Best Phone Mount for a Second Camera During Online Proctored Exams (Hands-Free, No Tripod)
The best way to set up your phone as a second camera for an online proctored exam is a nano-suction mount on a smooth window or mirror beside your desk. It holds the phone rock-steady at the exact side angle proctoring services ask for, takes up zero desk space, and lets you fine-tune the view as many times as you need until your proctor approves it. AIRSTIK - a handmade nano-suction phone mount - grips clean glass without adhesive, holds your phone for the full exam, and peels off afterward with zero residue.
If you've ever had a proctor message you mid-setup with "please adjust your phone so we can see your hands and screen," you already know the real problem isn't the camera. It's getting the phone to stay exactly where the proctor wants it for two or three hours without slipping, tipping, or eating your whole desk.
Why do online proctored exams need a second camera?
Services like ProctorU, Honorlock, Examity, and Respondus increasingly require a second camera - usually your phone - positioned to the side or slightly behind you. The goal is a clear view of you, your hands, your desk surface, and your computer screen at the same time, so the proctor can confirm you aren't using notes or a second device. That means your phone has to sit a few feet away, at roughly desk height, angled back toward you - and it cannot move once the proctor approves it.
A phone lying flat or leaning on a stack of books almost never hits that angle, and it tends to slide right when you do.
Why don't books, suction cups, or tape work for an exam camera?
Most quick fixes fail for the same reasons:
Propping the phone on books or a lamp is the most common student move and the least reliable. One bump of the desk and the phone slides - and a camera that moves mid-exam can get your session flagged for review.
Cheap suction cups rely on a single vacuum chamber. They pop off when the seal weakens, which always seems to happen 90 minutes in. A phone hitting the floor during a proctored exam is exactly the disruption you're trying to avoid.
Adhesive pads or Command strips can leave residue on a dorm window or mirror - a problem if you're renting - and once they're stuck, you can't fine-tune the angle when the proctor asks you to move it three degrees.
Tripods work but are bulky, wobble if nudged, and often put the camera too high or in the wrong spot for the side-angle view proctors request.
What is the best phone mount for a proctored exam second camera?
AIRSTIK is a nano-suction mount built for exactly this kind of stable, hands-free setup. Instead of one suction cup, its backing uses thousands of microscopic silicone suction points spread across the surface, so the grip is distributed and holds steady for the entire exam.
- Holds up to 2 lbs - any phone, plus a case
- Repositionable unlimited times - peel and reapply until the proctor's view is perfect
- Zero residue - leaves no marks on a dorm window or bathroom mirror
- Nearly unbreakable durable polycarbonate
- Handmade in Savannah, Georgia, USA with a 30-day manufacturer warranty
Stick it to a clean window or mirror beside your desk, set the angle once, and it stays put - no desk space lost, nothing for a clumsy elbow to knock over.
AIRSTIK vs. the usual exam-camera fixes
| Setup | Holds steady the whole exam | Fine-tune the angle | Residue-free | Reusable | Works on a dorm window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIRSTIK nano-suction | Yes | Yes, unlimited | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stack of books / lamp | No | Barely | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Cheap suction cup | Often fails | Limited | Yes | Sometimes | Yes |
| Adhesive / Command strip | Yes | No | No | No | Risky for renters |
| Tripod | Mostly | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
Where exactly should I place the phone?
Most proctoring services want the second camera positioned to your side or slightly behind, a few feet away, at about desk height, angled so it captures you, your hands, your desk, and your screen together. A window or a wall mirror beside your desk is usually the ideal mounting surface - it puts the phone at the right height and distance without anything sitting on your work surface.
Press AIRSTIK firmly against the clean glass for a few seconds, drop your phone in, tilt to frame the shot, and adjust until your proctor confirms the view. Because it's repositionable, you can nudge the angle as many times as the proctor asks - no re-taping, no starting over.
One honest note: AIRSTIK grips smooth, stable glass and mirrors only - bathroom mirrors, shower glass, and home or office windows. It will not hold on frosted or textured glass, painted walls, drywall, or wood, and it's made for stable vertical surfaces, not moving or angled-down setups. If your room doesn't have a smooth window or mirror near your desk, a tripod may be your fallback.
Will it damage my dorm window or mirror?
No. Nano-suction leaves absolutely no marks or adhesive behind - that's the whole point. You can mount it for the exam, peel it off when you're done, and reuse it for the next test, a video call, or watching a lecture hands-free. For renters and dorm students who can't risk a security deposit, that's a real advantage over anything adhesive.
Get set up before your next exam
The AIRSTIK Cradle (white or black) holds any phone up to 2 lbs and reapplies as many times as you need to nail the proctor's angle. Set it up once, and second-camera anxiety is off your exam-day checklist.
Get the AIRSTIK Cradle on Amazon →
FAQs
Where do I put my phone for an online proctored exam? Position it to your side or slightly behind you, a few feet away, at about desk height, angled so it shows you, your hands, your desk, and your screen at once. A window or mirror beside your desk is the easiest steady mounting spot - mount the phone there with a nano-suction holder like AIRSTIK and fine-tune until your proctor approves.
Can I use my phone as a second camera for ProctorU, Honorlock, or Examity? Yes - these services commonly require a phone as a second camera. The challenge is keeping it stationary at the requested angle for the whole exam. A nano-suction mount on a window or mirror holds it steady so the view never shifts mid-test.
Will a suction phone mount fall off during my exam? Traditional single-cup suction mounts can lose their seal and drop after an hour or two. AIRSTIK uses thousands of distributed nano-suction points instead of one cup, so the hold stays consistent for the full exam on clean glass.
Does AIRSTIK leave residue on a dorm window or mirror? No. It leaves zero marks or adhesive and is fully repositionable, which makes it safe for renters and dorm rooms where adhesive mounts could cost you your deposit.
What surfaces does AIRSTIK work on? Smooth, stable glass and mirrors - bathroom mirrors, shower glass, and home or office windows. It does not work on frosted or textured glass, painted walls, drywall, or wood, and it's designed for stable vertical surfaces only.
Is AIRSTIK better than a tripod for exam proctoring? For most rooms, yes - it puts the phone at the right side angle without taking up desk space or wobbling when bumped, and it's far more compact. If you don't have a smooth window or mirror near your desk, a tripod is a reasonable fallback.