An ARKit-compatible Apple device running iOS 12.0 or later
(deployment target of iOS 12.0 or later required)
Using Augmented Faces
The following steps use the Augmented Faces sample app to show you the critical tasks for configuring and building an app with Augmented Faces capabilities.
Get the Augmented Faces sample app
Clone or download the latest ARCore SDK for iOS from GitHub to obtain the sample app code.
Open a Terminal or Finder window and navigate to the folder where you cloned or downloaded the SDK.
You can find the sample app code in /Examples/AugmentedFacesExample.
Run pod install
The AugmentedFacesSample app ships with a Podfile preconfigured with the ARCore SDK and iOS versions that you'll need. To install these dependencies:
Open a Terminal window and run pod install from the folder where the Xcode project exists. This generates an *.xcworkspace file that you'll use later to build and run the app.
Build and run the app
Open the .xcworkspace (not the .xcodeproj) file for the project in Xcode.
Open the target’s general settings and change the bundle identifier.
Hit Cmd+R or click Run. Use a physical device, not the simulator, to work with Augmented Faces. The device should be connected to your development machine via USB.
Try out the sample app
Build and run the sample app from the .xcworkspace file to launch it on your device.
If prompted, grant camera permissions to the app. ARCore then starts detecting faces visible in the camera. Currently, only once face is detected at a time.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-07-14 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThis guide explains how to set up your development environment for Augmented Faces, apply 2D textures, and attach 3D objects to detected faces in iOS apps.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eIt requires Xcode 13.0+, Cocoapods 1.4.0+ (if using), and an ARKit-compatible device running iOS 12.0+ for development.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe provided sample app demonstrates these capabilities and can be used as a starting point for your own AR experiences.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo get started, clone the ARCore SDK, run \u003ccode\u003epod install\u003c/code\u003e, and build/run the sample app on a physical device.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eFurther documentation and resources are available for in-depth learning and development.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],["To utilize Augmented Faces, first, obtain the sample app by downloading the ARCore SDK for iOS. Then, install dependencies using `pod install` in the project directory, generating an `.xcworkspace` file. Open this file in Xcode, change the bundle identifier, and run the app on a physical ARKit-compatible device (not the simulator) with iOS 12.0 or later. Grant camera access to let ARCore detect faces. Finally, use the camera to check if it detects a face.\n"],null,["# Augmented Faces quickstart for iOS\n\nThis guide shows you how to:\n\n- Set up your development environment to work with Augmented Faces\n- Apply 2D textures and attach 3D objects to detected faces\n\nPrerequisites\n-------------\n\n- [Xcode](https://developer.apple.com/xcode/) version 13.0 or later\n- [Cocoapods](https://cocoapods.org/) 1.4.0 or later if using Cocoapods\n- An ARKit-compatible Apple device running iOS 12.0 or later (deployment target of iOS 12.0 or later required)\n\n| **Note:** Beginning with ARCore 1.12, all ARKit-compatible devices are supported.\n\nUsing Augmented Faces\n---------------------\n\nThe following steps use the [Augmented Faces sample app](https://github.com/google-ar/arcore-ios-sdk/tree/master/Examples/AugmentedFacesExample) to show you the critical tasks for configuring and building an app with Augmented Faces capabilities.\n\n### Get the Augmented Faces sample app\n\n1. Clone or download the latest [ARCore SDK for iOS](https://github.com/google-ar/arcore-ios-sdk/releases) from GitHub to obtain the sample app code.\n2. Open a Terminal or Finder window and navigate to the folder where you cloned or downloaded the SDK.\n3. You can find the sample app code in `/Examples/AugmentedFacesExample`.\n\n### Run `pod install`\n\nThe AugmentedFacesSample app ships with a Podfile preconfigured with the ARCore SDK and iOS versions that you'll need. To install these dependencies:\n\n1. Open a Terminal window and run `pod install` from the folder where the Xcode project exists. This generates an `*.xcworkspace` file that you'll use later to build and run the app.\n\n### Build and run the app\n\n1. Open the `.xcworkspace` (not the `.xcodeproj`) file for the project in Xcode.\n2. Open the target's general settings and change the bundle identifier.\n3. Hit Cmd+R or click Run. Use a physical device, not the simulator, to work with Augmented Faces. The device should be connected to your development machine via USB.\n\n| **Note:** Since the simulator does not have a camera, apps using Augmented Faces must be run on a physical device.\n\n### Try out the sample app\n\n1. Build and run the sample app from the `.xcworkspace` file to launch it on your device.\n2. If prompted, grant camera permissions to the app. ARCore then starts detecting faces visible in the camera. Currently, only once face is detected at a time.\n3. Make sure that the camera is facing the user.\n\nNext steps\n----------\n\n- See the [Augmented Faces Developer Guide for iOS](/ar/develop/ios/augmented-faces/developer-guide) to explore the sample app code and learn more about working with Augmented Faces in your own apps.\n- Review the [ARCore iOS API Reference](/ar/reference/ios).\n- Watch the following video on how to get started with Augmented Faces on iOS:"]]
