1
Save a Reference
Tap the + button on the Home screen and select a photo of the object you want to find later.
2
Point & Search
Tap a saved reference to open Live Search. Pan your camera around — Eye Spy will scan the scene. The "Scan around" banner will fade once the AR map is ready.
3
Lock On
Teal sparkle dots appear on matching features. When the pill reads “Found”, the object has been recognized.
4
Pin to World
Tap “Pin to World” to anchor a floating AR label directly on the object. Walk away and come back — the label stays put.
5
Multi-Search
On the Home screen, tap the “+” badge on each card (or drag them) into the Multi-Search tray at the bottom, then tap the teal search button to find multiple objects simultaneously.
Why isn't Eye Spy finding my object?
Make sure you have good lighting and that the reference photo closely matches what the object currently looks like. Eye Spy works best on objects with distinct textures and patterns. Plain solid-color objects or highly reflective surfaces can be harder to detect. Try taking a new reference photo in the same environment where you'll be searching.
What does "Scan around to map the space" mean?
Eye Spy uses ARKit to build a 3D map of your environment before placing an AR label. The banner appears for the first few seconds, prompting you to move the camera gently around the area so ARKit can accumulate enough spatial data for accurate placement. Once the map is ready, the banner fades and the Pin to World button becomes fully bright.
How many objects can I search at once with Multi-Search?
Eye Spy can search for multiple objects simultaneously — there is no fixed limit. Performance may vary depending on your device's processor. To add items to Multi-Search, tap the + badge on any reference card on the Home screen, or long-press and drag a card into the tray at the bottom.
The AR label isn't placed on the right spot. How do I fix it?
The placement accuracy improves with more ARKit data. Try scanning longer before tapping Pin to World — move the camera slowly around the target object for 3–5 seconds. The Pin button dims and shows "Building map…" while ARKit is still accumulating data; wait for it to brighten before pinning. If the label is off, tap the ↺ reset button at the top-right to return to search mode and try again.
Can I use Eye Spy without an internet connection?
Yes, fully. Eye Spy runs entirely on your device. All image processing, feature matching, and AR tracking happens locally. No internet connection is required.
What devices are supported?
Eye Spy requires iOS 17 or later and an iPhone with A12 Bionic or later (iPhone XS / XR and newer). ARKit is required, so the app is iPhone-only.
How do I delete or rename a saved reference?
On the Home screen, tap Edit in the top-right to enter edit mode. Select one or more items using the checkboxes, then tap Rename (single item) or Delete. You can also long-press any card for a context menu with Rename and Delete options.
What does the compass arrow mean in AR mode?
When a pinned object moves off-screen, Eye Spy shows a teal compass arrow at the edge of the display pointing toward the AR label. Follow the arrow to navigate back to the object.
