Turn iPhone 3D scans into STL files
Yes — an iPhone or iPad can scan a real object and produce an STL file ready for printing. Forma3D runs Apple Object Capture photogrammetry on supported devices, imports the resulting mesh, lets you repair and rescale it, and exports STL, 3MF, or USDZ — the whole pipeline stays on the device.
Updated October 30, 2026 · Published by Forma3D
Scan-to-STL workflow
- Scan — on supported devices, capture the object with LiDAR + photogrammetry; pick high, medium, or low reconstruction detail
- Import — the scan lands in Forma3D as a USDZ mesh
- Repair — close holes, bridge open edges, fix non-manifold geometry
- Prepare — rescale in millimeters, crop artifacts, optionally paint faces for multi-color output
- Export — write STL for any slicer, or colored 3MF for multi-filament printing
Which devices can scan
| Device | Scanning support |
|---|---|
| iPhone 12 Pro and later Pro models | LiDAR + Object Capture |
| iPad Pro (2020 and later) | LiDAR + Object Capture |
| Other iPhones / iPads | Photogrammetry via Object Capture (no LiDAR depth) |
STL vs 3MF export after scanning
Export STL when you need maximum slicer compatibility or a plain single-material print. Export 3MF when the model carries painted regions — 3MF preserves per-face color data that STL discards.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn iPhone scans into STL files?
Yes. On LiDAR-equipped iPhones (Pro models) Forma3D scans objects with Apple Object Capture photogrammetry, then exports the mesh as STL, 3MF, or USDZ — all on device, no desktop needed.
Which iPhones can 3D scan with LiDAR?
iPhone Pro and Pro Max models from iPhone 12 Pro onward include a LiDAR scanner. iPad Pro models since 2020 also have LiDAR. Non-Pro iPhones can still use photogrammetry via Object Capture.
Can I edit the scan before exporting to STL?
Yes. After scanning, Forma3D opens the USDZ mesh in its editor — you can crop, repair non-manifold geometry, rescale in millimeters, and paint faces before exporting STL or 3MF.
Get started
Forma3D is free to download on the App Store; full-access features are available via in-app purchase.
Read more: LiDAR 3D scanner guide, STL mesh editor, colored 3MF export, print without Bambu Studio.