This is a common question asked. There are several ways you can check to see if your pen is recording: Look for the red light on the spy pen camera lens. When it’s on, this means your pen is in record mode and capturing footage. Look for the light on the end of the pen. When it’s on, this means your pen is in write mode and taking notes. If you have a voice-activated spy pen, listen for the beep sound that indicates your pen is recording audio.