iOS Version Compatibility

iOS Version Compatibility

This guide covers known issues with specific iOS versions and compatibility information for the Plans iOS app.

Minimum requirements

The Plans iOS app requires:

• iOS 18.0 or later (iOS 18+ required for RoomPlan framework)
• LiDAR-equipped device (iPhone 12 Pro or newer Pro models, iPad Pro 2020 or newer)

Recommended iOS version

iOS 18.3 or later is recommended for the best scanning experience. Newer iOS versions include bug fixes and performance improvements for RoomPlan and ARKit.

Check your iOS version: Go to Settings > General > About > iOS Version.

Update iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update to install the latest iOS version.

Known issues by iOS version

iOS 18.0 - 18.2

Camera permission issues (resolved in iOS 18.3+)

Some users experienced apps not appearing in Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera after installation.

Workaround: Delete and reinstall the app. When prompted, tap “Allow” for camera access. Or update to iOS 18.3 or later.

Roomplan memory warnings (resolved in iOS 18.2+)

iOS 18.0 and 18.1 had stricter memory limits that could cause unexpected app termination during long scanning sessions.

Workaround: Keep scanning sessions under 10-15 minutes. Upload completed scans frequently. Restart app between scans. Or update to iOS 18.2 or later.

iOS 18.3+

Recommended version. Most stable for RoomPlan and LiDAR scanning. No major known issues.

Device-specific issues

2020 iPad pro (4th gen) LiDAR detection

Some users report intermittent LiDAR detection issues on 2020 iPad Pro models running iOS 18.x and later.

Symptoms:

• “LiDAR sensor not available” message
• Scanning fails to start
• Measure app also fails to detect surfaces

Possible causes:

• Hardware calibration drift over time
• iOS LiDAR API changes in iOS 18

Solutions:

Restart device: Press and hold power button. Slide to power off. Wait 30 seconds. Power back on.

Reset all settings: Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings. This resets system settings but keeps your data. You will need to re-enter WiFi passwords.

Check for hardware failure: Open Apple’s Measure app. Point at flat surface. If Measure app cannot detect surfaces, contact Apple Support for hardware diagnostic.

Try another device: If available, test scanning with a newer iPad Pro or iPhone Pro model to rule out device-specific issues.

iPhone 12 pro Performance

The iPhone 12 Pro (first LiDAR iPhone, released 2020) has less RAM than newer Pro models and may experience performance limitations.

Symptoms:

• App crashes during long scans
• Slow processing after scanning
• Device overheating

Solutions:

Keep scans shorter: Limit scanning sessions to 10 minutes or less. Scan individual rooms instead of entire floors.

Close background apps: Double-tap home or swipe up. Close all apps before scanning.

Allow device to cool: If device feels hot, wait 10-15 minutes before continuing. Remove case during scanning.

Consider upgrading device: Newer iPhone Pro models (13 Pro and later) have more RAM and better thermal management.

Roomplan framework considerations

The Plans app uses Apple’s RoomPlan framework, which requires iOS 18+. This framework handles room scanning and object detection.

Why iOS 18+ only?

RoomPlan improvements: iOS 18 introduced significant improvements to RoomPlan including better object detection, improved room dimension accuracy, and enhanced LiDAR processing.

Framework availability: Earlier iOS versions have older RoomPlan versions with known bugs and limitations.

No backwards compatibility: RoomPlan in iOS 18+ uses different data formats incompatible with earlier iOS versions.

What this means for you

Cannot downgrade iOS: Once you update to iOS 18+, you cannot downgrade to iOS 17 without losing app functionality.

Device must support iOS 18: Older devices that cannot update to iOS 18 cannot use the Plans app. Check Apple’s iOS 18 compatibility list.

Lighting and tracking Performance

Research shows iOS tracking performance is significantly affected by lighting conditions.

Low light Performance

40% higher tracking failure rate occurs in poor lighting conditions (under 200 lux).

Symptoms:

• Frequent “Relocalizing” messages
• Tracking loss
• Poor scan quality
• Longer scanning times

Solutions:

Increase ambient lighting: Turn on all room lights. Open curtains for natural light. Use portable LED lights if needed.

Target 200+ lux: Typical office lighting is 300-500 lux. Living rooms are often 150-300 lux. Bright outdoor shade is 10,000+ lux.

Check lighting with iPhone: Some iPhone models have light sensor in Control Center (under flashlight widget). Or use a free light meter app.

ARKit and world tracking changes

iOS 18 vs iOS 17

If you previously used an app with ARWorldMap on iOS 17 and updated to iOS 18, you may notice behavioral changes:

World origin behavior: iOS 18 handles AR world origin differently than iOS 17. Saved AR world maps may not relocalize identically.

Impact on Plans app: The Plans app does not use ARWorldMap for multi-session persistence, so this does not affect scanning. Each scan session is independent.

Memory management changes

iOS 18 memory protection

iOS 18 added additional memory pressure protection to prevent overall system performance degradation.

What this means: Apps consuming excessive memory may be terminated sooner than on iOS 17. Typical apps get 1-2GB RAM before termination.

Impact on scanning: Long scanning sessions (20+ minutes) or scanning very large spaces may hit memory limits on older devices.

Solutions:

Break scans into shorter sessions: Scan individual rooms instead of entire floors.

Upload frequently: Uploading completed scans frees up device memory.

Restart app between scans: Force quit and restart the app to clear memory.

Close background apps: Ensure no other apps are running during scanning.

Updating iOS safely

Before updating

Backup device: Use iCloud or computer backup before major iOS updates.

Check storage: Ensure at least 5GB free storage for iOS update.

Upload pending scans: Upload any completed scans before updating iOS.

Charge battery: Keep device plugged in or at 50%+ battery during update.

After updating

Restart device: After iOS update completes, restart your device once.

Check app permissions: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. Verify the Plans app has camera access.

Test scanning: Do a quick test scan to verify functionality.

Still having issues

If you experience issues specific to your iOS version:

Contact support: Provide the following information:

• Device model (e.g., “iPhone 15 Pro”)
• iOS version (Settings > General > About > iOS Version)
• Specific error messages or symptoms
• When issue started (after iOS update?)

Check for app updates: Go to App Store. Tap your profile icon. Scroll to find the Plans app. Tap “Update” if available.

Report to Apple: If issues affect multiple apps (Measure, Camera, etc.), report to Apple via Feedback app or apple.com/feedback.

Related documentation

See iOS scanning issues documentation for general troubleshooting, iOS permissions issues documentation for permission problems, and FAQ documentation for common questions.