Google 3D animals: How to bring wildlife to your home

Ever dreamt of having a lion lounging in your living room or a penguin waddling across your desk? Well, thanks to Google 3D Animals you can do just that without even visiting the zoo.

Launched in 2019, Google 3D Animals lets you view and interact with a growing collection of creatures in 3D, all through the magic of augmented reality (AR). 

Explore a life-sized tiger, cuddle a virtual kitten, or come face-to-face with a majestic eagle – all from the comfort of your home. Not only is Google 3D Animals a cool experience, but it’s also an educational tool that allows you to learn about different species in a whole new way.  

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In this guide, we’ll explain how you can bring wildlife home with Google 3D Animals, including placing a virtual tiger right in your own space.

How to find 3D animals on Google

Google 3D Animals is a fun and educational feature that lets you view various creatures in stunning 3D detail, and even place them virtually in your own space using Augmented Reality (AR).

Currently, you can only view 3D animals on smartphones via the Google Search app or from browsers like Chrome and Safari. This feature is not available on laptops and desktop computers for now.  

To use AR and view 3D animals, you need a mobile phone running Android 7 or newer, and your Android phone must support ARCore. If you are unsure whether your phone is compatible with ARCore, you can check Google’s list of supported devices. On the other hand, iPhone users can experience 3D animals from the Safari browser or via the Google app. 

What you’ll need: 

1. An Android phone with Android 7 and up or an iPhone/iPad with iOS 11.0 or higher 

2. Google Search app (recommended) or a web browser like Chrome or Safari

How to view 3D animals on your Android phone

Open Google Search in your browser or launch the Google Assistant app. Type the name of an animal in the search bar and hit Enter. Go to the Meet a life-sized (animal name) up close section. Select View in 3D or tap the cube icon. 

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Tap and drag the 3D image to move it around the screen. Tap View in your space to view the result in AR. Point your phone to a suitable spot, and the 3D animal will appear on your screen with your room as the background. You can also move the animal around by tapping it. Tap the camera button to click a picture or hold it to record a video.

How to view 3D animals on your iPhone

Here’s how to view 3D creatures on your iPhone: 

1. Launch Safari and type google.com or open the Google Assistant app. 

2. Type the name of an animal in the search bar and press Enter. 

3. Go to the Meet a life-sized (animal name) up close section. 

4. Select View in 3D. 

5. Tap View in your space. 

6. Follow the on-screen instructions to interact with the animal. 

How to interact with 3D animals

When you search for an animal and select the option to view it in 3D, you’ll see its animated close-up against a plain background. Swipe around to view the creature from any angle.

Use the pinch gesture to zoom in or out. The background changes to your room when you choose the option to view the animal in your space. You can make it smaller or larger by pinching or zooming. To change its orientation, place one finger on the creature and use another finger to rotate it. 

How to find your favourite AR animal

There are many AR animals currently available. These include an Alligator, Arctic fox, Bear, Bengal cat, Cheetah, Chipmunk, Coyote, Deer, Duck, Eagle, Fennec fox, Giraffe, Hedgehog, Hippo, Kangaroo, Koala, Leopard, Lion, Lynx, Macaw, Panda, Penguin, Rabbit, Raccoon, Red Panda, Snake (or ball python), Tiger, Wombat, White-backed woodpecker, Wolf, Zebra, Anglerfish, Harbour porpoise, Octopus, Shark, Turtle, Akita, Australian Shepherd, Beagle, Border Collie, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Cane Corso, Chihuahua, Chow chow, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund, Dobermann, and French Bulldog, among many others.  

And that’s everything you need to know about Google 3D animals! With a wide variety of animals available, from majestic creatures of the wild to our favourite furry companions, Google 3D Animals is a fun and educational way to explore the world around us. So, fire up your phone and get ready to be amazed.