# How to 3D Scan a Room or Object on Android: ScanDot Setup and Alternatives

> AI Release · @ai_release1 · https://ai-release.org/guides/kak-otskanirovat-komnatu-ili-predmet-v-3d-na-android-na_en.html

## TL;DR
- **Time to complete:** 30 minutes
- **Difficulty:** Basic
- **You need:** an Android phone with a rear camera, ScanDot installed from its official source, a clean lens, enough free storage for the project, and optionally a computer with Android Platform Tools (`adb`). Exact Android version and storage minimum: check ScanDot’s store listing and documentation.
- **Result:** a saved 3D scan project, an exported file you can open in a viewer, and a verified copy on your computer.

## Requirements and setup
![Illustration: Requirements and setup](https://ai-release.org/guides/img/kak-otskanirovat-komnatu-ili-predmet-v-3d-na-android-na-en-1.jpg?v=1794559376)

- Android phone with a working rear camera. Clean the lens before starting; smudges cause blurry frames and failed tracking.
- ScanDot installed from the official Play Store listing or the developer’s official source. Do not sideload an unknown APK.
- Camera and files/media permissions granted to ScanDot.
- Enough free storage for the scan and export. Check before scanning:
```bash
adb shell df -h /data
adb shell df -h /sdcard
```
Expected: both commands print a filesystem table with an `Avail` column. If `Avail` is close to zero, free space first.
- Optional: Android Platform Tools on your computer. Verify:
```bash
adb version
```
Expected: a line starting with `Android Debug Bridge version`.
- USB debugging enabled if you plan to pull files with `adb`: **Settings > About phone > Build number** (tap 7 times), then **Settings > System > Developer options > USB debugging**.
- If ScanDot is unavailable in your region or does not export the format you need, use an alternative Android 3D scanner only if its official listing documents room/object capture and file export. This guide does not name a specific alternative because no verified app/version data was supplied; check the app’s documentation.

| Option | Use when | Verify before installing |
|---|---|---|
| ScanDot | You can install it from the official source | Android version, camera/files permissions, export format |
| Alternative Android 3D scanner | ScanDot is unavailable or lacks the export you need | Room/object mode, export format, storage requirement, package name |

Setup checklist:
- [ ] ScanDot opens without crashing
- [ ] Camera permission is allowed
- [ ] Storage has free space for the project
- [ ] Export format is known before you scan
- [ ] `adb devices` shows your phone as `device` if you use ADB

**Example:** if `adb shell df -h /sdcard` shows `Avail 0`, stop and delete old downloads or videos before scanning. A scan that runs out of space can save an incomplete project.

## Step 1. Prepare Android and install ScanDot
![Illustration: Step 1. Prepare Android and install ScanDot](https://ai-release.org/guides/img/kak-otskanirovat-komnatu-ili-predmet-v-3d-na-android-na-en-2.jpg?v=1794559384)

**What to do:** install ScanDot, open it once, grant camera and file access, then confirm the installed package name. If ScanDot’s listing requires an additional Android component, install it from the official store before opening ScanDot.

```bash
adb devices
adb shell pm list packages | grep -i scandot
```

Expected output:
```text
List of devices attached
<serial>	device
package:com.<vendor>.scandot
```

`<serial>` is your phone’s ID from `adb devices`; `<vendor>` is the developer’s package prefix. If `grep` returns nothing, the package name may not contain “scandot.” Open **Settings > Apps > ScanDot > App info** and note the package name shown there. On Windows PowerShell, use:

```powershell
adb shell pm list packages | Select-String -Pattern "scandot"
```

Then check the installed version and camera permission:

```bash
adb shell dumpsys package <package> | grep -E "versionName|android.permission.CAMERA"
```

Expected: a `versionName=` line and a line containing `android.permission.CAMERA`.

**Why:** this confirms you installed the intended app and that Android has registered the camera permission before you start a scan. A wrong package or missing permission produces a black preview later.

**How to check:** open **Settings > Apps > ScanDot > Permissions** and confirm **Camera** is allowed. Re-run the `dumpsys` command; the output should include `android.permission.CAMERA`.

**Example:** package `com.example.scandot` is not a real package name; replace it with the value from your phone. Do not guess the package name.

## Step 2. Capture the room or object
**What to do:** open ScanDot, create a new scan, and choose the mode labeled **Room** or **Object**. Menu labels vary by version; if you cannot find the mode, check the in-app onboarding or ScanDot documentation. For an object, place it on a textured surface and walk around it while keeping it in frame. For a room, start at a doorway, walk the perimeter, and keep each new view overlapping the previous one. Use diffuse light, avoid direct sunlight, and keep people and pets out of the scan area.

**Why:** 3D reconstruction needs repeated visual features between frames. Overlap gives the app common points to match; moving objects and blank walls give it fewer stable points.

**How to check:** before saving, inspect the preview mesh. For an object, the preview should close around the surface; for a room, the coverage indicator should show no large red or empty gaps. Save the project, then list the app’s external files:

```bash
adb shell ls -lh /sdcard/Android/data/<package>/files
```

Expected: a recently modified folder or file for your project. If you see `No such file or directory`, the app may use private storage; use its **Share** or **Export** button instead.

**Example:** scanning a chair — start at the front, move right, complete one circle, then tilt the phone slightly down for the legs. If the preview shows three legs, rescan the missing side before saving.

## Step 3. Export, verify, and transfer the scan
![Illustration: Step 3. Export, verify, and transfer the scan](https://ai-release.org/guides/img/kak-otskanirovat-komnatu-ili-predmet-v-3d-na-android-na-en-3.jpg?v=1794559392)

**What to do:** use ScanDot’s export button and choose a format the app explicitly lists. Do not rename a file extension manually. Pull the export to your computer:

```bash
mkdir -p scans
adb pull /sdcard/Android/data/<package>/files/<scan-id> ./scans/
```

Expected: `1 file pulled. 0 files skipped.` or a count matching the exported files. `<scan-id>` is the folder or file name you saw in Step 2.

Verify the local copy:

```bash
ls -lhR scans
find scans -type f -size 0
```

Expected: `ls` shows non-zero file sizes, and `find` prints nothing. A zero-byte file means the export did not complete.

Open the exported file in a viewer that supports its format. Confirm the mesh loads, the surface is visible, and critical areas have no holes. If the app reports scale, compare it with a known measurement; if it does not, mark the scan as unmeasured.

For a USB-free transfer path, use the methods in [How to Connect Android to Windows without Microsoft Phone Link](https://ai-release.org/guides/kak-svyazat-android-s-windows-bez-microsoft-phone-link.html?utm_source=tg&utm_medium=channel&utm_campaign=guide_inline&utm_content=guide_to_guide).

**Why:** export is the handoff point between the phone and your workstation. Verifying file size and mesh integrity before cleanup prevents discovering a broken scan after you delete the project.

**How to check:** the viewer opens the file, the model rotates, and `ls -lhR scans` shows a file larger than `0` bytes. Back up the raw export before editing.

**Example:**
```bash
adb pull /sdcard/Android/data/com.example.scandot/files/chair-01 ./scans/
```
Output:
```text
/sdcard/Android/data/com.example.scandot/files/chair-01/: 1 file pulled. 0 files skipped.
```

## Troubleshooting

**Problem. ADB cannot see the phone**
- Error: `adb: no devices/emulators found`
- Cause: USB debugging is off, the cable is charge-only, or the RSA authorization prompt was not accepted.
- Solution: enable **Developer options > USB debugging**, reconnect the cable, run `adb kill-server`, then `adb start-server`, then `adb devices`. Accept the **Allow USB debugging** prompt on the phone. Expected: `<serial> device`.

**Problem. Camera preview is black after install**
- Error: `Permission Denial: opening camera`
- Cause: camera permission was denied or later revoked.
- Solution: grant it from **Settings > Apps > ScanDot > Permissions > Camera**, or run `adb shell pm grant <package> android.permission.CAMERA`. Then force-stop and reopen:
```bash
adb shell am force-stop <package>
```
Check with `adb shell dumpsys package <package> | grep android.permission.CAMERA`; expected output includes `granted=true`. If `pm grant` returns `Operation not allowed`, grant it manually in Settings.

**Problem. Pull fails because the computer is full**
- Error: `adb: error: failed to copy '...' to '...': No space left on device`
- Cause: the destination disk on your computer has no free space.
- Solution: check free space with `df -h .`, free space or pull to another disk, then repeat `adb pull`. Expected: `1 file pulled. 0 files skipped.`

## Summary and next steps
You now have a ScanDot project captured with a repeatable path: permissions verified, coverage checked in preview, and export pulled to a computer. Next, back up the raw export and move it to your workstation using [How to Connect Android to Windows without Microsoft Phone Link](https://ai-release.org/guides/kak-svyazat-android-s-windows-bez-microsoft-phone-link.html?utm_source=tg&utm_medium=channel&utm_campaign=guide_inline&utm_content=guide_to_guide) before any cleanup.

## FAQ
**Is ScanDot free?**
Check ScanDot’s official store listing for current pricing; this guide does not assume a price.

**Can I scan a whole room with an Android phone?**
Yes, if ScanDot or your chosen alternative explicitly supports room/environment mode. Walk the perimeter with overlapping views and avoid blank walls.

**Where are ScanDot scans stored?**
Check `/sdcard/Android/data/<package>/files` first. If that path does not exist, use the app’s **Share** or **Export** action and consult ScanDot documentation for the exact location.

**Do I need ADB to get the scan off the phone?**
No. ADB is only for scripted pulling and debugging. You can use the app’s export/share flow or a USB file-transfer method. If you also run local AI models on the phone, see [How to Run an AI Model Locally on Android](https://ai-release.org/guides/kak-zapustit-ii-model-lokalno-na-android-prilozheniya-i.html?utm_source=tg&utm_medium=channel&utm_campaign=guide_inline&utm_content=guide_to_guide).