How to use AR stickers on the Google Pixel or Pixel 2

Alongside the announcement of the Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL, Google unveiled AR Stickers: augmented reality objects that you can drop into your photos that take advantage of the company’s new ARCore platform. We haven’t heard much about these stickers since the phones launched in October, but we’re happy to report that they’re finally here. Google just recently announced that it’s rolling the feature out to all Pixel devices running Android 8.1 Oreo.

If you want to learn how to use AR Stickers, you’ve come to the right place!

A few things you should know before we get started:

• You need to own a Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, or Pixel 2 XL to use AR Stickers.
  • Google says the Pixel 2/XL have been factory-calibrated for AR, so you’ll get the best experience with those phones.
• Your Pixel must be running Android 8.1 Oreo.

Once your phone has been updated to Android 8.1, you’ll automatically receive an update in the Play Store that enables AR Stickers in your camera app.

Here’s how to use AR Stickers:

• Open the camera app.
• Open the hidden menu on the left side of the screen.
• Select AR Stickers.
• Point your camera at a flat area where you’d like your stickers to appear.
  • Your phone might ask you to move your camera in a circular motion. This helps ensure your stickers land in the right spot.
• Once your phone is done mapping the area, you can start adding stickers. Scroll through the categories of stickers at the top, find a sticker, and drag it anywhere you’d like.
  • Note: if a sticker is not on a surface, you’ll see a ring of spinning dots under the character.
• You can now record a video or take a photo of your AR Stickers.
  • Unfortunately autofocus and tap-to-focus are not enabled.

From here, you can reposition any sticker you’ve already placed by dragging it to another area. You can also resize stickers with a pinch-to-zoom gesture. If you’d like to remove a sticker, tap on the one you’d like to remove, then tap the trash icon at the top right of your screen. To delete all stickers, tap on an empty area to deselect any stickers, then tap the trash icon.

There are only a few sticker packs available at launch, but they’re all pretty great. The Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi pack consists of porgs, BB-8, R2-D2, a First Order Stormtrooper, BB-9E, and even an AT-M6. The Stranger Things pack features all the main characters from the show, plus a Demogorgon. There are also Foodmojis (3D emojis based on food), 3D Text stickers, and a miscellaneous category with boom box, money, and champagne stickers.

I think the best thing about these stickers is that some of the characters will interact with each other. For instance, if you place Eleven next to a Demogorgon, they’ll engage in a short battle.

Google says it will release more AR Stickers in the future, so you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled “around the changing seasons, holidays, and big pop culture moments.”

Have you used AR Stickers yet? How are you liking them?