OwnScan Support

Questions or problems? Email claude@avatarelectricalservices.com.au. Please include your iPhone model and iOS version.

Common questions

Which iPhones and iPads can scan? Scanning needs LiDAR: iPhone 12 Pro or any later Pro model, or iPad Pro (2020 or later). The 2020 iPad Pro scans rooms only, because object scanning also needs an A14 chip or later. On other iPhones and iPads you can add the sample scans (Settings → Samples) to try viewing, measuring and exporting.

Why can't I scan objects on my iPhone? OwnScan scans objects and people with Apple's Object Capture. iOS doesn't offer it on every LiDAR model yet. Settings shows whether Object Capture is available on yours. Room scanning works on every LiDAR model.

Can I open models from other apps? Yes: + → Import Model… takes USDZ, OBJ and STL files from Files. STL is read as millimetres with Z up, as 3D-printing sites and slicers use. OBJ is read as metres, or as millimetres when it's larger than 10 units.

Where are my scans? On your iPhone, in the app's folder in the Files app (On My iPhone → OwnScan). They're never uploaded.

How do I rename, share or delete a scan? Touch and hold it in the list, or open it and tap its name at the top.

I bought Pro. How do I get it back on a new iPhone, or after reinstalling? Tap Settings → Restore Purchase, or Restore Purchase on the Pro screen. Use the same Apple Account you bought it with.

What does Pro include? OBJ, GLB and PLY exports; floor-plan reports as PDF, DXF and SVG; project reports with several rooms in one PDF; exporting what Make Printable makes; and dimension sheets with an object's width, depth and height. It's a one-time purchase, with no subscription. Your scans are never locked: if you don't have Pro, every scan still opens and exports as USDZ, STL, 3MF and PNG.

What units do exports use? STL and 3MF are in millimetres with Z up, as 3D-printing slicers expect. USDZ, OBJ, GLB and PLY are in metres.

How do I get the most accurate room scan? Turn the lights on and open curtains. Move slowly, at a steady pace, and turn the phone gently; the app tells you if you're too fast or the room is too dim. The white outlines are first guesses that correct themselves as the phone sees each object from another angle, so pause on furniture from two or three sides. Sweep every wall top to bottom, including corners, doors and windows, from 1 to 3 metres away. Open doors fully or close them, and move things that block a wall or window if you can. The LiDAR reaches about 5 metres: for taller walls, stand back and tilt slowly up to the top, then measure the height and enter it on the floor plan (Set Height on each wall).

How accurate are measurements? Measurements are estimates. Verify critical dimensions before cutting or ordering. To check and correct an object scan's scale, open it → Measure, measure something at least 200 mm long, and type the real length under Check scale.

My object scan has holes or won't print. Open it → Make Printable. It fills small holes, can cut a flat base and scale the model, and checks that it's watertight. If it still isn't, export STL and let your slicer repair it.

Building a model stopped when I left the app. iPhones can't build models in the background. Reopen the app and it picks up where it stopped.