Use video effects during FaceTime calls on Mac

With macOS Sequoia or later and a Mac with Apple silicon, you can choose a virtual background to enhance your privacy, present a more professional appearance or suit the occasion. You can also change your background while using your iPhone as a webcam.

During a FaceTime video call, click in the menu bar, then select Background. Click the background preview to choose a colour, a built-in image or an image of your own.

During video calls, you can use reactions to express how you feel with visual effects. Reactions are available in FaceTime when you use a Mac with Apple silicon, or when using your iPhone as a webcam.

To turn reactions on, click in the menu bar, then click Reactions.

Choose any of the following reactions:

Reaction	Gesture	Icon
Hearts
Thumbs-up
Thumbs-down
Balloons
Rain
Confetti
Laser
Fireworks

To add a reaction without using a gesture, click in the menu bar, click next to Reactions, then choose an option. (If you don’t see , click Reactions to turn on the feature.)

To turn off reactions, click in the menu bar, then click Reactions.

With macOS 12 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon, you can turn on Portrait mode to automatically blur the background and put the visual focus on you. Portrait mode is also available while using your iPhone as a webcam.

During a FaceTime video call, click in the menu bar, then select Portrait.

To turn Portrait mode off, click in the menu bar, then deselect Portrait.

Center Stage keeps you and anyone with you, centred in the frame as you move around during a video call. With macOS 12.3 or later, you can use Centre Stage when you have an Apple Studio Display connected to your Mac. With macOS 13 or later, you can also enable Centre Stage while using your compatible iPhone as a webcam.

During a FaceTime video call, click in the menu bar, then select Centre Stage.

When using an iPhone 11 or newer as a webcam, you can click and choose Main to keep yourself centred in the frame in a smaller field of view, or choose Ultra Wide to move further around the room. To adjust the camera frame, use the controls to zoom in and out, or pan left and right. To automatically place yourself in the centre of the frame, choose Re-centre.

To turn Center Stage off, click in the menu bar, then turn off Centre Stage.

When using your iPhone as a webcam, you can control the camera by zooming in, panning left or right, or re-centring the frame.

During a FaceTime video call, click in the menu bar, turn off Centre Stage, then do any of the following:

• Zoom: Depending on your iPhone model, you can toggle between 0.5x and 1x to quickly zoom in or out. For a more precise zoom, touch and hold the zoom controls, then drag the slider right or left.

• Pan: Click in the preview and drag your cursor to adjust what you’re showing in your video.

• Re-centre: Click the Re-centre button to automatically detect your face and frame you in the centre.

• Reset the framing: Click the 0.5x or 1x button in the preview.

Studio Light dims the background and illuminates your face. With macOS 14 or later and a Mac with Apple silicon, you can enable Studio Light using the built-in camera. With macOS 13 or later, you can enable Studio Light while using your iPhone as a webcam.

During a FaceTime video call, click in the menu bar, then select Studio Light.

To turn Studio Light off, click in the menu bar, then deselect Studio Light.

When you use your iPhone as a webcam with macOS 13 or later, you can use Desk View to show what’s on your desk while you still appear onscreen.

1. During a FaceTime video call, click the Desk View button in the upper-right corner of the window.

2. Use the Desk View setup window to align your desk with the rear-facing camera on your iPhone. To zoom in or out, drag the onscreen control at the bottom of the window.

3. Click Share Desk View.