameras – internal link to product page here). These detectors are the same tools security professionals use, and they can greatly simplify the process of catching any concealed cameras.

How do they work? Most hidden camera detectors use one (or both) of the following techniques:

• RF (Radio Frequency) Detection: Many spy cameras transmit video or audio wirelessly via radio signals (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other RF). An RF scanner will pick up the electromagnetic signals from these transmitting cameras and alert you via beeps or visual indicators. It’s basically a bug sweeper. However, note that pure RF detectors can miss cameras that aren’t actively transmitting (for example, a camera that only records to a memory card) ( Scout Hidden Camera Detector for AirBNB, hotels, & more | SpyGuy.com ).
• Lens Reflection Detection: This is a clever optical technique. Detectors like the Scout (or similar spy-camera finders) emit a bright flashing LED light and use a filtered viewfinder. When you peer through the detector and scan it around the room, any hidden camera lens will bounce the red light back and appear as a blinking dot through the viewfinder ( Scout Hidden Camera Detector for AirBNB, hotels, & more | SpyGuy.com ). Essentially, it makes a camera’s lens light up bright red to your eyes, no matter if the camera is on or off. This method can reveal even completely offline, battery-powered cameras because it targets the physical lens itself.

Using a dedicated detector is straightforward: you power it on, slowly sweep it across all areas of the room (paying attention to the same spots you’d inspect visually), and watch/listen for alerts. These devices are highly sensitive and can quickly differentiate a phone or router signal from a hidden spy cam signal. Many detectors combine both RF and lens-finder functions for maximum coverage. In practice, a good hidden camera detector will find any type of camera – wired or wireless, active or dormant – giving you peace of mind ( Scout Hidden Camera Detector for AirBNB, hotels, & more | SpyGuy.com ).

For travelers who are especially concerned about privacy, investing in a quality hidden camera detector is worth it. It’s portable and easy to use, and it’s the most effective solution to sweep a room quickly. (This is a great place to include an internal link to your “Hidden Camera Detector” product, highlighting it as an essential travel accessory.)

What to Do If You Find a Hidden Camera

So you’ve done a scan of your Airbnb and to your dismay, you do find a hidden camera (or something that unquestionably looks like one). What next? It’s important to act calmly but decisively to protect yourself and properly report the incident. Here are the steps you should take:

1. Don’t panic, but document immediately: Take clear photos and videos of the device from multiple angles (Does Your Airbnb Have Hidden Cameras? Here's How to Check | PCMag). Make sure you capture identifying details: where it was hidden, what it looks like, any wires or markings. This evidence is crucial. Do not remove or turn off the camera just yet; document it first in case it somehow “disappears” later. Also note the time you found it and any interactions (e.g., if it’s actively recording with a light).
2. Disable the device (cover or unplug it): After documenting, you’ll want to stop it from recording you any further. If it’s obviously plugged in, unplug it. If it’s a battery device or hard to reach, simply cover the lens thoroughly with tape, a towel, or move it to face a wall. This is to secure your immediate privacy. Be careful not to damage the device – it’s evidence now – but do what’s needed to block its view.
3. Report it to Airbnb (and possibly the host): Contact Airbnb customer support right away to report that you’ve found an undisclosed camera in your rental. Airbnb’s policy forbids this behavior, and they should assist in relocating you and investigating the host (How to Detect Hidden Cameras in Airbnb Rentals with Fing App). You can message or call Airbnb’s safety team; sending them the photos you took will help expedite the case. If you feel comfortable, you can also notify the host through the Airbnb app – though if the host is the one who planted it, they will likely deny it or feign surprise. In many cases, Airbnb will instruct you on how to proceed and might reach out to the host themselves.
4. Leave or secure your surroundings: If the camera was found in a sensitive spot (bedroom or bathroom), strongly consider ending your stay early. Airbnb will often help re-book you somewhere else and remove the offending listing. Your safety and peace of mind come first, so relocating is wise if you don’t feel safe. If the camera is in a common area and you choose to stay, ensure any other potential devices are also covered or removed. At minimum, have a frank conversation with the host via Airbnb messaging about the violation (for documentation).
5. Involve law enforcement if necessary: In many jurisdictions, hiding a camera to record guests without consent is illegal (criminal voyeurism). If the situation is egregious – say, a camera in the bathroom or evidence footage was captured – you should contact local police to file a report. Provide them with the evidence you gathered. In the 2017 Florida case, for example, the guest’s report led to the host’s arrest for voyeurism (How to Scan Your Airbnb for Hidden Cameras – Travel – Welcome to Lawyers’ Arena Forum). Law enforcement can advise you on your rights and help prevent the host from doing the same to future guests. Even if you decide not to call police on the spot, you can inform Airbnb that you intend to file a police report; this will escalate the case on their end too.

Remember to keep all communication with the host on the Airbnb platform for record-keeping. Airbnb may ban a host who violates the camera policy, but bringing in the police is sometimes warranted for your protection and to hold the person accountable under law. After the incident, Airbnb’s safety team will usually follow up with you – be honest and thorough in recounting what happened. Your actions could protect future guests.

Preventive Measures for Future Stays

Finding a hidden camera is a worst-case scenario, but there are steps you can take before and during future bookings to reduce the chances of it ever happening again. Here are some preventive measures to ensure your next Airbnb stay is worry-free:

• Research your host and read reviews: Before booking, carefully read the listing description for any mention of security cameras. Hosts are required to disclose all cameras (indoor and outdoor) on the property. Check the reviews from past guests – if anyone had privacy concerns or found something fishy, those reviews might mention it. A history of positive reviews and no red flags is a good sign. When in doubt, you can even message the host to ask if there are any cameras in the home (and gauge their response).
• Choose reputable listings: If privacy is a big concern, opt for “Superhost” listings or those with many reviews, as these hosts have a track record to uphold. Avoid new listings with no reviews, or at least be extra thorough in examining those if you try them. Additionally, booking an “Entire place” (as opposed to a room in someone’s home) means no one should be remotely monitoring common areas either, aside from perhaps a doorbell camera at most.
• Do a self check-in inspection: When you arrive, take 15–20 minutes to sweep the space using the methods described above. It may feel odd to play detective on your vacation, but a one-time check can save you nights of stress. Turn off lights, use your flashlight, look in the places we listed, and make sure you’re alone. This has become a common routine for many savvy travelers.
• Use a Hidden Camera Detector for peace of mind: As an extra layer of security, consider traveling with a hidden camera detector device (like the one we highlighted above – insert internal link). Before settling in, scan the rooms with the detector. This quick step can immediately alert you to any covert devices, and you’ll rest easier. Think of it as a small investment in privacy for all your future travels, not just Airbnb but hotels and rentals in general.
• Cover up and unplug if unsure: In any rental, if you notice a device that concerns you (say, a weird USB adapter facing the bed), you can always unplug it or cover it temporarily. For example, many travelers now put a sticky note or tape over laptop webcams and other built-in cameras during their stay. It might be unlikely that the smart TV or thermostat is spying on you – but if it makes you more comfortable, there’s no harm in covering a camera lens or disconnecting a device as long as you plug it back in before checkout. Your privacy is paramount.

By taking these precautions, you greatly minimize the risk of unpleasant surprises. Being a bit cautious does not mean you have to be paranoid; think of it as a routine security check, just like locking the doors at night. Most hosts will respect your privacy, but it never hurts to verify and trust your own sweep for absolute assurance.

Conclusion

Hidden cameras in Airbnbs are not extremely common, but they are a real concern that every traveler should be aware of. The good news is that with vigilance and the right tactics, you can detect and deter prying eyes. In this article, we discussed how to spot suspicious objects and use simple tools like your smartphone – as well as the benefits of a dedicated Hidden Camera Detector – to find any hidden cameras in a rental. Always remember to thoroughly check your accommodation when you arrive, and don’t hesitate to report anything unusual. Your privacy and peace of mind are worth the effort.

By staying informed and prepared, you can confidently enjoy your vacation rental without fear. Safe travels, and may your future Airbnb experiences be camera-free and stress-free! If you want an extra layer of security on your next trip, be sure to check out our Hidden Camera Detector (your go-to gadget for privacy protection on the road) – so you can always sleep soundly, knowing your space is truly private.