A secret screen recorder, called a hidden screen recorder as well, is used to record on-screen activities from Windows, MacOS, iPhone, and Android devices secretly, without detection or spying. It is beneficial in many situations, such as monitoring someone else’s screen without his/her knowledge, capturing gameplay without disrupting the experience, or documenting issues on a device without alerting the user. Whatever you want to do with a hidden screen recorder, first you need to find a tool like this. Luckily, we have evaluated and tested dozens of screen recording apps and found seven of the best. Now, you can pick any of them to record your screen secretly.
4 Top Hidden Screen Recorders for iPhone and Android
In this section, you’ll find four of the best secret screen recorder apps for you to monitor everything that happens on your devices.
It’s worth noting that there are some potential risks of using a secret screen recorder, be aware of which might help you avoid unnecessary troubles.Â
- Accessing personal data without authorization is a breach of privacy. If you disclose sensitive data to third parties, it will increase the risk of falling victim.Â
- Malware can be unintentionally downloaded along with secret screen recorders. So, remember to download them from a safe site.
- Using a secret screen recorder to monitor someone’s phone without knowing might damage your relationship.Â
mSpy - Best Phone Tracker for Parents Control
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- Price: Starting from $11.67
- Number of devices supported: 1-3 devices
- Money-back Guarantee:Â 14 days
mSpy is a popular hidden screen recorder iPhone and Android that can help you mirror someone’s phone so that you can record what’s on screen. After that, you can watch these recordings to see what they did. That might sound a little bit intrusive, but actually, it helps a lot in managing children’s screen time and helping them develop healthy screen time habits. Currently, this app offers both Android and iOS versions. But the bad news for iOS users is that they can only access partial features without jailbreaking their devices. Aside from that, here are more features of Mpy for you to explore.
Key Features:Â
- Location tracking & geofencing
- Call, contacts, text messages, events track
- Social media track
- Activity reports
- Keylogger track
- WiFi connection
- Website and app block
Pros:Â
- Straightforward setup process
- 100% green and safe
Cons:
- No free version
- Pre-existing photos and videos are not detected sometimes
Phonsee - Remote Control Without Target Phone
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- Price: Starting from $8,85
- Number of devices supported: 1 device
- Money-back Guarantee: 14 days
Phonesee is another popular secret screen recorder for iPhone and Android that has a robust suite of monitoring features. It provides invisible screen recording capabilities that enable you to keep an eye on what someone is doing on their device. Apart from screen recording call logs, SMS, social media chats, and keyloggers, Phonsee has some unique features like advanced stealth mode, remote control, and environment listening. Here are the full features of Phonsee.
Key Features:
- Stealth operation
- Real-time monitoring
- Browsing history track
- Messages and social media app track
- Remotely control the target device
- Captures ambient sounds around the target device
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Remote installation
Cons:
- It is pricy
- No free trial or money-back guarantee
- Rooting and jailbreaking is needed
BlurSPY - Best Live Screen RecorderÂ
- Compatibility: AndroidÂ
- Price: Starting from $14.99
- Number of devices supported: Unknown
- Money-back Guarantee: 30 days
BlueSPY is a cloud-based secret screen recorder Android that allows you to screen record everything happening on the target device without anyone knowing, giving you better control over someone’s phone. The best part of this app is that it allows you to record the live screen of social media apps like YouTube and get access to its private messages or chats bypassing detection. But it is a little bit pricy compared to its competitors. For those who are looking for a free hidden screen recorder Android, BlurSPY is not the best option. For more features of BlurSPY, you can check this list.Â
Key Features:
- Call log & text message track and block
- Surrounding voice or conversation recording and listing
- Browse history monitoring
- Applications detect
- Live screen recording
- Social media track
- Camera bugging
Pros:Â
- Simple yet powerful
- Useful and easy to use
- Cheaper compared to other spy applications
Cons:
- Limited features
Eyezy - Great Tool with Wide Compatability
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- Price: Starting from $7,99
- Number of devices supported: 1-3 device
- Money-back Guarantee: 14 days
- Screen Recording in the Badic Plan: Yes
Eyezy is a top-notch secret screen recorder iPhone and Android that offers advanced secret screen recording features. What makes it stand out from its competitors is its real-time screenshot capture and compatibility with various devices and operating systems. It can constantly take snapshots in the background whenever the target device is used. That is helpful for phone activity supervision. Besides, it also enables you to check out conversations and messages stored on social media. If you’re looking for a hidden screen recorder that not only let’s you remotely take screenshots but also offers real-time monitoring of a targeted phone’s activity, just go for Eyezy. Â
Key Features:
- Conversation monitoring
- Location tracking and geo-fencing
- Content filtering
- Screen time management
- Activity reports
Pros:
- Simple and easy to use
- Support seeing photos and videos
- Has keyloggers
Cons:
- No free version
- No money-back guaranteeÂ
- Complex installation process
3 Best Secret Screen Recorders for Windows and MacOS
Beyond the hidden screen recorders for iPhone and Android, you may need them on Windows and MacOS as well. There are 3 best secret screen recorders without icons for your choices.
Spynger - Excellent Keylogger
- Compatibility: Android, iPhone, iPad, and desktop
- Price:Â Starting from $9.99
- Number of devices supported: 1 device
- Money-back Guarantee: 14 days
Spynger is one of the best monitoring apps with capabilities like screen recording and app monitoring. By using its hidden screen recording feature, you can record whatever someone is doing on WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and Skype without being detected. Aside from social media, the content it supports monitoring includes keystrokes, location, search history, text messages, pics and videos they share and receive, and many other mobile programs and messengers. However, Spynger is not perfect. Though it works well on Android devices, it may not work like that on iPhones due to security concerns.Â
Key Features:
- Keystroke tracking
- Location tracking
- Search history monitoring
- Social media chats, including dating apps track
- Texts (including deleted messages) tracking
- Screen record your mobile programs
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Safe and security
- Dozens of features
- Invisible mode
- Fair pricing
- 24/7 support
Cons:
- No call history monitoring feature
TheOneSpy - Remote Monitoring Solution
- Compatibility: Android, iOS, Windows, Mac
- Price: Starting from $18
- Number of devices supported: 1 device
- Money-back Guarantee: 14 days
TheOneSpy is a hidden screen recorder without icons for both mobile devices and computers. It provides excellent anonymous screen recording features that let you record live screens on target devices and save the recorded video for later access. You can conduct the whole process remotely and secretly without the target’s knowledge. That means you can see all phone screen activities, such as text messages, call logs, contacts, and more. All of these features make it a good option for both businesses and parents to monitor screen activities performed by employees and kids.
Key Features:
- Behavior tracking
- Keystroke recording
- Remote access and control
- Search history tracking
- Screen record activity on a computerÂ
Pros:Â
- No rooting or jailbreaking is needed
- Mobile device password tracking
- Widely support various devices
Cons:
- No free version
[Bonus] iTop Screen Recorder - Best Secret Screen Recorder for Windows
If you’re looking for a professional secret screen recorder for Windows computers, just consider iTop Screen Recorder. It is more of a one-stop video processing tool than just a screen recorder. With it, you can capture your mobile and PC screens, webcam, or both together at a specified time without manually activating the record button and scattering your attention. Here are more features of this free hidden screen recorder Windows 10.
Key Features:
Unlimited hidden screen recorder for free
iTop Screen Recorder allows you to schedule screen recording at a specific time, making it an ideal option to record Zoom without permission or record gameplay without intervention.Â
Secretly Screen Record ContentÂ
For some users who want to stream videos or social media without others knowing, luckily, iTop Screen Recorder is excellent for this task. So, don’t hesitate to use it to record on Peacock or other platforms.Â
Record screen activities in 4K/1080P
iTop Screen Recorder is also known as a HD screen recorder. That means it can record up to 4K resolution in 120 FPS. For guys who want to capture gameplay, this feature can deliver you a smoother experience.
Monitor iOS and Android Screens
Once you connect a phone to iTop Screen Recorder, you can use it to secretly monitor and capture what’s going on a mobile phone in real time.
Record any area of your screen secretly
iTop Screen Recorder offers flexible recording options, which allow you to record part of screen, the entire screen, or fixed windows according to your needs.Â
Record the webcam, screen, or both together
With iTop Screen Recorder, you can record your webcam, screen, or both together simultaneously, allowing you to capture your face alongside your computer screen content in a single recording
Pros:
- Simple and intuitive interface
- Completely free with no watermark
- Basic recording features
- Lightweight and fast
Cons:
- Limited editing capabilities
- No multi-monitor support
- No Mac version
How to Screen Record Your Screen Without Icon on Windows
If you want to learn how to screen record your screen on PC secretly, here are the steps.Â
Step 1. Free download and install iTop Screen Recorder for Windows 11, 10, 8, or 7.
Step 2. Launch iTop Screen Recorder and go to Settings to adjust video parameters. For example, you can click on Formate > Video to set size, format, frame rate, bit rate, and quality.Â
Step 3. Go to Record > Screen, and select what to record. You can select the full screen, a region, a fixed window, or an area in a fixed region.
Step 4. Turn on the Speaker, Mic, Webcam, or Mouse depending on your needs. Then, click REC to start recording.Â
The hidden screen recorder icon will be automatically hidden, and you just need to use the hotkeys to control the whole recording.Â
E.g.,Â
Start/Stop recording: F9
Pause/Resume recording: F10
Check and reset the hotkeys on the settings panel.
If you want to screen record a mobile phone without notice, you can go to the Devices feature and follow the guidelines to get connected.Â
FAQs on Hidden Screen Recorder Usage
1: Is (secret) screen recording illegal?Â
The legality of screen recording and secret screen recording varies by jurisdiction and context. In many cases, recording someone without their knowledge or consent can be illegal, especially if the recording includes audio. Besides, the intent behind the recording can also affect its legality. If you’re planning to use your recordings for malicious purposes, such as harassment or espionage, is generally illegal.
2. How do I record my screen without it showing?
If you want to record your screen without any visible indicators or overlays, you can use software that allows for discreet screen recording. Such tools can be categorized by built-in tools and third-party software. If you prefer the former option, you can consider using the Xbox Game Bar for Windows or Quick Time Player for Mac. The latter includes OBS Studio and Camtasia. You can choose the one based on your needs.Â
3. Can software detect screen recording?
Yes, certain software can detect screen recording activities. Some common scenarios where detection might occur include streaming services, video conferencing tools, game anti-cheat systems, and security software. If you plan to record content, always check the terms of service and privacy policies of the software or platform you are using to avoid violating rules or laws.
Conclusion
Choosing the right secret screen recorder from a multitude of options can be a daunting task. In this comprehensive comparison, we delve into seven of the best hidden screen recorders for iPhone, Android, Windows, and MacOS for you. Which to choose depends on your specific monitoring needs and budgets. If you prioritize a secret screen recorder for Snapchat and a remote control, Phonesee might be the better option. On the other hand, if you just want to capture your screen, this free screen recorder for PC - iTop Screen Recorder could be a suitable option. Now, give this screen recorder Windows 10 a try.