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To turn on AR in Pokémon GO, tap the AR option when it appears at the start of a supported wild encounter. If you have dismissed that prompt, open the game’s Settings and enable AR there. For a catch, scan a safe, well-lit area slowly until the game detects a flat surface; for photos, use GO Snapshot’s separate placement and camera controls.
How to use AR to catch a wild Pokémon
- Find a safe place to stand and move. Choose an open, well-lit area where you can look at your phone without walking into hazards.
- Turn on AR. At the start of a supported wild encounter, tap the AR option. If you already dismissed the prompt, open the game’s Settings and enable AR.
- Scan the surroundings. Pan the camera slowly over the area, including a flat surface such as the ground or a tabletop. When the game detects the environment, tall grass appears. If it does not, try a brighter, less obstructed spot and avoid quick or shaky movements. See the Pokémon GO Help Center’s AR catching guide.
- Tap the tall grass. The Pokémon appears in the scene.
- Approach carefully and watch its awareness meter. Move slowly; rushing toward it can make it flee or retreat into the grass. If the meter fills, a Nanab Berry may help lower its awareness. Catching it without raising awareness can earn the Expert Handler bonus of extra Stardust and XP.
- Throw a Poké Ball. The throw works as it does in a regular wild encounter.
Which AR rules apply to encounters and photos?
Pokémon GO has different AR rules for catching, Buddy interaction and photographing stored Pokémon. The game’s AR changes guide says most wild encounters retain the familiar AR option, while some encounters that previously required AR—including Mew and Celebi—no longer require it.
| Activity | AR requirement or fallback | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Wild encounter | AR is available for most encounters, but is not required for every encounter. | Scan the environment, tap the grass, approach and throw. |
| Buddy interaction or photo | AR is normally required. If AR is disabled or unsupported, the guide says you can disable it completely and use a static background for Buddy interaction and photos. | Open the Buddy page and tap Play. |
| GO Snapshot of a Pokémon in storage | AR is required except when photographing your Buddy. The guide also describes a no-AR option for taking photos of wild Pokémon on unsupported devices. | Open the Pokémon’s detail page and tap the camera icon. |
These are distinct workflows: catching uses movement and an awareness meter, while Snapshot is about placing Pokémon and composing a picture. Check the current in-game controls if a prompt or option differs, since support guidance and feature availability can change.
How to take AR photos with GO Snapshot
Open Snapshot
- During a wild encounter, tap the AR toggle in the upper-right corner.
- From Pokémon storage, open a Pokémon’s detail page and tap the camera icon.
- For your Buddy, open its page and tap Play.
Place and pose Pokémon
- Select up to three Pokémon for a group photo.
- Pan the phone slowly until yellow footsteps and sparkling effects appear on the ground.
- Tap the footsteps to place a Pokémon, or drag one from the selection bar. To position a Flying-type Pokémon in the air, adjust the phone’s tilt and the blue horizon line.
- Move to frame the shot. Tap a Pokémon to make it pose, or swipe to turn it toward the camera.
- Tap the Camera button. The photo saves to your device if photo permissions are enabled.
GO Snapshot also offers Reality Blending, which lets Pokémon interact with the scene and move behind objects; Burst Mode, which takes three pictures per shutter press; and self-timer choices of 5 or 10 seconds. The GO Snapshot instructions describe the controls.
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- Pikachu hits the books and scribbles his way back to school
- Wireless controller with Bluetooth 5.0 technology
- Compact ergonomic shell with standard sized buttons & controls
- Features motion controls* and mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons
- LEDs for player number, button mapping, and low battery warning
Check whether your device supports the AR feature you want
Compatibility differs by feature, so meeting the catching guide’s requirement does not necessarily establish that GO Snapshot AR photography will work on the same device. The Pokémon GO Help Center lists the following requirements:
| Feature | Published device requirement |
|---|---|
| AR catching | iPhone 6s or newer running iOS 11 or later; or Android 7.0 or later with ARCore support. The guide says supported Android devices must install ARCore from Google Play. |
| GO Snapshot AR photography | iPhone models running iOS 15 or later; or 64-bit Android devices that support ARCore. The Snapshot guide says photos can still be taken without AR support, but use a static background. |
These requirements come from separate support pages, not one universal device threshold. Verify current guidance in the catching guide and Snapshot guide before troubleshooting; device support can change. You do not need a new phone if your existing device supports the feature you want.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Works with Nintendo Switch 2. C button not available
- 3.5mm audio jack , Mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons
- Detachable 10ft (3m) USB Cable
- No batteries required
- Officially licensed by Nintendo with two-year limited warranty – visit PowerA.com/Support
Rank #4
- Ergonomic controller design with Nintendo Switch button layout
- Detachable 10ft (3m) USB cable with hook-and-loop strap
- Official licensed product with two-year warranty – register at PowerA.com
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- 3.5mm audio jack
- Mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons
- Detachable 10ft (3m) USB Cable
- No batteries required
- Officially licensed by Nintendo with two-year limited warranty – visit PowerA.com/Support
Rank #2
- Works with Nintendo Switch 2. C button not available
- Wireless controller with Bluetooth 5.0 technology
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery: Up to 30 hours per charge
- Two mappable Advanced Gaming Buttons
- Embedded anti-friction rings for smooth thumbstick control
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