Guides·Privacy

How to Find Hidden Cameras in an Airbnb (and What to Do If You Find One)

Indoor cameras are banned on Airbnb and Vrbo. Here is a quick sweep you can do when you arrive, and the steps to take if something is watching you.

By The Renter’s Court · Updated October 22, 2026

Since April 30, 2024, Airbnb has not allowed hosts to have security cameras or recording devices that monitor any indoor space, including hallways, bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms, even if they are turned off (Airbnb camera policy; Airbnb announcement). Exterior cameras are allowed only if disclosed in the listing, and never in places like an enclosed outdoor shower or sauna. Vrbo says interior cameras are not allowed on its platform either (VrboCare).

Rules do not stop everyone. Police in one Maryland county said guests renting an Airbnb room found hidden cameras inside smoke detectors. Read the report. A quick sweep when you arrive takes about ten minutes.

Before you book

Read the listing’s safety and property section for disclosed exterior cameras and noise monitors. Airbnb requires hosts to disclose exterior cameras and where they point.
Noise decibel monitors are allowed inside if disclosed, but not in bedrooms or bathrooms, and they may not record audio.
If a listing mentions any indoor camera at all, it breaks Airbnb’s rules. Book somewhere else and report it.

The 10-minute sweep

1. Think like a camera

Security experts interviewed by The Washington Post suggest starting with plugged-in objects, then sweeping with your phone’s flashlight (Washington Post). Anything that needs power, sits near the bed or bathroom, and has a clear view is worth a close look.

2. Check the usual hiding spots

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, especially extra ones or ones in odd places.
Alarm clocks, USB chargers and power strips plugged in near the bed.
Smart speakers, air purifiers, picture frames, tissue boxes and decor on shelves.
Vents, light fixtures, and anything with a small hole or a dark glossy dot.
Bathroom items: towel hooks, mirrors, toiletry holders.

Look for tiny lenses, small holes that serve no purpose, unexpected cables, or a device that is warm or has a small light.

3. Use your phone flashlight

Wirecutter’s privacy and security editor told NPR his first step is to take a flashlight to the private areas and look for the reflection a camera lens makes, which often looks bluish (NPR). Turn off the lights, close the curtains, hold your phone flashlight near your eyes and sweep slowly. Look for a pinpoint of light that stays in the same place as you move.

4. Look for infrared light in the dark

Cameras with night vision use infrared lights. With all the lights off, some show a small glowing red dot, as the same NPR interview notes. Your phone camera can make infrared easier to see: open the camera app in the dark room and scan slowly. Some phones filter infrared on the rear camera, so try the front camera too.

5. Check the Wi-Fi network

If you connect to the rental’s Wi-Fi, a network scanning app can list connected devices. Names that include a camera brand are worth a closer look. A clean scan does not prove there is no camera, since some record to a memory card or use their own connection, but it can catch the obvious ones.

6. Detector gadgets

Detector apps and inexpensive RF or lens detectors exist. They can help, but they give false alarms from glass and ordinary electronics, and the editor NPR spoke with said he finds a flashlight easier and more reliable than the apps. Treat gadgets as one tool, not a guarantee.

If you find a camera

Do not destroy it. Take photos and video of the device where you found it, showing what it points at. This is evidence.
Cover it or unplug it if you need privacy right away, and photograph it again after.
Leave if you feel unsafe. Your safety comes first. Do not confront the host in person.
Report it to the platform immediately through the app or Help Center (Contact Airbnb). Airbnb says violations can lead to listing or account removal. Ask to be rebooked and refunded under its not-as-described process.
Call the police, especially for a camera in a bedroom or bathroom. Recording people in private spaces is a crime in many places.
Keep everything in writing: the support thread, the police report number, and your photos.

Your money and your stay

Airbnb’s refund policy covers stays with safety hazards or that are significantly different from the listing, and asks guests to report within 72 hours (Airbnb Rebooking and Refund Policy). A hidden camera is a serious violation, so be clear and firm. If the platform will not help, see our refund guide for card disputes and complaints.

Tell other renters

If it happened to you, it may have happened to others in the same place. Report your stay. We never publish names or locations from guest reports, but we use them privately to connect reports about the same listing. You can also search our Host Lookup.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Platform policies change, so check the linked source for the current version. Spot an error? Tell us.