Have reason to be suspicious of a partner or employer? Feel that someone is watching you, perhaps with a hidden camera?

You could discover the truth if only you knew how to detect hidden cameras. Fortunately, hidden camera detector apps are available to help you find hidden surveillance cameras using just your smartphone.

Ready to find those secret cameras?

You Are Being Watched by a Hidden Camera

Someone is watching you. This is pretty much irrefutable in the post-Snowden era. But digital surveillance of emails and telephone records is less hair-raising than someone observing your movements via a hidden camera.

It's unlikely that you have never been filmed out in public. You have almost certainly been caught on CCTV. You might even have been filmed from distance on a TV news report. Over the years it has become less surprising as we've become more accepting of closed-circuit cameras, security cameras, and more. You're probably not comfortable with this, but you can at least accept it as part of keeping society safe.

Hidden cameras in offices, hotel rooms, Airbnb, and even your home are a different matter, however.

While the clip above shows James Bond looking for hidden microphones, 60 years later cameras can be expected to be found in many of the same places.

5 Ways Smartphones Can Detect Hidden Cameras

While it might seem more suited to a James Bond gadget, you can use your smartphone to detect hidden cameras. These methods are used to find secret cameras:

  1. Detecting electromagnetic fields. This type of app detects magnetic fields. You need to have an idea of where the camera might be positioned, however. If a strong field is detected, it is likely there is a camera secreted within the wall or object.
  2. Detecting light reflecting from a lens. This is a less reliable approach. However, this type of app is still worth having, if only to find small objects dropped on a carpet.
  3. Detecting infrared (IR) equipped cameras. Surveillance cameras intended for low-light and nighttime recording use IR. Many smartphone cameras can detect IR camera beams.
  4. Find and detect Bluetooth cameras. These may also be used to observe your actions.
  5. Use Wi-Fi to spot networked cameras. This won’t necessarily show you where the cameras are, but it will tell you that wireless cameras are in use.

How exactly do you use these methods to find a hidden camera with your phone?

1. Mobile Apps That Can Detect Hidden Cameras EM Fields

Dedicated mobile apps are available that can detect a camera using the hidden device’s electromagnetic (EM) field.

You'll find hidden camera apps for Android and iPhone in the corresponding app stores. Whichever app you choose, you'll be able to detect cameras and speakers, perhaps even hidden computers.

Find a Hidden Camera With an Android App

Several apps are available for discovering hidden surveillance cameras on Android. Such apps generally work in the same way: proximity to a camera or other surveillance device is displayed. There should be enough information provided to give you an idea as to where the device is hidden.

We tried the Hidden Camera Detector app on Android. After starting the app, it displays a red glow when the smartphone is in the proximity of a camera. Use the direction of the red glow to find the position of the camera.

Download: Hidden Camera Detector (Free)

iOS Apps For Finding a Hidden Camera

Need a hidden camera app for your iPhone? iPhone spy camera detector apps are all affordable and easy to use. DontSpy 2 is similar to Hidden Camera Detector and works in largely the same way.

Download: DontSpy 2 - detector ($1.99)

2. Apps for Finding Hidden Camera Lenses

Couple in bed being observed

Camera lenses reflect light. As such, you can use a mobile app to detect reflections that indicate a covert camera.

Android users can employ the free Glint Finder, designed to spot reflections from lenses.

Download: Glint Finder (Free)

Meanwhile, iPhone owners can try Hidden Camera Detector (unrelated to the Android app mentioned above). This is a feature-packed tool that has been highlighted on broadcast news shows.

Download: Hidden Camera Detector (Free, in-app purchases)

3. Detect IR-Equipped Surveillance Cameras

Many spy cameras use infrared to view activity in low light. Fortunately, these can be detected without a third party app. All you need is your smartphone’s camera app.

To find this type of spy camera, switch off all the lights, then activate the camera app. Scan around the room to see if any white or pulsing dots or light can be spotted. Such a light would be invisible to the naked eye. Once you find the light, you’ve found your spy cam.

Note that not all smartphone cameras can detect IR light. To check your phone’s reliability for this:

  1. Find an IR remote control
  2. Launch the camera app on your phone
  3. Point the phone, so it views the small bulb on the remote control (or the shiny black end panel)
  4. Set the camera app to record
  5. Point the remote control at the phone, pressing the buttons
  6. A white light should be seen when the buttons are pressed

If this works, you can use the phone’s camera to detect covert IR cameras. Use both the main and the front facing camera to find this type of camera.

4. How to Find Bluetooth Cameras With Your Phone

There is a small chance that Bluetooth cameras might be in use. If you suspect this to be the case, or just want to check, enable Bluetooth on your phone.

Scan for available devices, and note the names of anything that is listed. Run a web search for those names to see if they resemble any known camera products.

5. Detect Covert Wi-Fi Cameras

Again, no third party tools are necessarily required for Wi-Fi cameras. All you need to do is enable Wi-Fi on your phone and look for anything nearby that clearly isn’t a router. You’re looking for a camera or Internet of Things (IoT) device)

However, this isn’t guaranteed to work. Wireless networks can be hidden, which is when you need to turn to a Wi-Fi analyzer app. These tools can detect even hidden wireless networks.

Some hidden camera detection apps are designed to find wireless cameras. Apple iPhone users can again employ Hidden Camera Detector, or Hidden Spy Camera Detector. This is a paid app that covers all bases but is particularly useful for Wi-Fi camera detection.

Download: Hidden Spy Camera Detector for iPhone ($2.99)

Finding Covert Surveillance Cameras With a Smartphone

Note that when using these apps, you should first be sure that you know what technology is in the room. TVs, computers, smart assistants (such as the Amazon Echo) and other hardware can interfere.

You should also be aware that cameras can be hidden in almost anything. Key examples include:

  • Smoke detectors
  • Electrical outlets
  • Night lights
  • Fake books or DVDs
  • Pens
  • Stuffed toys
  • Clocks
  • ...And many others

As camera technology is so small, the possibilities for hidden cameras are almost endless. In short, if you can think of a place, a camera can be secreted there.

Finding a camera requires you to hold the phone correctly. Holding it flat like a remote control probably won’t work, due to where the phone’s sensors are placed. Note that removing your phone from the case will improve hidden camera detection.

What to Do When You Find a Hidden Camera

If you detect a hidden camera with your mobile phone, what should you do about it?

Well, you could always take it to a higher authority, but in the meantime, you might wish to act to protect against spying.

Note, however, that the problem with this is as soon as you do this, you may well alert the observer to your realization.

However, if you're determined to remain unobserved, employ masking tape or adhesive putty to cover the lens. Alternatively, conduct affairs beyond the camera's viewing angle.

For cameras possibly hidden high up, in light bulbs or smoke detectors, staying out of sight can be difficult.

Concerned About Covert Cameras? Use Your Phone

Hidden cameras are an increasing concern for personal privacy. Being viewed as a faceless shopper is one thing; having your every move scrutinized by a hidden observer is altogether different.

A combination of personal vigilance and free and inexpensive mobile apps can help you spot covert surveillance. Whether at home, in a hotel, in the office, or an Airbnb or other location, if a hidden camera is in use, you should be able to find it.