Spectra helps you investigate nearby signals without pairing with discovered devices. Start with a short check, then explore the evidence—not a promise that a space is safe.
What you need
An iPhone running iOS 27 or later. Scanning, saved results, Bluetooth Proximity, and JSON export do not require Apple Intelligence. Optional on-device analysis needs a compatible iPhone with Apple Intelligence enabled and ready.
Set up access
- Open Spectra and choose Get Started.
- Tap each measurement you want to use and respond to the system permission request.
- A checkmark shows readiness. You can continue without every permission and configure missing access later.
In Spectra, open Settings. Under Privacy & storage, choose Measurement access to review permissions and sensor readiness. Tap Done to return; unused measurements do not need to be configured. Choose measurements before each scan. If you previously denied permission, change it in iPhone Settings and return to Spectra. The app checks selected measurements again before a new scan.
Choose a check
- Quick Check: a 30-second Bluetooth and optional local-network check.
- Area Sweep: hands-on exploration with Bluetooth, local-network discovery, magnetic measurements, or a combination. Finish when ready; the initial limit is 30 minutes.
- Monitor: watch radio changes while your iPhone stays in one place.
- Smart Glasses and Watches & Wearables: 30-second Bluetooth specialist checks for supported matches. Their preparation screen keeps Bluetooth fixed; choose an optional location tag and tap Start Check.
Magnetic measurements add a close-range clue when inspecting places where electronics could be concealed—even without a recognizable wireless broadcast. Repeatable field changes can guide a closer physical look; they cannot identify a device or prove recording. Ordinary magnets and magnetic metal can also affect readings; no change does not rule out a device.
Begin with a safe, unsaved practice exercise. See Use the magnetic meter for sensor positioning, the readings, and the separate Area Sweep workflow.
Choose what to keep
Completed iPhone checks save locally by default. Turn off Save completed sessions in Spectra Settings if you prefer to decide after each check. With automatic saving off, choose Save Session on completed results to keep just that check without changing your preference. Read the saved status before closing; an unsaved result can be lost when the app closes.
For an optional short touch when an iPhone check ends, enable Completion haptic under Settings → Preferences. It is off by default and separate from the Watch’s setting. iOS may suppress feedback or the device may not support it. Feedback does not confirm saving, complete coverage, or a safe area; review the completed results.
Optionally remember the starting location
Tag location is off for each new iPhone check. Enable it before starting if you want one location near collection start. Earlier Location permission—for example, to display your Wi-Fi name—does not opt you in. A missing, denied, stale, or excessively imprecise fix never blocks the scan.
A saved tag shows coordinates and estimated accuracy, not a venue, room, detected device’s position, or route. Rechecks retain original context; Watch captures are not tagged. Map opening is your choice. Exports omit the tag unless you explicitly include it, and AI finding copies always omit it. See session and privacy guidance for removal and sharing controls.
Keep Spectra visible
Locking your iPhone or switching apps can interrupt a check. During collection, the screen emphasizes counts and summaries. Review detailed findings after completion.
Take your time without leaving a sweep running
At 25 minutes, iPhone Area Sweep shows a quiet notice. Choose Extend 30 Minutes to add 30 minutes to the current deadline, or Finish Area Sweep. The notice returns five minutes before an extended deadline. If you do nothing, Spectra stops collection, prepares the result, and follows your Save completed sessions preference. Check any save warning before closing. Elapsed time remains visible without an urgent countdown.
This safeguard does not change the Experimental Watch companion’s 30-second sweep or Monitor. Extending a sweep does not enable background collection or remove evidence-retention limits.
Check Coverage before drawing conclusions
Partial means a source was interrupted or quality-limited. Unavailable means it could not run. Not selected means you excluded it. Even completed coverage does not mean every nearby device was found.
Built to keep getting better
We regularly improve Spectra’s device catalog and detection engine to help you make better sense of nearby signals. These improvements are included in App Store updates at no additional charge. There is no separate catalog purchase or subscription.
Install the latest app update to use newer recognition. You can also recheck eligible saved sessions without changing the original. Updates do not guarantee a match or make every device detectable.
For step-by-step help and measurement limits, see the Spectra Guide.
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