Export Measurements from iOS 12 Measure App

Apple’s iOS 12 Measure app allows users to quickly gauge real-world objects using augmented reality, but saving and sharing those results requires specific built-in tools. This guide explains how to capture in-app photos of your measurements, copy exact numerical dimensions to your clipboard, and export the resulting data to other apps or devices using the iOS Share Sheet.

Taking and Exporting In-App Screenshots

The Measure app features an integrated shutter button designed to capture the object along with the overlaid measurement lines:

  1. Open the Measure app on your iOS 12 device and complete your measurement by connecting two or more points.
  2. Locate the circular Shutter button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
  3. Tap the Shutter button. The screen will flash, and a captured photo containing the visual measurement overlay will automatically save to your device's Photos app.
  4. Open the Photos app and select the captured measurement image.
  5. Tap the Share icon (the square with an upward arrow) in the bottom-left corner to export the image via AirDrop, Messages, Mail, or cloud storage services like iCloud Drive and Google Drive.

Copying Numerical Measurement Data

If you only need the raw measurements rather than an image, you can copy the values directly:

  1. Tap directly on the measured dimension (the number displayed along the measurement line).
  2. A pop-up menu will appear displaying the exact measurement.
  3. Tap Copy to place the numerical value on your clipboard.
  4. Switch to your destination app (such as Notes, Mail, or a spreadsheet) and tap Paste to export the text.

Using Standard Device Screenshots

For situations where you want to capture the entire interface—including specific menus or multiple points:

  • Devices with Face ID (iPhone X and later): Press and release the Side button and the Volume Up button simultaneously.
  • Devices with Touch ID (iPhone 8 and earlier): Press and release the Top/Side button and the Home button simultaneously.

Tap the screenshot thumbnail that appears in the lower-left corner of the screen to annotate the image immediately, or tap the Share icon in the top-right corner to export it without saving it to your photo library first.