How to Make a 360 Virtual Tour with Your iPhone

Kyla Ball July 14, 2026

Turn Your iPhone Into a 360 Virtual Tour Creator

What if the most powerful 360 virtual tour software you need is already in your pocket? With ThingLink’s Pano to 360 tool, any iPhone user can capture panoramic photos and convert them into fully immersive 360-degree photospheres, no specialist camera required.

Whether you are an educator building a virtual field trip, a trainer designing immersive workplace environments, or simply someone who wants to bring a space to life online, this guide will walk you through every step.

Can You Take a 360 Photo with an iPhone?

Absolutely. Many people assume that 360-degree photography requires a dedicated 360 camera like an Insta360, but your iPhone’s built-in Panorama mode is all you need to get started. Paired with ThingLink’s Pano to 360 converter, that standard pano shot becomes a true 360-degree photosphere ready to use in interactive experiences.

Until June 2023, Google Street View offered a similar conversion feature. ThingLink’s Pano to 360 was built to fill exactly that gap, using AI image technology to complete and wrap your panorama into a full photosphere. See the example below!

Step 1: Shoot Your Panoramic Photo on iPhone

This part takes less than a minute. Here is how to capture the best possible pano for conversion:

1. Open your iPhone’s Camera app and select Pano mode.
2. Hold your iPhone in portrait orientation and tap the shutter button to begin.
3. Slowly rotate your body in a smooth arc, keeping the on-screen arrow aligned with the centre line.
4. Tap the shutter button again to finish.

Tips for a Better Panorama

Steady, consistent movement makes a real difference to the final 360 result. If you find it hard to keep the camera level, consider using a simple tripod or monopod. Good lighting also helps, bright, even conditions produce sharper, more immersive photospheres.

Note that even a full 360-degree panorama is not the same as a photosphere. A photosphere captures the full spherical environment, including above and below, which is what ThingLink needs to display truly immersive 360 content.

Step 2: Convert Your Pano to a 360 Photosphere with ThingLink

Once you have your panoramic image, the conversion is quick and free.

1. Visit the Pano to 360 converter by ThingLink, no account needed.
2. Upload your panoramic image using the upload button on the page.
3. ThingLink’s AI technology converts your pano into a full 360-degree photosphere.
4. Download your new 360 image, or upload it directly into your ThingLink account to start building.

You can find full guidance on the two upload options in the Pano to 360 support article.

Android and iPad Users: You Are Covered Too

Pano to 360 is not exclusive to Apple. You can use the same tool with Android phones, iPads, and any other camera-equipped mobile device that can shoot in panorama mode. It runs entirely in your browser, there is nothing to download from any app store.

Step 3: Upload Your 360 Image to ThingLink

With your new photosphere ready, it is time to bring it into the ThingLink editor. When uploading, make sure your image meets these requirements for smooth recognition as a 360 asset:

• File type: JPEG
• Aspect ratio: 2:1
• Maximum resolution: 8192 x 4096

ThingLink detects the content type automatically, so if your file meets these specs, it will open straight into the 360 editor. If you prefer to start exploring with a ready-made image, you can clone one from the ThingLink 360 content and 3D model library, which includes AI-generated images, real-world locations, and 360 videos.

Step 4: Add Interactive Tags to Your 360 Image

This is where ThingLink transforms a photo into an experience. Once your 360 image is in the editor, you can add interactive tags at any point in the scene. Tags can contain:

• Text and rich descriptions
• Images and embedded media
• Audio clips
• Video links
• Links to external web pages or other ThingLink scenes

For educators, this means you can annotate a science lab, highlight safety points on a construction site, or guide students through a historical location, all from a single 360 image. Read the full Tagging 360 Images support article to explore everything you can do with tags.

Need Inspiration? See What Educators Are Already Building

Vocational schools are using ThingLink to create live virtual campus tours. Universities like Keele have built virtual campus visits that give prospective students a real sense of place. Museums have recreated physical exhibitions as fully interactive virtual experiences. Your iPhone is a surprisingly capable starting point for all of these.

Step 5: Share Your Interactive 360 Virtual Tour

When your 360 experience is ready, sharing it is straightforward.

1. Click Share in the top menu of the ThingLink editor.
2. Choose between embedding the experience on a website or sharing a direct link.
3. To embed, copy the provided HTML code and paste it into your site. To share a link, copy it and post it wherever your audience is.

You can share your ThingLink content on websites, learning management systems, social media, and more. For educators, embedding directly into a course page or school website keeps learners in one place without extra logins.

Step 6: View Your Tour in Virtual Reality

Here is a feature many creators do not know about straight away: every piece of ThingLink content, including your 360 tours, can be viewed in VR mode. If your school or organisation has access to a Meta Quest, PICO, or HTC VIVE headset, learners can step inside your virtual tour through the ThingLink XR app.

No headset available? Learners can still experience VR mode using a mobile device. Find out more in the ThingLink Virtual Reality overview.

What Else Can You Build with 360 Images?

Once you are comfortable creating 360 content from your iPhone, a whole range of immersive formats opens up. Here are a few directions to explore:

• Virtual escape rooms: Challenge students with scenario-based puzzles inside a 360 environment. See how it works in our virtual escape room guide.
• Interactive student work environments: Simulate realistic workplaces for vocational and career education. Learn more in How to Create Interactive Virtual Work Environments for School Students.
• Virtual exhibitions and galleries: Combine 360 imagery with Canva designs for creative displays. See how in How to Create a Virtual Exhibition.

The ThingLink 360 content library also adds new images and videos regularly, so even if you do not have a photo ready, you can start building straight away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a panorama already the same as a 360-degree image?

Not quite. Even a full 360-degree panorama is a flat, wide image rather than a true photosphere. A photosphere wraps the entire environment into a sphere, including above and below the horizon. ThingLink needs a true photosphere to display immersive 360 content correctly, which is exactly what Pano to 360 produces.

Do I need an iPhone to use Pano to 360?

No. The tool works with any mobile device that has a panorama camera mode, including Android phones and iPads. It runs in your browser, so there is nothing to download.

Does the Pano to 360 converter cost anything?

The converter at thinglink.com/pano-to-360 is free to use for anyone, with no ThingLink account required.

Can I use 360 videos as well as images?

Yes. ThingLink’s 360 content library now includes 360 videos alongside images, and you can clone these directly into your own ThingLink projects. Visit the ThingLink 360 content and 3D model library to explore what is available.