Wondering how to create and view your own 3D photos for your Meta Quest 3/3S headset? It’s easy, completely free and only takes a few minutes with the new Into the Scaniverse WebXR app.

If you haven’t tried this app before, you are in for a treat. This is a whole new way to immerse yourself in an amazing new kind of 3D photo called 3D Gaussian splats. Don’t be surprised if you get hooked.

NOTE: You need an iPhone 12 or later or iPad with A12 chip. Into the Scaniverse does not yet support viewing 3D photos captured on Android phones (but it will soon!).

If you are already a seasoned Scaniverse user with a library full of splats you’re ready to view, skip to step four.

Check out the FAQ for Into the Scaniverse if you have more questions.

Step one: Download Scaniverse

  • Download the Scaniverse mobile app for iOS, if you haven’t already.

  • Open the app and create a free Niantic Labs user account, or sign in if you already have one.

Step two: Capture your 3D photo, aka your splat

  • To begin capturing your 3D photo, click the red button on the home screen.

  • Choose the “splat” option. (If you’re curious why splats are better for XR than meshes, read about how splats are changing 3D graphics.)

  • Press the red button to record. Capture your scene for 1-3 minutes. Scan objects and surfaces from a variety of angles. Walk around at a slow, natural pace, and be careful to avoid obstacles.

  • Press the red square to end recording.

Step three: Process your splat

  • Click “Process Now.” (You can process later if you want to create another capture immediately.)

  • Leave Scaniverse open while processing—this will only take 1-2 minutes.

  • Once processing is complete, you can choose to enhance your scan.

  • Post your splat to the map (as long as it’s in a public place that doesn’t show people).

  • If you are not posting to the map yet, save your splat and close it. Your scan is now in your library.

Fun fact: Scaniverse’s on-device processing is unique among 3D scanning apps. You don’t have to join a cloud processing queue to see your scans. You can check your scan while you’re still on site, even if you don’t have data service.

Step four: Upload your 3D photos

If you haven’t uploaded your splat yet, do that now.

  • Go to your Library and open the scan you want to view.

  • Click on the “Share” button near the bottom of the screen. You’ll see these options:

  • If your splat shows a public place and you want to post it for anyone to see, click “Post to Map.”

  • If you want to create an unlisted splat, click “Share Link.” Note: You don’t have to send the link anywhere. Just creating the link uploads it for private use with Into the Scaniverse.

Step five: Connect your account to Into the Scaniverse

For this step, you need both your Meta Quest headset and your iPhone (or iPad) handy.

  1. Put on your headset and use the browser to navigate to IntotheScaniverse.com. Click on the button that says “Enter VR.”

  • Launch Into the Scaniverse.

  • Use your Meta Quest controllers to click on Profile.

  • A window will pop open prompting you to link your Scaniverse profile. Click Connect. You will see a code like this:

  • Pick up your iOS device and open Scaniverse.

  • Click on your Library. Open the Settings menu on the top right.

  • Look for the option that says “Authorize Meta Quest.”

  • Click on “Authorize Meta Quest.” Enter the code from Into the Scaniverse here, then click “Submit.”

Now you’re connected!

Step six: View your splats with Into the Scaniverse

  • Put your Meta Quest headset back on.

  • Click on Profile. You will see your public and unlisted splats.

  • Use the controllers to click on the splat you would like to view.

That’s all there is to it!

Once your account is connected, you can view your splats. The whole process from capture to upload takes less than ten minutes.

Bonus step: Share your splats

  1. Open your splat in Scaniverse and click on “Share Link.”

  2. Send the link to your splat in a text message or email. If your friend has Scaniverse, clicking on the link will open it in the app. If not, clicking the link will open it in a Web browser.

  3. If your friend has a Meta Quest headset and wants to see your splat with Into the Scaniverse, they need to open the scan with Scaniverse and click “Like.”

  4. The splat will appear in their “My Likes” collection in Into the Scaniverse.

Happy splatting!