Hey there, my name is Joe and I’m here to tell you about a time when I tried to use my trusty old iPhone as a stud finder.

I was hanging a new TV in my living room and I realized I didn’t have a stud finder on hand.

I thought to myself “No problem, I’ve got an iPhone, that should do the trick right?” So I did some quick Googling and found a stud finding app. I downloaded it, fired it up and started scanning my wall.

The app was beeping and flashing like crazy, telling me there were studs all over the place. I was feeling pretty good about myself, thinking I was some kind of DIY genius.

I started drilling, only to discover that the app was completely wrong and there weren’t any studs where it said there were.

My TV ended up hanging at a funky angle and I had a bunch of holes in my wall for no reason. It was a total fail.

But, that’s not the end of the story, I was determined to find a way to use my iPhone as a stud finder, so I did some more research and I found out some interesting things, which I’ll share with you in this article.

In short, the answer is no, you cannot use your iPhone as a stud finder.

The Science

Stud finders work by detecting changes in density behind a wall. They use magnetism or electronic fields to locate the nails or screws that hold the drywall to the framing.

iPhones on the other hand, use sensors to detect things like light, movement, and location. They don’t have the capability to detect changes in density.

The Apps

There are a few stud finder apps available for iPhone, but they don’t actually use the phone’s sensors to locate studs.

They use a technique called “knocking sensing.”

The idea is that you knock on the wall and the app listens for differences in sound.

The theory is that the sound will be different when you’re knocking on a stud compared to when you’re knocking on empty space.

The problem is, this method is pretty unreliable. It’s hard to get consistent results and you’re likely to end up with a lot of false positives (or negatives).

What To Do Instead

If you’re planning on hanging something heavy on your wall, it’s best to invest in a real stud finder. They’re not expensive and they’ll save you a lot of headaches in the long run.

You can pick one up at your local hardware store, or even on Amazon. Just make sure to read the reviews before you buy.

FAQ

Can I use my iPad as a stud finder?

No, an iPad is just a bigger version of an iPhone and it doesn’t have any special sensors that would allow it to be used as a stud finder.

What’s the best stud finder app for iPhone?

There isn’t really a “best” stud finder app for iPhone, as they all rely on the unreliable knocking sensing method.

It’s best to avoid using an app altogether and invest in a real stud finder.

Can I use my smartphone’s camera as a stud finder?

No, a smartphone camera can’t detect changes in density behind a wall like a stud finder can.

In Conclusion

So there you have it folks, as much as we love our iPhones and want them to be able to do everything, they just aren’t cut out for the job of finding studs.

Don’t make the same mistake I did, save yourself the hassle and grab a real stud finder.

But hey, if you’re feeling adventurous and want to try using your iPhone as a stud finder, go for it. Just don’t come crying to me when you end up with a crooked TV and a bunch of holes in your wall.