iOS Scanning Issues
iOS Scanning Issues
Section titled “iOS Scanning Issues”This guide helps resolve common problems with scanning in the iOS app.
Quick recovery steps
Section titled “Quick recovery steps”If something goes wrong during scanning, try these steps in order:
- Rescan - Delete the room and scan again
- Restart the app - Swipe up from bottom, close Plans, reopen
- Go back - If tracking is lost, tap back to return to a previously scanned room
- Take notes - If a detail can’t be captured, add a note with description
- Contact support - Phone: +45 32 75 55 75
For detailed troubleshooting, see the sections below.
LiDAR Not working
Section titled “LiDAR Not working””LiDAR Not Supported” message
Section titled “”LiDAR Not Supported” message”If app displays “LiDAR sensor not available” warning, try these solutions:
Verify device compatibility: LiDAR available on iPhone 12 Pro and later Pro models, iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd gen+), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th gen+). Standard (non-Pro) iPhone models do NOT have LiDAR.
Check iOS version: Navigate to Settings > General > About. Verify iOS 18.0 or later. Update if necessary: Settings > General > Software Update.
Restart device: Press and hold power button. Slide to power off, wait 30 seconds. Power back on.
Reinstall app: Delete app completely. Restart device. Reinstall from App Store.
Verify LiDAR hardware is working
Section titled “Verify LiDAR hardware is working”If you have a compatible device but LiDAR detection fails, verify the hardware is functioning properly.
Test with Apple Measure App:
The fastest way to test LiDAR hardware is using Apple’s built-in Measure app.
Open Measure app (pre-installed on iOS). Point at a flat surface (table, wall, floor). Device should detect the surface and show measurement guides. If Measure app cannot detect surfaces or show measurements, LiDAR hardware may have failed.
Visual LiDAR Dot Pattern Test:
LiDAR emits infrared dots invisible to human eyes but visible to cameras.
Get a second device with a camera (another iPhone, iPad, or any digital camera). Point your device’s rear camera at a wall or surface. Open another device’s camera and point it at your device’s LiDAR sensor (small lens near rear cameras). You should see a faint pattern of dots projected on the wall. If no dots visible, LiDAR sensor may not be working.
Check for Physical Blockage:
Remove phone case or iPad case completely. Inspect LiDAR sensor lens (small circular lens near rear camera array). Wipe gently with clean, soft cloth to remove fingerprints or debris. Ensure no screen protector or case obstructs the sensor area.
Test in Different Environments:
Test in different lighting conditions (bright room, dim room, outdoor). Test pointing at different surfaces (textured wall, furniture, floor). If LiDAR fails in all conditions, hardware issue is likely.
When to Contact Apple Support:
If Measure app fails, dot pattern is not visible, and the issue persists after cleaning and restarting, contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store. LiDAR sensor may have hardware failure requiring repair or replacement.
Poor LiDAR detection quality
Section titled “Poor LiDAR detection quality”If surfaces not detected, holes in point cloud, or flickering tracking occurs, try these solutions:
Improve lighting: Turn on all room lights. Open curtains for natural light. Minimum 200 lux (typical office lighting).
Clean LiDAR sensor: Wipe lens near rear camera with clean cloth. Remove any case blocking sensors.
Adjust scanning technique: Move slowly (1-2 feet per second). Maintain 3-10 feet from surfaces. Overlap coverage by 50%.
Handle difficult surfaces: Mirrors/Glass: Cover with cloth or scan from angle. Black surfaces: Add lighting. Shiny floors: Scan at lower angle.
Tracking problems
Section titled “Tracking problems”Understanding on-screen messages
Section titled “Understanding on-screen messages”During scanning, the app shows messages to guide you:
| Message | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| ”Getting the device ready …” | Camera is preparing | Wait a moment |
| ”Ready to scan…” | Good to go | Start or continue scanning |
| ”Scanning” | Recording | Keep moving slowly |
| ”Relocalizing” | Lost position temporarily | Move back to a previously scanned area |
| ”Move a bit slower” | Moving too fast | Slow down |
| ”Success!” | Scan finished | Tap checkmark to save |
| ”Your scan was unsuccessful” | Something went wrong | Tap Retry to try again |
”Relocalizing” message won’t clear
Section titled “”Relocalizing” message won’t clear”If the screen shows “Relocalizing” and won’t recover, try these solutions:
Restore tracking: Move back to a previously scanned area. Point camera at furniture or features the camera has already seen. Wait 3-5 seconds for message to clear. Resume scanning slowly.
Improve visual features: Add temporary markers (painter’s tape, notes). Focus on corners and detailed areas first. Scan feature-rich areas to establish tracking.
Maintain stable device position: Use both hands. Brace elbows against body. Move entire body, not just arms.
”Move a bit slower” keeps appearing
Section titled “”Move a bit slower” keeps appearing”If this warning appears repeatedly, try these solutions:
Reduce movement speed: Move at 1-2 feet per second maximum. Use smooth, deliberate movements. Pause briefly when warning appears.
Maintain stable scanning: Hold device with both hands. Keep elbows braced against body. Move your whole body, not just arms. Take smaller steps.
Tracking struggles in plain rooms
Section titled “Tracking struggles in plain rooms”If tracking keeps failing in rooms with blank walls or minimal furniture, try these solutions:
Find visual features: Point at corners, edges, detailed surfaces. Avoid blank walls or uniform surfaces. Include furniture, windows, doors in frame. Add temporary visual markers if needed.
Improve scanning environment: Turn on more lights. Open curtains for natural light. Add temporary contrast (painter’s tape, papers).
Scan drift or misalignment
Section titled “Scan drift or misalignment”If walls not straight, doors/windows in wrong locations, or duplicate geometry appears, try these solutions:
Rescan the room: Delete problematic scan. Use improved technique.
Prevention: Return to starting point at end (close the loop). Move maximum 1-2 feet per second. Overlap each frame by 60-80%. Break large rooms (>500 sq ft) into multiple scans.
Scanning quality issues
Section titled “Scanning quality issues”Environmental and physical limitations
Section titled “Environmental and physical limitations”LiDAR and RoomPlan have inherent physical limitations that affect what can be captured.
LiDAR Maximum Range:
- LiDAR effective range: 5 meters (16 feet) maximum
- Surfaces beyond 16 feet will not be captured
- High ceilings (17+ feet) may not scan completely
- Large open spaces require multiple scan positions
Solutions:
For high ceilings: Use ceiling scanning mode and position yourself directly underneath. Or measure ceiling height manually and enter in project settings.
For large spaces: Break into multiple scan sessions with overlapping coverage. Scan from center of room, then from corners.
Noisy or grainy point cloud
Section titled “Noisy or grainy point cloud”If point cloud looks speckled or surface details unclear, try these solutions:
Optimize scanning distance: Maintain 3-10 feet (1-3 meters) from surfaces. Get closer for fine details. Stay farther for overall room capture. Surfaces beyond 16 feet (5 meters) won’t be captured.
Reduce scanning speed: Slow, steady movement. Pause at key features.
Use ceiling scanning mode: For overhead surfaces.
Missing ceiling data
Section titled “Missing ceiling data”If ceiling not captured or incomplete, try these solutions:
Use ceiling scanning mode: Tap “Ceiling Mode” button in scan view. Point device at 45-60 degree angle. Move slowly across room.
For high ceilings (>16 feet): LiDAR cannot capture beyond 5 meters. Get closer with ladder if safe. Measure and enter height manually.
Reflective surfaces Not capturing
Section titled “Reflective surfaces Not capturing”If mirrors, glass, or glossy tiles have gaps, try these solutions:
Mirrors: Cover with sheet or paper during scan. Or scan at 45-degree angle. Note location and dimensions manually.
Windows and glass doors: Close curtains/blinds. Tape paper temporarily. Scan from angle.
Glossy tile and polished floors: Scan at lower angle. Multiple passes from different angles.
Dark surfaces Not capturing
Section titled “Dark surfaces Not capturing”If dark walls, ceilings, or floors have gaps, try these solutions:
Add lighting: Increase ambient light. Use portable LED lights. Direct light at dark surfaces.
Add temporary contrast: Place white objects near dark surfaces. Use painter’s tape for reference points.
App performance issues
Section titled “App performance issues”App freezing or crashing
Section titled “App freezing or crashing”If app unresponsive, device overheating, or crashes to home screen occur, try these solutions:
Free up storage: Navigate to Settings > General > iPhone/iPad Storage. Need at least 5-10 GB free. Delete unused apps, photos, videos.
Close background apps: Double-tap home or swipe up. Close all other apps.
Allow device to cool: Stop if device feels hot. Let cool for 10-15 minutes. Remove case.
Break large areas into smaller scans: Scan individual rooms. Limit scan duration to 10-15 minutes. Merge scans later if needed.
Memory pressure and App termination
Section titled “Memory pressure and App termination”iOS limits app memory usage to preserve device performance. Apps typically get 1-2GB of RAM before iOS terminates them. This is the #1 cause of app crashes.
Symptoms:
- App suddenly closes to home screen during scanning
- No error message, just instant closure
- Happens more often on older devices (iPhone 12 Pro, 2020 iPad Pro)
- Happens during long scanning sessions (15+ minutes)
Solutions:
Keep scanning sessions short: Scan individual rooms instead of entire floors. Limit each scan to 10 minutes maximum. Upload completed scans and continue.
Restart app between scans: After completing 2-3 scans, force quit the app. Wait 10 seconds. Reopen the app. This clears memory.
Close all background apps: Before starting a scan, close all other apps. Double-tap home or swipe up from bottom. Swipe up on all app previews.
Avoid multitasking during scanning: Don’t switch to other apps during active scanning. Don’t check messages or emails. Stay in the Plans app.
Upload frequently: Upload completed scans as soon as possible. This frees up local storage and memory.
Restart device daily: If scanning multiple projects per day, restart your device once daily. Press and hold power button. Slide to power off. Wait 30 seconds. Power back on.
Consider device upgrade: iPhone 12 Pro (2020) has less RAM than newer Pro models. If crashes are frequent, consider upgrading to iPhone 14 Pro or newer.
Scan not saving
Section titled “Scan not saving”If your scan completes but doesn’t appear in the project, or you see a “Save Failed” message, try these solutions:
Ensure adequate storage: Check before scanning: Settings > General > Storage. Need 500MB-2GB per scan.
Scan finished but won’t save: Tap the checkmark button to save. Wait for processing to complete. Do not close the app during save.
“Your scan was unsuccessful” message: Tap Retry to scan the room again. Check your device has adequate storage and battery.
Upload frequently: Upload completed scans when you have good connectivity. This frees up local storage on your device.
Related documentation
Section titled “Related documentation”See AR room scanning documentation for complete scanning guide, scan tips documentation for practices, ceiling scanning documentation for capturing overhead surfaces, merging scans documentation for combining multiple scans, and upload errors documentation for upload problems.