Can You Take Your Phone Into an Escape Room? Here's What Really Happens
Escape Room Phone Policy Checker
Most people ask this question before walking into an escape room: Can you take your phone into an escape room? It’s not just about curiosity-it’s about fear. What if you miss a text? What if your boss calls? What if you need to snap a quick pic for Instagram? But here’s the truth: bringing your phone into an escape room isn’t just discouraged-it’s almost always banned. And there’s a very good reason why.
Why Escape Rooms Ban Phones
Escape rooms are designed to pull you out of the real world and into a story. You’re not just solving puzzles-you’re living a scene. Maybe you’re a spy breaking into a secret lab. Or a detective solving a murder in a 1920s mansion. Or a scientist trying to stop a virus from spreading in a lab gone wrong. These stories rely on immersion. A single phone buzz, a screen glow, or the sound of a notification can break that spell for you and everyone else in the room.It’s not just about distraction. Phones can ruin the experience for others. Imagine you’re trying to decode a hidden message in a book, and someone next to you is scrolling through TikTok. Or worse-they’re taking a photo of a puzzle and texting a friend for help. That’s not teamwork. That’s cheating.
Many escape rooms have strict no-phone policies for one simple reason: phones can be used to cheat. A quick photo of a clue, a search on Google for a riddle, or even using voice assistants like Siri or Alexa to answer a question completely undermines the challenge. Escape rooms are built on logic, observation, and collaboration. If you’re Googling your way out, you’re not escaping-you’re just typing.
What Happens If You Bring Your Phone Anyway?
Most escape room operators will ask you to hand over your phone before you enter. They usually give you a secure locker or a small bin to store it in. Some places even have a staff member collect phones right at the door. You’ll get a key or a code to retrieve it after the game.If you try to sneak your phone in? You’ll likely be caught. Many rooms have security cameras, motion sensors, or even staff watching from outside. Some operators use signal jammers in the room (though this is rare and only in high-end venues). Others rely on staff noticing odd behavior-a flickering screen, someone looking down, or a phone buzzing during a tense moment.
If you’re caught with a phone, the consequences vary. Some places will just warn you. Others will end your game immediately and refund nothing. A few even ban repeat offenders from returning. It’s not about being strict-it’s about fairness. Everyone pays for the same experience. You don’t get to cheat because you’re worried about missing a text.
What About Emergency Calls?
You might be thinking: “What if my kid has an accident? What if my mom has a seizure?” That’s a fair concern. Most escape rooms understand emergencies. Before you enter, ask the staff if you can keep your phone on silent or vibrate in your pocket. Some will let you keep it with you if you promise not to use it. Others will give you a walkie-talkie or a direct line to the game master in case something urgent happens.One Sydney escape room I visited-Lockdown HQ-lets you leave your phone with a staff member who has a direct line to your emergency contact. They’ll call you if something serious happens. That’s the kind of balance smart operators strike: safety without ruining the game.
What If You Need to Use Your Phone After the Game?
After you escape-or fail-you’ll get your phone back. That’s when the real magic happens. Most people immediately take photos of the room, their team, or the final puzzle. That’s totally fine. In fact, many escape rooms encourage it. They even have photo ops set up with props, costumes, and themed backdrops. Some even print out your team’s escape time and give you a digital badge you can share on social media.But don’t post clues. Don’t post close-ups of puzzles, codes, or hidden mechanisms. That’s considered a violation of the community’s unspoken rule. Escape rooms rely on repeat customers. If everyone posts spoilers online, no one will want to play again. Good operators don’t allow photos inside the room-but they love seeing you celebrate outside of it.
What About Smartwatches and Fitness Trackers?
This is a gray area. Most escape rooms don’t care about your Apple Watch or Fitbit. They’re not going to use them to cheat. But some high-security rooms-especially ones with digital locks, timers, or motion sensors-might ask you to remove them. Why? Because a smartwatch can sometimes trigger sensors, display notifications, or even record audio. If your watch vibrates during a tense moment, it could be mistaken for a phone.When in doubt, ask. Most places will tell you: “If it connects to the internet or makes noise, leave it out.” That covers smartwatches, Bluetooth earbuds, fitness trackers, and even smart rings.
What Should You Bring Instead?
You don’t need your phone to have a great time. What you do need is:- Good eyesight (or glasses if you need them)
- A sharp mind and curiosity
- Teamwork skills
- Comfortable clothes (no high heels, no bulky coats)
- A sense of humor
Most escape rooms give you everything else: flashlights, magnifying glasses, keys, clues, and sometimes even props like old-style radios or typewriters. The puzzles are designed to be solved with your brain-not your phone’s camera.
Why This Rule Makes Escape Rooms Better
Think about it: when was the last time you spent 60 minutes completely disconnected from your phone? Not just “putting it on silent”-but truly out of reach? For most people, it’s been years. Escape rooms give you that gift. No notifications. No scrolling. No pressure to respond. Just you, your friends, and a mystery.People who play without phones often say the experience feels more real. They remember the laughter, the panic, the “aha!” moments. They remember how their teammate screamed when they found the hidden key. They remember the feeling of the door clicking open.
Those memories stick. A photo of you in a pirate hat? That fades. The rush of solving a puzzle with your team? That lasts.
Final Rule: Leave It Behind
So, can you take your phone into an escape room? Technically, yes-if you’re willing to risk getting kicked out, ruining the game for others, and missing out on the real magic of the experience.But you shouldn’t. Leave your phone in the locker. Turn it off. Let yourself disappear into the story. When the door opens at the end, you’ll be glad you did.
Can I use my phone to take photos inside the escape room?
No. Taking photos or videos inside the room is almost always prohibited. Escape rooms rely on mystery and replay value. If you post photos of puzzles, codes, or hidden mechanisms, you’re spoiling the experience for future players. Most venues have photo areas set up outside the room where you can take team pictures safely.
What if I need to call someone during the game?
Most escape rooms have a way to handle emergencies. Before you enter, ask the staff if you can keep your phone on silent in your pocket or if they can relay urgent messages. Some venues provide walkie-talkies or direct lines to staff who can contact your emergency contact if needed. Never assume you can use your phone-always ask first.
Are smartwatches allowed in escape rooms?
It depends. Most places don’t mind basic fitness trackers or smartwatches that don’t connect to the internet or display notifications. But if your watch has a screen, can receive messages, or triggers sensors, you may be asked to remove it. When in doubt, leave it out. The goal is to avoid anything that could distract you or others-or be used to cheat.
Do escape rooms have lockers for phones?
Yes, nearly all escape rooms provide secure lockers or bins for personal items, including phones. You’ll usually get a key, code, or wristband to retrieve your belongings after the game. Some even assign a staff member to watch over your items. This is standard practice, not a punishment-it’s part of the experience.
Can I use my phone to look up clues during the game?
No, and doing so defeats the entire purpose of an escape room. These games are designed to test your observation, logic, and teamwork-not your Google skills. If you’re searching for answers online, you’re not escaping-you’re cheating. Most puzzles are designed to be solved with clues hidden in the room, not with a web search.
What happens if I get caught with my phone in the room?
If you’re caught with a phone inside, you’ll likely be asked to leave immediately. Your game will be terminated, and you won’t get a refund. Some venues ban repeat offenders. This isn’t about being harsh-it’s about fairness. Everyone pays for the same experience. Cheating ruins it for everyone else.
Why do escape rooms care so much about phones?
Because phones break immersion. Escape rooms are about stepping into another world. A buzzing phone, a glowing screen, or even the sound of a notification pulls you out of the story. It also opens the door to cheating-photos, searches, voice assistants. The magic of an escape room comes from solving puzzles with your team, not your device.
Next Steps: Try It Without Your Phone
Next time you book an escape room, leave your phone in the car or at home. See how it feels to be truly disconnected for an hour. You might be surprised how much clearer your mind becomes. How much more you notice. How much more fun you have.Escape rooms aren’t just games. They’re reminders that we don’t need to be connected all the time to feel connected-to each other, to the story, to the moment.
