Uber iOS App Could Soon Include Augmented Reality Directions for Finding Your Driver

Uber appears to be working on an augmented reality walking directions feature designed to help Uber users find the appropriate vehicle and driver in a crowded area. Mentions of augmented reality function were discovered in the Uber iOS app code by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser.

uber ar patent

From Uber's augmented reality assisted pickup patent

"Tap to enter AR walking experience," reads the code, which also includes these snippets that give hints on how the AR directions work:

  • AR only available on iOS 11 and above.
  • Walk outside
  • Tilt camera up
  • Pan your camera
  • Ready, set, walk
  • AR walking only works when you're outdoors
  • Align arrows
  • Be Careful and stay alert of your surroundings.
  • Make sure you're outside and facing the street.
  • Using some GPS sauce. Hold on.

Uber in 2018 patented an augmented reality assisted pickup feature that matches a rider with an available driver and helps them meet up through an augmented reality control module that directs the passenger through the camera app, and it appears the feature could soon be on its way to being deployed.


There is no word on when Uber's augmented reality assisted walking feature might debut, and the company has made no formal announcement at this time. Other apps like Google Maps also offer augmented reality walking directions that overlay directional arrows on the real-world view seen through the camera.

Popular Stories

iOS 26 on Three iPhones

iOS 26's Liquid Glass Design Draws Criticism From Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 2:56 pm PDT by
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected. Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update. Complaints There are a long...
iOS 26

iOS 26.1 to iOS 26.4: Here Are 5 New Features to Expect on Your iPhone

Tuesday September 16, 2025 11:17 am PDT by
iOS 26 was finally released on Monday, but the software train never stops, and the first developer beta of iOS 26.1 will likely be released soon. iOS 18.1 was an anomaly, as the first developer beta of that version was released in late July last year, to allow for early testing of Apple Intelligence features. The first betas of iOS 15.1, iOS 16.1, and iOS 17.1 were all released in the second ...
M6 MacBook Pro Feature 1

Apple's Rumored MacBook Pro Redesign: 6 New Features Anticipated

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:26 am PDT by
Apple in October 2024 overhauled its 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, adding M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, Thunderbolt 5 ports on higher-end models, display changes, and more. That's quite a lot of updates in one go, but if you think this means a further major refresh for the ‌MacBook Pro‌ is now several years away, think again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has said he expects only a small ...
ios 26 liquid glass dark mode

iOS 26 Liquid Glass Design Makes App Icons Look Crooked, Report Users

Wednesday September 17, 2025 4:55 am PDT by
iOS 26's new Liquid Glass interface has been criticized for making some content illegible in certain circumstances, and now the UI design is reportedly causing another unusual visual problem for some users. Liquid Glass adds subtle glowing effects to the corners of app icons, creating a dynamic glass-like appearance with depth and parallax effects. However, as noted by Gizmodo, this design...
iOS 26 Glass Feature

iOS 26: The Top 100 New Features and Changes

Tuesday September 16, 2025 12:26 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 26 on September 15, and it's now available for all iPhone users with a compatible device. There are a lot of changes and features to learn about, so if you want a quick, easy-to-read list that outlines what's new, we've got you covered. Design Liquid Glass design that reflects light and refracts what's underneath. It's system wide, with dynamic tab bars and toolbars...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 Get iOS 26 Features With New Firmware Update

Monday September 15, 2025 10:50 am PDT by
Apple today released updated firmware for the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4, introducing support for the new AirPods features that are included in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe. The firmware has a build number of 8A356, and it replaces the current 7E93 firmware. With Apple's new software updates, the AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 support better audio quality for phone calls and...
iOS 26

iOS 26.0.1 Coming Soon, Likely With iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Fix

Thursday September 18, 2025 9:17 am PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions. The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said. It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. ...

Top Rated Comments

mansplains Avatar
58 months ago
At least someone's thinking of how to put the LiDAR sensors to use... With how much Apple pushes AR (and pushed VR dev with iMac Pro, RIP) and rolled out LiDAR, the relevant apps are still in their infancy.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
primarycolors Avatar
58 months ago

How many people have not found their Uber drivers, when you give them your precise location, picture and you receive their precise location, picture, car type, colour and registration?

When the car goes somewhere not even close to the location I gave then sits there waiting.

One time, I made the mistake of ordering one near a 6-way intersection in SF. I thought standing somewhat down the street would've helped, but no. Driver stopped on the opposite side of the intersection and put on blinkers. When I finally realized and jay-ran across three red lights, he gave up and started driving away. AND marked me as being in the car. I chased the car down a crowded street, and eventually the jerk let me in.
This absolutely. I had a similar experience when I was a teenager, alone, anxious and lost in San Francisco trying to get to a festival.

It was absolute panic and sensory overload trying to find my Uber in the busy street among hundreds of similar cars. Juggling between the driver screaming at me over the phone in a thick accent and trying to find him on the GPS. Darted three blocks trying to find him before he hung up and cancelled the ride. In the process of wandering around to find a calmer spot to try again, I'd somehow gotten myself into a notoriously dangerous district. I only found out where I was when the next driver was concerned as to what a lone teenager was doing there.

I don't know how this feature would play out real-world, but if it works, it could save others from going through what I did. Situations like that also taught me the value of a small/one-handed phone, so I could hold mace in my offhand..
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
and 1989 others Avatar
58 months ago
How many people have not found their Uber drivers, when you give them your precise location, picture and you receive their precise location, picture, car type, colour and registration?
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cwosigns Avatar
58 months ago
FINALLY a use case scenario for LiDAR that seems useful.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hot-gril Avatar
58 months ago

How many people have not found their Uber drivers, when you give them your precise location, picture and you receive their precise location, picture, car type, colour and registration?
When the car goes somewhere not even close to the location I gave then sits there waiting.

One time, I made the mistake of ordering one near a 6-way intersection in SF. I thought standing somewhat down the street would've helped, but no. Driver stopped on the opposite side of the intersection and put on blinkers. When I finally realized and jay-ran across three red lights, he gave up and started driving away. AND marked me as being in the car. I chased the car down a crowded street, and eventually the jerk (well, I guess not a total jerk) let me in.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sentiblue Avatar
58 months ago
I work from home for more than a decade now. I use Uber/Lyft on a regular basis simply because my rides are always short and I get to ditch my car, which gets rid of payment/insurance/gas costs.

After using it for so long I kind of don't understand why they don't make their app to work with AppleCar and Android Auto. There's a lot of drivers with these options in their cars. The drivers always have to mount their phone on the dashboard and interact with the phone.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)