Orb Verification
How does the Orb work?
The Orb captures and processes photos to verify you're a unique human — without keeping your images. It takes pictures of your face and eyes, then encrypts the package and sends it to your phone, where only you control it by default.
From those photos, the Orb also generates permanently encrypted codes that are stored across secure databases. These codes are what stop anyone from verifying twice. They're processed using secure multi-party computation (SMPC), meaning no single party ever holds the complete data.
Will the Orb hurt my eyes?
No. The Orb is completely safe and will not harm your eyes.
The Orb is built to comply with international eye-safety standards, including IEC 62471, the technical standard for the safety of imaging products that use light. As World updates the technology used to verify uniqueness and personhood, safety and privacy stay at the centre of every change.
What happens to the images taken by the Orb?
The Orb is used to verify a person's humanness and uniqueness as part of the World ID protocol. Here's the flow, end to end:
- Liveness check — The Orb first confirms there's a real human standing in front of it.
- Image processing — The eye photos are abstracted and permanently encrypted into anonymous fragments. Independent parties process those fragments via SMPC to confirm your uniqueness.
- Packaging & transfer — All photos and photo derivatives are encrypted and "signed" by the Orb to guarantee authenticity, then sent to your phone via the Orb's backend server.
- Backend can't see your data — The backend that relays the package to your phone cannot decrypt it. Only your phone can.
- Originals deleted — The Orb deletes the captured images immediately after processing.
To learn more about the Orb, please visit our Orb Frequently Asked Questions blog post.
Translations may differ slightly from the original English content. For the most accurate information, please refer to the article's English version if any discrepancies occur.
How do I find an Orb near me?
Find an Orb
Follow these steps to find an Orb using your World ID App:
1. Open the World ID App and tap go to the Credentials to Get Verified.
2. Select Find an Orb
3. Tap the Allow location button if you wish to see the nearest Orb location, or select the Skip option to continue. Note: Always select Allow to get the most accurate results as you will not be able to manually type a location of your choice.
Visit an Orb Location
Explore the locations where you can find an Orb. Each location will display its address and opening hours.
Orb locations are walk-in — no appointment is needed. Visit during the location’s opening hours, and when you’re with the Orb, tap I am with an Orb now in the app to begin verification.
What can I do if there are no Orbs near me?
While there might not be any Orbs in your area yet, we are constantly expanding our network, and there will be more Orbs around the world in the future.
The availability of the Orb in specific countries depends on a variety of factors, such as regional regulations and our developer resources. You can select Notify me and register your email to get push notifications whenever Orb verification is available in your country.
Follow our official channels of communication for future announcements on availability.
Translations may differ slightly from the original English content. For the most accurate information, please refer to the article's English version if any discrepancies occur.
Why did my World ID verification fail?
When trying to verify with World ID at an Orb, you may sometimes see this message in your World ID App:
“World ID verification was not successful.”
This can feel confusing or frustrating, so here’s what you need to know — and what you can do about it.
Note: For questions about age verification, please follow the link to this article instead How do I confirm my date of birth?
Why does verification fail?
There are two main reasons why verification may not succeed:
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You may have already verified before
World ID ensures each person can only sign up once. If the system detects that you have already created a World ID (even with a different phone, account, or email), it won’t allow another verification. -
The system made a rare error
In very rare cases, the system may mistakenly reject someone who has never signed up before. To learn more, please visit this blog post: https://world.org/blog/engineering/biometric-performance-billion-person-scale
Troubleshooting
If you see “World ID verification was not successful,” try the following:
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Retry verification
- Wait a moment and try again.
- Most users who face this error succeed after 1–2 retries.
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Check your scan quality
- Open your eyes as wide as possible during the scan.
- Avoid blinking right as the Orb captures your iris.
- If you’re at an Orb with staff present, they may remind you to adjust your eye position.
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Think about past verifications
- Did you get World ID verification at an Orb before? (even with another account or phone)?
- If yes, you won’t be able to get verified again by an Orb.
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If retries don’t work
- You may have hit a rare false rejection. This doesn’t mean you’re permanently blocked. In many cases, another attempt on a different day may succeed.
- Keep an eye out in the app or our official channels: If repeated retries fail, you may see an option to contact Support for further help. Alternatively, you can ask for assistance through our dedicated support channels found here: How can I connect with World on Social Media?.
Important things to know
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Your biometric data stays private.
World ID uses privacy-preserving technology. Your iris code cannot be traced back to you personally. -
We cannot disclose individual verification status.
For legal and privacy reasons, we cannot confirm whether your rejection was due to a duplicate or an error. The only information available is what you see in-app. -
System accuracy is high, but not perfect.
Our team is continuously improving the system to reduce this even further.
In short: Most verification failures mean you’ve already been World ID verified at an Orb. In rare cases, it could be a one-off error. Retrying once or twice usually helps.
Translations may differ slightly from the original English content. For the most accurate information, please refer to the article's English version if any discrepancies occur.
What should I expect when getting my World ID verified at an Orb?
Getting verified by an Orb is a fast and easy process that will only take a couple of minutes. Before getting verified, it's best to be prepared on what to expect in order to have a seamless and secure signup experience. You’ll find common questions and answers about this process below.
Alternatively, you can follow the recommendations in this blog post: Tips and best practices for verifying your World ID at an Orb.
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What should I prepare or be aware of before going to an Orb location?
- Make sure to bring your phone and that it is sufficiently charged to complete the signup process.
- Your device needs a strong and reliable network connection.
- Do not wear colored or hard contact lenses (soft lenses are ok). If you're wearing glasses, you'll need to briefly remove them during the verification process.
- Wear no or minimal makeup. Some makeup may reflect light and make it difficult for the Orb to image process.
- If you visit an Orb location with staff, the staff should never:
- Handle your phone. Never allow strangers to handle your phone as well!
- Ask for money, cryptocurrency, or gifts.
- Ask for personal information such as a phone number or email address.
- Offer anything, including money, in exchange for World ID or app-related benefits.
- If anyone at the Orb location performs any of the above (or you have any other security concerns), please cease interacting with them immediately and report it to our Support team. You can follow the instructions in this article to do so: I can't find what I need. How do I contact support?
- Review our help center article on how to keep your World ID App safe.
- Be aware of scams and how to avoid them. Please review our help center article on how to avoid scams at Orb locations.
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Where do I find my QR code to show to the Orb?
When verifying your World ID with an Orb, you'll need to have your QR code ready to scan.
Follow these steps to find the QR code once you're at the Orb location and ready to proceed with the verification:
1. Open the Credentials tab in the World ID App, then tap Get Verified.
2. Follow the instructions to proceed until you reach this screen:
Make sure you review all of the information carefully before moving forward. Then select Agree and Continue when you're ready.
3. You will see a video explaining the verification process
4. After watching the video, the QR code will be generated on your device
Show your QR code to the Orb to begin the verification process. If you wish to exit, just tap on the X at the top of the screen.
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Why isn't my QR code scanning?
If you're having trouble scanning your QR code, please take note of the following best practices:
- Increase the brightness on your device's screen. Most of the time, QR codes won't scan if the screen brightness isn't high enough.
- Position the QR code so that it is not in direct sunlight. You want to make sure that there are no reflections on any screens that will prevent the QR code from being read.
- Do not zoom in on your QR code. The entire QR code should be visible, including a bit of the white around the edges.
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What are best practices when showing my face to the Orb?
The Orb will begin image processing your irises to verify that you are indeed a unique human being. This should only take a minute, and you'll be able to see the progress light up around the Orb's screen. In order to make sure the process goes smoothly:
- Remove any type of masks or eyewear.
- Some headwear may cast shadows on your face. Please remove it if possible.
- Open your eyes as wide as you can and avoid blinking. Try tucking in your chin and looking up at the Orb. This will naturally open up your eyes a bit more and make your irises more visible for the Orb.
- Make sure not to look away from the Orb's screen. Looking away during image processing will reset the Orb's tracking.
- Keep your head and body still during the verification.
During this process, remember to look at the Orb, not the progress animation on your phone. It's also important not to close your app immediately after the verification.
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The app shows that the verification failed. What can I do?
- Force-close the app, reopen it, and try again.
- Make sure you're using the latest version of World ID App.
- Refer to this article with more details about failed verifications: Why did my World ID verification fail?
- If the above steps don't resolve the issue, please contact our Support team.
Translations may differ slightly from the original English content. For the most accurate information, please refer to the article's English version if any discrepancies occur.
How do I get verified at an Orb location without staff?
Overview
With the introduction of a new generation of Orbs in select locations, users can now independently complete their World ID verification quickly, accurately, and at their convenience—without requiring assistance from staff or an operator.
Benefits
- Ease and Flexibility: Complete the verification independently at your convenience.
- Guided Experience: Clear, interactive feedback ensures a smooth and efficient process.
- Enhanced Privacy: Secure handling of your data, maintaining your privacy throughout the verification.
Follow the steps below to perform self-serve World ID verification at an Orb.
Note: For information on how to prepare and what to expect at an Orb location, please read these resources:
Help Center Article - What should I expect when getting my World ID verified at an Orb location?
Blog Post- Tips and best practices for verifying your World ID at an Orb
How It Works
Step 1: Scan the QR Code
- Launch the verification process by tapping “Agree and Continue” in your app.
- A QR code will appear on your screen. Show this code directly to the Orb device.
- If you need additional guidance, tap the “Help” button for detailed instructions.
Step 2: Position Yourself for Verification
- The app will prompt you with the instruction: “Hold your phone next to the Orb”.
- Follow the on-screen instructions.
Step 3: Adjust for Optimal Capture
- The app and Orb will provide real-time guidance to help you achieve the correct position:
- Distance: You'll receive prompts such as “Move your face closer” if you're too far.
- Height: If your position is too high or low, you'll see directions like “Bring your face down a bit.”
- Stability: Once in the ideal position, you'll see a confirmation message: “Perfect position!”
- Clear View: If anything obstructs your face (like glasses), you'll be prompted to remove it.
- Face Detection: If the Orb cannot detect your face, you'll see the message: “Orb can’t see your face.”
Step 4: Automatic Capture
- When positioned correctly, the Orb automatically captures images of your face and eyes.
- A soft yellow light around the Orb will show your verification progress.
- You'll hear a pleasant sound, confirming the process has started.
Step 5: Verification Outcome
- On successful verification, you'll seamlessly continue to the next stage in your app.
- If verification fails, clear, actionable feedback will help you correct any issues.
- If the Orb times out (no face detected), you'll see the message: “Timeout. A face could not be seen.”
- Small vibrations on your phone alert you to look at the screen for helpful instructions.
If you are having issues completing the verification despite performing all suggested troubleshooting steps, please reach out to our support team through your World ID App.
Translations may differ slightly from the original English content. For the most accurate information, please refer to the article's English version if any discrepancies occur.