How Do I Check My Hotel Room for Hidden Cameras?

To check a hotel room or Airbnb for hidden cameras, scan for lens reflections using a flashlight or phone camera in a darkened room, check for unusual Bluetooth or Wi-Fi devices connected to the room's network, and physically inspect common hiding spots like smoke detectors, alarm clocks, outlets, and decor facing the bed or bathroom. A dedicated detection app like YourSweep can do all three in under a minute.

Why "just check the smoke detector" isn't enough

Most travel advice stops at checking obvious spots — smoke detectors, mirrors, alarm clocks. But hidden cameras have gotten smaller, cheaper, and easier to disguise. They now show up in phone chargers, picture frames, air purifiers, and even screw heads. A visual-only check misses:

• Wireless cameras broadcasting over Wi-Fi, which don't need a visible lens position near you at all
• Devices with IR (infrared) capability, invisible to the naked eye but detectable through a phone camera in low light
• Bluetooth-connected cameras and trackers that don't show up in any physical search, only in a device scan

A thorough check requires combining a physical scan with a wireless scan — most travelers only do the first, if they do one at all.

The 3-part check

1. Flashlight / reflection method — Turn off the lights, use your phone's camera or a flashlight, and slowly scan the room. Camera lenses reflect light back distinctly — look for small, consistent glints, especially in objects facing the bed or bathroom.
2. Wireless network scan — Check what's connected to the room's Wi-Fi and scan for nearby Bluetooth devices. Unfamiliar device names, especially ones broadcasting continuously, are a red flag.
3. Physical inspection — Check high-risk spots directly: smoke detectors, alarm clocks, outlets, USB chargers left in the room, decor items, and vents — anything with a direct line of sight to the bed, shower, or changing area.

How YourSweep automates this

Doing all three checks manually takes time most travelers don't spend — which is exactly why so few actually do it. YourSweep runs the flash/IR reflection scan, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi network scan, and even checks for NFC key card tampering on the room's door lock, all from one app, in under a minute.

About YourSweep

YourSweep is a travel privacy app that detects hidden cameras, Bluetooth trackers, rogue Wi-Fi networks, and tampered NFC key cards. It's rated 5.0 on the App Store and 4.3 on Google Play, holds a Top 10 Travel App badge, and is used in 177 countries. It's live on iOS and Android, bootstrapped and built by travelers rather than a corporate team.

• iOS: $8.99/month or $89.99/year
• Android: $49.99/year
• Free trial code: FREESUMMER (Android, 7 days)