# Augmented reality

Source: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/augmented-reality
Skill: hig-technologies
Snapshot: 2025-02-02

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<!-- hig-doctor:attribution -->
> **Source**: Apple Inc. Canonical content at https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/augmented-reality.
> This file is a structured index of that content, snapshot 2025-02-02.
> Apple HIG text and imagery are © Apple Inc.; this repository provides organization and cross-referencing for AI agent consumption only.

# Augmented reality

**Offer AR features only on capable devices.**

## Best practices

**Let people use the entire display.**

**Strive for convincing illusions when placing realistic objects.**

**Consider how virtual objects with reflective surfaces show the environment.**

**Use audio and haptics to enhance the immersive experience.**

**Minimize text in the environment.**

**If additional information or controls are necessary, consider displaying them in screen space.**

**Consider using indirect controls when you need to provide persistent controls.**

**Anticipate that people will use your app in a wide variety of real-world environments.**

**Be mindful of people’s comfort.**

**If your app encourages people to move, introduce motion gradually.**

**Be mindful of people’s safety.**

## Providing coaching

**Hide unnecessary app UI while people are using a coaching view.**

**If necessary, offer a custom coaching experience.**

## Helping people place objects

**Show people when to locate a surface and place an object.**

**When people place an object, immediately integrate that object into the AR environment.**

**Consider guiding people toward offscreen virtual objects.**

**Avoid trying to precisely align objects with the edges of detected surfaces.**

**Incorporate plane classification information to inform object placement.**

## Designing object interactions

**Let people use direct manipulation to interact with objects when possible.**

**Let people directly interact with virtual objects using standard, familiar gestures.**

**In general, keep interactions simple.**

**Respond to gestures within reasonable proximity of interactive virtual objects.**

**Let people initiate object scaling when it makes sense in your app.**

**Be wary of potentially conflicting gestures.**

**Strive for virtual object movement that’s consistent with the physics of your app’s AR environment.**

**Explore even more engaging methods of interaction.**

## Offering a multiuser experience

**Consider allowing people occlusion.**

**When possible, let new participants enter a multiuser AR experience.**

## Reacting to real-world objects

**When a detected image first disappears, consider delaying the removal of virtual objects that are attached to it.**

**Limit the number of reference images in use at one time.**

**Limit the number of reference images requiring an accurate position.**

## Communicating with people

**If you must display instructional text, use approachable terminology.**

**In a three-dimensional context, prefer 3D hints.**

**Make important text readable.**

**If necessary, provide a way to get more information.**

## Handling interruptions

**Consider using the system-provided coaching view to help people relocalize.**

**Consider hiding previously placed virtual objects during relocalization.**

**Minimize interruptions if your app supports both AR and non-AR experiences.**

**Allow people to cancel relocalization.**

**Indicate when the front-facing camera is unable to track a face for more than about half a second.**

## Suggesting problem resolutions

**Let people reset the experience if it doesn’t meet their expectations.**

**Suggest possible fixes if problems occur.**

## Icons and badges

**Use the AR glyph as intended.**

**Maintain minimum clear space.**

**Use the AR badges as intended and don’t alter them.**

**Prefer the AR badge to the glyph-only badge.**

**Use badging only when your app contains a mixture of objects that can be viewed in AR and objects that cannot.**

**Keep badge placement consistent and clear.**

**Maintain minimum clear space.**

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For the complete guidance, including worked examples and illustrations, see the canonical page: https://developer.apple.com/design/human-interface-guidelines/augmented-reality