Hey friends,
I was so ready to write a celebratory post about how sharing augmented reality experiences in Adobe Aero just became seamless.
No app installs. Just a tap, and boom — immersive AR on iOS and Android.
And for a moment… I really thought that was true.
The Discovery
I was testing an Aero project for a client. Out of curiosity, I opened the shared link on my partner’s Android phone. I expected the usual: a prompt to download the Aero app. Instead, it just opened. No install. No friction. I thought:
“Wait… did Aero quietly solve AR accessibility?”
What’s Actually Happening
There is some clever tech at work — but it’s not the breakthrough I hoped for.
On iOS:
Aero uses App Clips, a native Apple feature that lets users launch lightweight parts of an app instantly, without installing the full thing.
In my testing, this worked well. It felt like true OS native AR. Here is a summary of the experience:
Open the Link/QR.
It asks you to open in browser of app.
Select APP.
It will launch AppClips and shows you a description of the project.
Then, it loads the project. Boom!
On Android:
Android has a similar feature called Instant Apps, but support is inconsistent.
I tested a few Android phones — and got mixed results:
Some newer models opened the AR instantly
Others asked for an app download
Some didn’t launch anything at all and landed people at a confusing, dead end Aero website.
Again, if it asks if you want to view on browser or app, select app.
So while Aero’s “Create Link” feature is super simple, the viewing experience still depends on the device.
The Takeaway
What I thought was a definitive “Yes, AR without an app!”
Is really more of an “It depends.”
App Clips make iOS sharing smooth
Instant Apps are hit-or-miss on Android
Sharing via link or QR code is easy, but viewing is inconsistent.
The best way to ensure usability is to have someone download and install Aero player on Android.
👀 Coming Soon…
The reality is: you can create fully accessible WebAR — AR that runs directly in the browser, no apps required — using other tools.
I’ll be covering those soon.
If you’re on a similar path — exploring immersive art, storytelling, and XR — I’m so glad you’re here.
More soon,
—Heather
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