Use video effects during FaceTime calls on Mac

With macOS Sonoma, you can add reactions—visual effects you use during a video call to express how you feel. Reactions are available in FaceTime when you use a Mac with Apple silicon, or when using your iPhone as a webcam.

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 the Video button in the menu bar, click the arrow next to Reactions, then choose an option. (If you don’t see the arrow, click Reactions to turn on the feature.)

To turn off reactions, click the Video button 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.

In the FaceTime app on your Mac during a video call, click the Video button in the menu bar, then select Portrait.

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

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

In the FaceTime app on your Mac during a video call, click the Video button in the menu bar, then select Center Stage.

When using an iPhone 11 or newer as a webcam, you can click the arrow and choose Main to keep yourself centered 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 center of the frame, choose Recenter.

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

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

In the FaceTime app on your Mac during a video call, click the Video button in the menu bar, turn off Center 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.

• Recenter: Click the Recenter button to automatically detect your face and frame you in the center.

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

With macOS Sonoma and a Mac with Apple silicon, you can use Studio Light to dim the background and illuminate your face. With macOS 13 or later, you can also enable Studio Light while using your iPhone as a webcam.

In the FaceTime app on your Mac during a video call, click the Video button in the menu bar, then select Studio Light.

To turn Studio Light off, click the Video button 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 appear on screen while showing what’s on your desk.

1. In the FaceTime app on your Mac during a 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.