Spark AR (Meta Spark)

Spark AR, later renamed Meta Spark, was Meta's free tool for building augmented reality effects for Instagram, Facebook and Messenger. Launched in 2017, it grew to hundreds of thousands of creators before Meta shut down its third-party tools and effects on January 14, 2025.

Also known as: Meta Spark, Spark AR Studio, Instagram filters, Facebook AR effects

Video: How Illust Began: From Spark AR to Immersive Experiences
How Illust Began: From Spark AR to Immersive Experiences

How it works

Creators built face, world and target-tracking effects in Spark AR Studio and published them to Meta's apps. After the shutdown, third-party effects were removed; only Meta-owned effects remain.

How it works in illust

illust co-founder Rob McCarty worked with Meta to help launch Spark AR. illust lets Spark creators keep making face, world and image-target AR on the open web, shared by link or QR code. Spark project files can't be imported, but source assets can be rebuilt: see how to bring your Spark AR effects over to illust in three steps.

Switch from Spark ARSee it in action: AR social filters →

Key facts

  • Shutdown announced Aug 27, 2024, effective Jan 14, 2025 (Meta Spark blog).
  • 400,000+ creators in 190 countries by 2020 (Social Samosa).
  • Meta-owned effects remain available in its apps (Meta).

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FAQ

Can I still use my Spark AR effects?

Not on Instagram or Facebook. Keep your source assets and rebuild the effect on a browser-based platform to share it by link.

Why did Meta shut down Spark?

Meta said it was prioritizing other products as part of a broader shift in investment, including AR glasses (Meta).

Related terms

WebAR (web-based augmented reality)WebAR is augmented reality that runs inside a smartphone's web browser, such as Safari or Chrome, instead of a downloaded app.

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By Rob McCarty, co-founder of illust · Last updated October 21, 2026