Support
Stud Finder & Metal Scanner
Getting Started
How do I find a stud in my wall?
Calibrate first, then sweep the phone slowly and flat across the wall. When the gauge climbs and the haptics intensify, you're over metal — usually a nail or screw holding a stud in place. Sweep back and forth to find the strongest point, and use Peak-Hold to lock it. A vertical line of "hits" running up the wall typically traces the fasteners along a stud.
Why can't it find a bare wood stud directly?
A phone has no sensor for wood or material density — it only has a magnetometer, which senses magnetic metal. So instead of the wood itself, you find the nails or screws fastening the stud to the wall. Find that line of metal and you've found the stud. The in-app guide walks you through this technique.
How do I calibrate?
Remove your phone case — especially metal or MagSafe cases, which throw off the reading. Hold the phone flat and away from large metal objects, then tap to set a baseline. If the calibration-quality chip shows Low, move the phone in a slow figure-8 to improve the fix (Premium offers fine calibration with a figure-8 assist).
Detection & Accuracy
What exactly can it detect?
Ferrous (magnetic) metal: nails, screws, metal/steel studs, steel pipes, rebar, bolts, and brackets. It cannot detect bare wood, copper wire, copper or PEX/PVC pipe, gold, silver, or aluminum. It is not a way to find live electrical wiring.
The readings jump around or seem off. Why?
The magnetometer is sensitive to interference. Common culprits: a metal or MagSafe case, magnets, speakers, motors, appliances, and large metal structures or rebar nearby. Remove your case, recalibrate away from metal, and sweep slowly. Treat the result as an approximate guide, not an exact location or depth.
What's the difference between Stud Finder and Metal Detector mode?
Stud Finder is tuned for sweeping a wall at close range, so the gauge reacts strongly to small fasteners. Metal Detector mode is broader and better for open hobby sweeps — finding larger or buried metal like coins, tools, or rebar.
Can I drill once the app shows metal?
Use the App as a guide, not a guarantee. It detects ferrous metal only and cannot reliably find live wiring, gas lines, or non-ferrous pipes. Always confirm with a probe or professional equipment and follow safe practices before drilling, cutting, or nailing. See our Terms of Service for the full safety notice.
Do I need an internet connection?
No. Detection runs entirely on your device — it works in Airplane Mode, in a basement, anywhere. There's no account and no cloud.
Free vs Premium
What's free vs Premium?
Free: The full live detector in both modes with no cooldown timer, the radar gauge and live µT readout, and standard haptics — with banner and occasional interstitial ads. Premium: Adjustable sensitivity & threshold, fine calibration with figure-8 assist, Geiger-style audio alerts and tone styles, custom haptic intensity, unlimited saved & labeled scans, and zero ads.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — the Premium Annual plan ($11.99/year) includes a 7-day free trial. You'll only be charged at the end of the trial. Cancel anytime in your Apple ID subscription settings before the trial ends. Premium Monthly is $3.99/month.
How do I restore my purchase?
Open Settings inside the App and tap "Restore Purchases". This re-applies your active subscription if you've previously purchased one on this Apple ID.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Open the iOS Settings app, tap your name at the top, then tap Subscriptions. Find Stud Finder & Metal Scanner and tap Cancel Subscription. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
Privacy
Where does my data go?
Nowhere — it stays on your iPhone. The App reads the magnetometer on-device and never uploads your readings or saved scans. You can confirm by toggling Airplane Mode: detection still works. See the Privacy Policy for full details.
What permissions does the app need?
The App reads the motion/magnetometer sensors on-device and requests no camera, microphone, photo, or location access. On the free, ad-supported tier, iOS may show a tracking-permission prompt for ads, which you can decline.
Contact Us
Email Support
For questions, bug reports, or feature requests:
We typically respond within 48 hours. If you're reporting a detection issue, telling us your iPhone model, whether you had a case on, and the mode you used helps us reproduce it.