visionOS#visionOS 1

Apple has reportedly been working on and conceptualizing visionOS throughout the 2010s and early 2020s.{{Cite news |last=Mickle |first=Tripp |date=January 19, 2024 |title=Apple Takes a Humble Approach to Launching Its Newest Device |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/19/technology/apple-vision-pro-augmented-reality.html |access-date=January 20, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} Internally codenamed Borealis,{{Cite news |date=January 8, 2023 |title=Apple Will Talk Up Its Mixed-Reality Headset in 2023 But Not Much Else |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-01-08/when-will-apple-launch-the-reality-pro-mixed-reality-headset-apple-2023-devices-lcnfzkc7 |access-date=January 27, 2024 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}} it was officially revealed to the public at Apple's WWDC23 event alongside the Vision Pro. Apple stated the two would release in early 2024.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Adi |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Apple Vision Pro is Apple's new $3,499 AR headset |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23738968/apple-vision-pro-ar-headset-features-specs-price-release-date-wwdc-2023 |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=The Verge |language=en}} App Store guidelines for the operating system similarly state that developers should refer to visionOS software as "spatial computing experiences" or "vision apps", and avoid the use of terms such as "augmented reality" and "mixed reality".{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Jonny |date=January 9, 2024 |title=How to think about Apple and spatial computing |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3712160/how-to-think-about-apple-and-spatial-computing.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203132609/https://www.computerworld.com/article/3712160/how-to-think-about-apple-and-spatial-computing.html |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=Computerworld |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Apple asks developers not to refer to their visionOS apps as 'AR' or 'VR' |url=https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/08/apple-visionos-apps-ar-vr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240205173446/https://9to5mac.com/2024/01/08/apple-visionos-apps-ar-vr |archive-date=February 5, 2024 |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=9to5mac}}

During the event, The Walt Disney Company announced plans to develop spatial computing apps for visionOS;{{Cite web |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Disney Plus is coming to Apple's Vision Pro headset |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23749382/apple-vision-pro-headset-disney-plus-tv-movies-sports-wwdc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605194618/https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23749382/apple-vision-pro-headset-disney-plus-tv-movies-sports-wwdc |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=The Verge}} Disney+ currently offers features such as streaming of selected titles in stereoscopic 3D, and they also offer 3D environments based on the El Capitan Theatre and locations from Disney-owned franchises.{{Cite web |last=Goldsmith |first=Jill |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Apple Vision Pro Unveils Disney+ Features, More Streaming Apps & 3D Movies As Bob Iger Calls Mixed Reality Headset "A Revolutionary Platform" |url=https://deadline.com/2024/01/apple-vision-pro-disney-streaming-apps-3d-movies-1235794007/ |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

The operating system was initially planned to be released as xrOS before the name was changed reportedly days before its announcement, after the WWDC23 keynote and developer sessions had already been filmed.{{Cite web |date=June 9, 2023 |title=Apple visionOS was called 'xrOS' before last-minute change, WWDC23 keynote and developer sessions confirm it |url=https://www.theapplepost.com/2023/06/09/apple-visionos-was-called-xros-before-last-minute-change-wwdc23-keynote-and-developer-sessions-confirm-it/ |access-date=October 13, 2023 |website=The Apple Post |language=en-GB}} References to xrOS are still present throughout visionOS development materials. On January 8, 2024, Apple announced that the Vision Pro with visionOS would be available in the US on February 2, 2024, with pre-orders beginning on January 19.{{Cite web |title=Apple Vision Pro available in the U.S. on February 2 |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/01/apple-vision-pro-available-in-the-us-on-february-2/ |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}}

From June 5–12, 2023, Apple released 35 free virtual sessions covering visionOS development as part of WWDC23. On June 21, 2023, Apple released Xcode 15 Beta 2, which was the first Xcode beta to include a software development kit for visionOS and Reality Composer Pro, a tool to create 3D content for visionOS.{{Cite web |title=visionOS SDK now available - Latest News - Apple Developer |url=https://developer.apple.com/news/?id=8sntwknb |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=developer.apple.com |language=en}} Xcode 15 launched without these features, which were eventually added in Xcode 15.2 on January 8, 2024,{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Apple releases Xcode 15.2 |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/01/08/xcode-152-arrives-featuring-support-for-apple-vision-pro-app-creation |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=AppleInsider |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Apple Releases New Versions of TestFlight and Xcode With Vision Pro Support, Starts Accepting visionOS Apps |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/08/apple-releases-vision-pro-updates-testflight-xcode/ |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=MacRumors |language=en}} the same day that Apple started accepting submissions for the visionOS App Store.

During the WWDC23 keynote, Apple revealed it was working with Unity Technologies to support the Unity engine on visionOS,{{Cite web |last=Novet |first=Jordan |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Unity stock jumps 17% on Apple Vision Pro partnership |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/05/unity-stock-jumps-as-much-as-11percent-on-apple-vision-pro-partnership.html |access-date=June 7, 2023 |website=CNBC |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Microsoft Word, Excel, and Teams are all coming to Apple's new Vision Pro headset |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23749947/apple-vision-pro-headset-microsoft-word-excel-teams |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605194642/https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23749947/apple-vision-pro-headset-microsoft-word-excel-teams |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=The Verge}} and that Unity would be releasing development tools for 3D games on Vision Pro, which launched in beta on July 19, 2023.{{Cite web |title=What you need to know about Unity PolySpatial and visionOS |url=https://blog.unity.com/engine-platform/unity-support-for-visionos |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=Unity Blog |language=en}}

visionOS uses a 3D user interface navigated via finger tracking, eye tracking, and speech recognition. For example, the user can click an element by looking at it and pinching two fingers together, move the element by moving their pinched fingers, and scroll by flicking their wrist. Apps are displayed in floating windows that can be arranged in 3D space. Text input is via a virtual keyboard, the Siri virtual assistant, and external Bluetooth peripherals including Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and gamepads.{{Cite magazine |last=Goode |first=Lauren |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Apple's Mixed-Reality Headset, Vision Pro, Is Here |url=https://www.wired.com/story/apple-vision-pro-specs-price-release-date/ |access-date=June 5, 2023 |magazine=Wired}}{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Apple announces visionOS, the operating system for its Vision Pro headset |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23733874/apple-vision-pro-visionos-augmented-reality-os-specs-wwdc-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605192408/https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23733874/apple-vision-pro-visionos-augmented-reality-os-specs-wwdc-2023 |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=The Verge}}

During visionOS setup, a user can create a digital persona by taking off the headset and scanning their face with it. Users can use this persona during FaceTime calls, and see other participants' personas if they are using visionOS.{{Cite web |last=Axon |first=Samuel |date=June 6, 2023 |title=Hands-on with Apple Vision Pro: This is not a VR headset |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/06/hands-on-with-apple-vision-pro-this-is-not-a-vr-headset/ |access-date=June 7, 2023 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} From visionOS 1.1, the ability to see personas in 3D moving around and interacting with apps was added, dubbed 'Spatial Personas.'{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Victoria |date=April 2, 2024 |title=Now Apple Vision Pro Personas can float freely across different apps |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/2/24118863/apple-vision-pro-spatial-persona-shareplay |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

The Photos app supports presenting spatial video, depth-mapped 3D video recorded on Vision Pro or iPhone 15 Pro, by adapting the video's depth to the user's head movements.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=September 12, 2023 |title=The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will let you film spatial video you can watch on the Vision Pro |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/12/23870546/iphone-15-pro-max-film-spatial-video-vision-pro |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

At launch, visionOS shipped with 13 pre-installed 3D 360° background animated environments with accompanying ambient sounds, including optional day and night scenes of Yosemite National Park; Haleakalā National Park; Joshua Tree National Park; Mount Hood National Forest; Lake Vrangla near Drammen, Norway; and the Moon.{{Cite web |title=Apple's first visionOS beta outlines 13 VR 'Environments,' app limitations |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1964519/visionos-developer-beta-environments-features-release.html |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=Macworld |language=en}}

The Apple TV app offers 3D films; the company announced that over 150 films would be available in 3D at launch, at no additional charge to users that rent or purchase the films on iTunes Store.{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Apple Vision Pro Will Feature 150-Plus 3D Movies at Launch, Immersive Originals, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video and More |url=https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/apple-vision-pro-3d-movies-streaming-apps-disney-plus-1235873608/ |access-date=January 26, 2024 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

WebXR, an API for mixed reality experiences through web browsers, is supported in Safari.{{Cite web |last=Lang |first=Ben |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Apple Vision Pro Will Support WebXR for Fully Immersive Experiences in the Browser |url=https://www.roadtovr.com/apple-vision-pro-webxr-support-safari-model/ |access-date=June 24, 2023 |website=Road to VR |language=en-US}}

visionOS users can also access their Mac with a resizable 4K virtual display.

This was extended to an 8K wide and ultra-wide curved display options with the release of visionOS 2.1 in December 2024, along with the ability to route Mac audio to Vision Pro.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-11 |title=Apple Releases visionOS 2.2 With Ultrawide Mac Virtual Display |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2024/12/11/apple-releases-visionos-2-2/ |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Wes |date=2024-12-11 |title=The Vision Pro's ultrawide Mac display is very close to being a killer app |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/12/11/24301921/vision-pro-ultrawide-mac-display-visionos-2-2-killer-app |access-date=2024-12-30 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

visionOS is backwards compatible with existing iOS and iPadOS apps, which are rendered in windows within the user environment and are automatically compatible with visionOS's input system.{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=June 10, 2023 |title=The Vision Pro's biggest advantage isn't Apple's hardware |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/10/23755285/apple-vision-pro-developers-key-apps |access-date=August 27, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}} Although all apps are available on visionOS by default, the developers of iOS and iPadOS apps have the option to opt out of visionOS compatibility. Apple claims that over 1 million apps from iOS and iPadOS are available on visionOS. In addition to iPadOS and iOS apps, over 600 native visionOS apps have been developed specifically for the platform at launch, according to Apple.{{Cite web |title=Apple announces more than 600 new apps built for Apple Vision Pro |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/02/apple-announces-more-than-600-new-apps-built-for-apple-vision-pro/ |access-date=February 3, 2024 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}} Apple also claims 100 Apple Arcade games will be compatible with visionOS at launch, the majority of which can make use of visionOS's gamepad compatibility.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Apple announces visionOS, the operating system for its Vision Pro headset |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23733874/apple-vision-pro-visionos-augmented-reality-os-specs-wwdc-2023 |access-date=June 7, 2023 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Parrish |first=Ash |date=June 5, 2023 |title=Apple's new VR headset will feature over 100 Apple Arcade games at launch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23749709/apple-vision-pro-apple-arcade-wwdc-2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605203726/https://www.theverge.com/2023/6/5/23749709/apple-vision-pro-apple-arcade-wwdc-2023 |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 5, 2023 |website=The Verge}}

Many popular productivity apps have released fully-optimized visionOS versions, including Microsoft 365 apps (Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.), Adobe Lightroom, Slack, Zoom, and Webex.{{Cite web |last=updated |first=James Bentley last |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Every Apple Vision Pro app we've heard about so far |url=https://www.imore.com/apps/best-apple-vision-pro-apps |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=iMore |language=en}} Many streaming apps are also optimized for the platform, such as Max, Disney+, Prime Video, Paramount+, and ESPN.{{Cite web |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Apple Announces Streaming Services and Sports Apps Available on Vision Pro at Launch |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2024/01/16/vision-pro-streaming-services-and-sports-apps/ |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=MacRumors |language=en}}

Some of the most popular entertainment apps for iOS and iPadOS including Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube have not made their iOS or iPadOS apps available to run on visionOS, recommending users instead use their respective websites on Safari.{{Cite web |last=Gurman |first=Mark |date=January 18, 2024 |title=Bloomberg - YouTube and Spotify Won't Launch Apple Vision Pro Apps, Joining Netflix |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-01-18/youtube-and-spotify-join-netflix-in-not-launching-apple-vision-pro-apps |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=www.bloomberg.com}} YouTube has announced that a visionOS app is "on [the] roadmap."{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Nilay |date=February 5, 2024 |title=YouTube says a Vision Pro app is 'on the roadmap' |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/2/5/24062425/youtube-vision-pro-app-360-vr-video |access-date=February 6, 2024 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

Apple-made apps that come preinstalled on visionOS include Mail, Messages, Mindfulness, Apple Music, Apple TV, Notes, Photos, and Freeform.

Before the February 2024 launch, Apple gave controlled demos of the Apple Vision Pro to many technology journalists, some of whom have praised its multitasking capabilities and input methods, while lamenting that the software is only available on expensive hardware.{{Cite web |title=I've Worn Apple's Vision Pro Headset 4 Times. Here's What You Need to Know Before Buying |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/ive-worn-apples-vision-pro-headset-4-times-heres-what-you-need-to-know-before-buying/ |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=CNET |language=en}} Other reviewers have focused on the software's spatial videos feature and high resolution, while questioning what the software's main use case will be.{{Cite web |last=Song |first=Victoria |date=January 16, 2024 |title=Apple Vision Pro hands-on, again, for the first time |url=https://www.theverge.com/24040075/apple-vision-pro-hands-on-virtual-reality |access-date=January 20, 2024 |website=The Verge |language=en}} Speculation from journalists noted ongoing disputes from the developers of popular apps regarding the commissions charged by Apple for in-app purchases through apps distributed on the App Store as a potential cause for many not developing visionOS-native versions.{{Cite web |last=Pierce |first=David |date=January 20, 2024 |title=The Vision Pro's first killer app is the web, whether Apple likes it or not |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/20/24044343/apple-vision-pro-safari-killer-app |access-date=January 24, 2024 |website=The Verge |language=en}}

Many reviews praised visionOS even while criticizing the hardware. Some reviews even mentioned features more advanced than the Apple Vision Pro hardware, such as eye and hand tracking.{{Cite web |last=Patel |first=Nilay |date=January 30, 2024 |title=Apple Vision Pro review: magic, until it's not |url=https://www.theverge.com/24054862/apple-vision-pro-review-vr-ar-headset-features-price |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=The Verge |language=en}} Almost all key reviews praised the window mechanics and experience.{{Cite web |title=Apple Vision Pro Review: A Mind-Blowing Look at an Unfinished Future |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/apple-vision-pro-review-a-mind-blowing-look-at-an-unfinished-future/ |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=CNET |date=January 30, 2024 |language=en}}

{{notelist}}

visionOS 1 is the first major version of visionOS. It was announced in WWDC 2023 on June 5, 2023,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/wwdc-2023-everything-apple-announced/|title=Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2023|date=June 5, 2023|magazine=Wired}} and was released on February 2, 2024, pre-installed in the Apple Vision Pro upon its release{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/02/tech/apple-vision-pro-what-you-need-to-know/index.html|title=Apple's Vision Pro headset hits US stores today. Here's what you need to know|author=Samantha Murphy Kelly|date=February 2, 2024|website=CNN}} however, it was actually released on January 23, 2024 with the version number 1.0.1. The last update, visionOS 1.3, was released on July 29, 2024.

visionOS 2 is the second major version of visionOS. It was announced in WWDC 2024 on June 10, 2024 and was released on September 16, 2024 alongside iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, tvOS 18, and watchOS 11.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/6/10/24171950/apple-vision-pro-wwdc-2024-visionos-2-first-party-native-apps|title=Apple announces visionOS 2, with 3D photo transformations and ultrawide Mac display|first=Wes|last=Davis|date=June 10, 2024|website=The Verge}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.macrumors.com/2024/06/10/apple-announces-visionos-2/|title=Apple Announces visionOS 2 With Improvements to Mac Virtual Display, Travel Mode, and More|date=June 10, 2024|website=MacRumors}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.kaipkada.lt/news/visionos-2-pristatymas-naujoviu-ir-funkciju-apzvalga/|title=Introducing visionOS 2: An overview of what's new and features|date=June 10, 2024|website=Kaipkada}}

• iOS
• iPadOS
• macOS
• watchOS
• tvOS

• Android XR
• Meta Horizon OS
• Version history
• Windows Mixed Reality

{{reflist}}

{{Apple operating systems}}

{{Extended reality}}

Category:Apple Inc. operating systems

Category:Mach (kernel)

Category:Augmented reality

Category:Mixed reality

Category:Virtual reality

Category:Virtual world communities

Category:Virtual reality communities

Category:Spatial computing