Headsets are a good way to judge a product at real size. You can walk around a sofa, crouch to look under a table, or check how a lamp sits next to a window. You do not need a special app for this. Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest can both open a 3D model in AR from a normal web link. This guide shows how, step by step.

What you need

  • A 3D model. GLB is the best format because it works everywhere. GLTF and USDZ also work.
  • A link to the model. Upload it to a web AR viewer such as ARView's free AR viewer and you get a link and a QR code.
  • The headset's own browser. Safari on Vision Pro, or the Meta Quest browser.

How to view a 3D model on Apple Vision Pro

  1. Open the link in Safari. Type it, open it from Messages or Mail, or look at the QR code with the headset.
  2. Look at the model on the page. Safari shows it in true 3D inside the web page. Pinch and drag to turn it around.
  3. Tap View in AR. The model opens in Apple's AR viewer and you can place it in your room at real size.
  4. Move and resize it. Pinch and drag to move it. Use two hands to scale it, and walk around it to see every side.

Vision Pro opens USDZ files in AR. If you upload a GLB to ARView, a USDZ copy is made for you, so the same link works.

How to view a 3D model on Meta Quest

  1. Open the link in the Meta Quest browser. You can also send it from your phone with the Meta Horizon app, or type it in.
  2. Tap View in AR. The browser asks to start an immersive session. Allow it.
  3. See it in your room. Quest 3, Quest 3S and Quest Pro show the model in passthrough, so it sits in your real space.
  4. Walk around it. Use the controllers or your hands to grab and turn it.

Meta Quest reads GLB directly. A USDZ-only model will not open on Quest, so upload GLB if you can.

Which file format to use

Use GLB whenever you can. One GLB covers iPhone, Android, Meta Quest and, with ARView's automatic copy, Apple Vision Pro. If you only have a USDZ from an Apple app, it will work on iPhone and Vision Pro but not on Android or Quest. Our guide on opening USDZ files on Android and Windows explains how to convert it.

Keep files light for headsets too. Under 10MB with textures of 2048px or less loads quickly over Wi-Fi.

If View in AR does not appear

  • Wrong browser: links opened inside another app's preview may not start AR. Open the same link in Safari or the Meta Quest browser.
  • Passthrough off on Quest: turn on passthrough in the headset settings and reload the page.
  • Old software: update visionOS or the Quest system software, then try again.
  • Very large file: big models can take a while to load. Try a smaller version of the model.

What does not work on headsets yet

Video AR, where a video plays on top of a printed image, needs the browser to read the camera. Headset browsers do not give web pages camera access, so Video AR stays a phone experience for now. Animated models play on Quest and on phones. On Vision Pro the AR view shows the model without animation.

💡 Try it now

Upload a GLB on the ARView home page, then open the link on your headset. More detail on the AR on Vision Pro and Meta Quest page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an app to view 3D models on Vision Pro?

No. Safari on Vision Pro shows USDZ models in 3D and opens them in AR with Apple's built-in viewer. An ARView link handles this for you.

Can Meta Quest open GLB files in AR?

Yes, from a web page that supports WebXR. Open an ARView link in the Meta Quest browser and tap View in AR to see the GLB model in passthrough.

Which file format works on both headsets?

Upload GLB. Meta Quest uses it directly, and ARView makes a USDZ copy for Vision Pro and iPhone.

Why does View in AR not appear on my Quest?

Check that you are in the Meta Quest browser, not a link preview inside another app, and that passthrough is turned on in your headset settings. Then reload the page.