What's New

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

+ Removed multiple ads on front app page upon request from users.

App Description

NAIL DETECTOR

Use your iPhone to find nails in wooden support beams within your wall, or any sort of magnetic metal hidden from view.

For this app to work, the nails in your wall should be magnetic and your device (iPad, iPhone or iPod) should have a built-in magnetometer. This app does not detect non-magnetic objects, For example, aluminum or wood studs.

DISCLAIMER: The performance of the app is limited by the construction of the wall, presence of a phone cover and/or the material of the nails in the studs.


INSTRUCTIONS

If your device has a external case, please remove before using this app.

Calibrate your device’s magnetic sensor by moving the device in a "Figure 8" pattern. Then tap the "Intensity" reading displayed on the app to set the baseline to zero.

To accurately detect nails using this app, on iPhone 5s and below, sweep with the right edge of the device against the wall. For iPhone 6 and above, sweep with the top edge of the device along the wall.

Sometimes it helps to first figure out the location of the magnet (compass magnet) on your phone using a magnetic material so it becomes clear where to "mark" when you find a nail in the stud.


Localization Credits: Laura Klein (French), Ilgiz Khisamov (Russian), Yasu Yu (Chinese), Cem Yolcu (Turkish)

iPhone Screenshots

(click to enlarge)

Stud Find - Metal Detector screenshot 1

App Changes

  • June 24, 2011 New version 1.1
  • March 08, 2014 New version 1.5
  • March 13, 2014 New version 1.6
  • October 10, 2015 New version 3.0
  • November 15, 2015 New version 3.1
  • March 17, 2016 New version 3.2
  • July 06, 2016 New version 4.0
  • July 13, 2016 New version 4.1
  • September 16, 2023 Price increase: FREE! -> $0.99