Capture Modes

How to Use Space Mode (Non-LiDAR Devices)

Space Mode captures detailed 3D models of rooms, buildings, and outdoor areas using your device's camera, with no LiDAR sensor required. In this article you will learn which devices are supported, how to prepare and run a scan, and how to choose a processing option.

Device Requirements

Non-LiDAR Space Mode needs a reasonably recent device with enough memory to reconstruct a scan.

Supported devices

Any iPhone or iPad released in 2021 or later, with at least 4 GB of RAM
iPhone: iPhone 13 or newer
iPad: iPad mini (6th generation), iPad (10th generation), or newer

Checking your device: Go to Settings, then General, then About to find your model. If your device is older than 2021 or has less than 4 GB of RAM, non-LiDAR Space Mode will not be available.

Plan Availability

Space Mode for non-LiDAR devices is available on every plan, and is currently iOS only.

Plan	iOS	Web	Android
Free	Available	Not available	Not available
Basic	Available	Not available	Not available
ProLEGACY	Available	Not available	Not available
Business	Available	Not available	Not available
Enterprise	Available	Not available	Not available

What You Get

A non-LiDAR Space Mode scan produces a detailed 3D mesh model capturing the surfaces, textures, and objects in your space. It works for interiors, individual objects, outdoor areas, and architectural detail, and suits virtual tours, design visualisation, and measurement.

Floorplans can also be generated from a non-LiDAR Space Mode capture, so a LiDAR device is no longer required to produce one.

Before You Scan

1Prepare the space

Plan your route through the space and keep it clear. Open any doors you will pass through before you start.

Lighting. Make sure the whole space is adequately lit.
Obstacles. Move anything off the floor that would block your path.
Mirrors. Cover or avoid large mirrors and reflective glass, which interfere with capture.

2Open Space Mode

Tap the camera button in your Library to open the capture window.
Select Space from the mode strip.

Battery: Scanning uses a noticeable amount of battery, though how much depends on your device, the size of the space, and how long you scan for. Start at 80% or above if you are covering a large area or several rooms.

Scanning

3Position and start

Stand in a corner, which gives the app clear reference points for tracking.
Aim your device at the opposite corner.
Tap the shutter to start scanning.
Move your phone slowly left and right so the app can build an initial sense of the room.

4Choose a shutter type

Auto (default). Captures continuously as you move. Your device buzzes to confirm it is collecting data. Walk through the space at a steady pace.
Manual. You decide when each photo is taken. Needs at least 20 images with roughly 70% overlap between consecutive shots for reconstruction to succeed.

Manual mode: Take as few photos as you can of textureless surfaces such as blank walls. Where you do need to capture a blank wall, step back so the frame also includes something with texture.

5Move at walking pace

Move around the space steadily, at roughly 2 feet per second. Moving faster than that causes tracking problems. Watch the on-screen indicators to confirm the scan is capturing.

If you lose tracking: Stand still and slowly pan your device around the space. The app will relocate itself and scanning will continue.

6Cover walls and ceiling

Scan from floor to ceiling on every wall. Complete geometry is what makes measurements accurate later.

Tilt up to catch ceiling corners and edges.
Scan behind furniture where you can reach.
Include doors, windows, and architectural features.
Keep your movement steady throughout.

7Complete the room

Walk the whole space and check for areas that still need coverage before you finish.

Scanning more than one level

Space Mode can capture several floors in a single session. It uses the same technique as a single-level scan, extended vertically, and the thing that matters most is keeping tracking unbroken as you move between levels.

Start on the lowest level. Begin at the bottom of the space and work upwards, rather than starting partway up.
Finish that floor before moving on. Cover the whole level, then head for the stairs.
Scan stairways thoroughly. Capture stairs from top, middle, and bottom, including railings, steps, and the surrounding walls.
Move slowly between levels so tracking holds.
Capture connecting ceilings, particularly above stairs.
Repeat going up, completing each level before climbing to the next.

Stairs are the weak point. Transitional spaces are what join your levels together, so scan them thoroughly. A gap here can leave levels disconnected.

8Finish and process

When the space is fully covered, tap Done.

Stay connected if you are using Cloud processing.
Keep the app open while processing runs.

Processing Options

You can process a capture on your device or in the cloud.

Option	What it does	Best for
On Device	Processes the capture locally on your iPhone or iPad, with no internet connection needed.	Smaller spaces, quick scans, and situations where connectivity is limited.
Cloud	Processes the capture on Polycam's servers, using more processing power than a phone has available.	Larger spaces, multi-level captures, and anything where you want the highest quality.

Do not leave the screen while processing. Closing the app or letting your phone sleep during processing can cause it to fail.

Storage and Syncing

On Device processing keeps the capture on your phone. Cloud processing stores it on Polycam's servers. If you process on device, you can upload the capture afterwards to back it up to the cloud.

Uploading a locally processed capture to the cloud

Deleting the app deletes local captures. Anything stored only on your device is permanently removed and cannot be recovered. Sync captures you care about to the cloud before uninstalling the app or moving to a new device.

Troubleshooting

Before finishing a scan, check that every area is covered and surfaces look complete. A good capture has smooth 3D surfaces with even texture coverage.

Problem	Usual cause and fix
Tracking lost	Moving too quickly, or not enough light. Stand still and pan slowly to relocate.
Missing coverage	Areas were not fully captured. Go back and scan them before finishing.
Processing failed	Poor connection, or the device is out of storage.
Blurry capture	The device was rotated too quickly. Turn it slowly to avoid motion blur.
Patchy or noisy surfaces	Lighting was uneven or too dim. Scan again with more even light.

Best conditions

Scans come out best in evenly lit spaces with few reflective surfaces and a steady hand. Avoid very dark rooms, and avoid strong directional sunlight, which casts harsh shadows that confuse reconstruction.

Free space

Captures are stored on your device unless you choose Cloud processing. Keep at least 2 GB free before starting a scan.

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