The Magnifier app on the iPhone and iPad was originally designed as a simple accessibility tool to help users read small text on restaurant menus or prescription bottles using the device’s camera. However, in recent iOS updates, Apple has transformed the Magnifier into a powerful environmental awareness tool for users who are blind or have low vision. By leveraging the advanced LiDAR scanner and machine learning capabilities built into modern Pro models, the Magnifier app can now actively scan your surroundings and use audio, haptic, and visual feedback to detect people and doors, helping you navigate unfamiliar spaces safely.
Hardware Requirements
Because environmental detection relies on calculating precise 3D depth maps of the physical world in real-time, these features are only available on Apple devices equipped with a LiDAR Scanner. Standard iPhones do not have this hardware.
You must have one of the following devices running iOS 16 (or later):
- iPhone 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max
- iPhone 13 Pro, 13 Pro Max
- iPhone 14 Pro, 14 Pro Max
- iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max
- iPad Pro 11-inch (2nd generation or later)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (4th generation or later)
Enabling People and Door Detection
The Magnifier app is pre-installed on your device, but the detection tools are hidden in a specific sub-menu.
- Open the Magnifier app. (If you cannot find it on your home screen, swipe down to open Spotlight search and type “Magnifier”).
- Look at the bottom right corner of the screen. You will see an icon containing a small square with brackets around it. Tap this icon to open Detection Mode.
- The screen will change slightly. On the left side of the screen, you will now see icons for different detection modes.
- Tap the icon showing two abstract figures to enable People Detection.
- Tap the icon showing an open doorway to enable Door Detection.
How People Detection Works
When People Detection is active, point your iPhone’s camera forward as you walk. The app uses the LiDAR scanner to measure the exact distance between your device and any humans in its field of view.
- Visual Feedback: A box will appear around the person on your screen, accompanied by a constantly updating text label showing their exact distance (e.g., “5 feet”).
- Audio Feedback: The iPhone will announce the distance out loud (if VoiceOver is enabled). Furthermore, the app uses a stereo panning effect. If a person is standing to your left, the audio alert will play louder in your left earbud.
- Haptic Feedback: As a person gets closer to you, the haptic vibrations on the iPhone will pulse faster, providing a physical warning of proximity.
How Door Detection Works
Navigating to a new office building can be challenging if you cannot find the entrance. Door Detection solves this by analyzing the camera feed for rectangular door frames.
When you point your camera at a door, the Magnifier app will tell you:
- How far away the door is.
- Whether the door is currently open or closed.
- How the door opens (e.g., “Push to open”, “Pull”, or “Knob”).
- Any text written on or near the door (e.g., “Restroom”, “Exit”, or “Room 402”).
This allows you to scan a long hallway with your camera and receive real-time audio descriptions of every entrance you pass, ensuring you find the correct room without needing to physically touch every door frame.