Use Reactions, Presenter Overlay and other effects when video conferencing on Mac

macOS includes a variety of video and audio features that you can use in FaceTime and many other video-conferencing apps.

Reactions

Presenter Overlay

Camera modes and controls

Mic modes

Reactions

Requires macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac with Apple silicon, or macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac using Continuity Camera with iPhone 12 or later

Reactions fill your video frame with a 3D effect expressing how you feel. To show a reaction, make the appropriate hand gesture in view of the camera and away from your face. Hold the gesture until you see the effect.

To turn this feature on or off, select Reactions in the Video menuVideo menu, which will appear in the menu bar when a video call is in progress. To show a reaction without using a hand gesture, click the arrowarrow next to Reactions in the menu, then click a reaction button in the submenu.

Video menu showing Reactions and its submenu

Hearts

To show red hearts, use two hands to make a heart sign. Or click the Hearts buttonHearts button in the Reactions submenu.

The hearts reaction

Balloons

To show balloons, make a victory sign (peace sign). Or click the Balloons buttonBalloons button in the Reactions submenu.

The balloons reaction

Thumbs Up

To show a thumbs up emoji, hold one thumb up. Or click the Thumbs Up buttonThumbs Up button in the Reactions submenu.

The thumbs up reaction

Thumbs Down

To show a thumbs down emoji, hold one thumb down. Or click the Thumbs Down buttonThumbs Down button in the Reactions submenu.

The thumbs down reaction

Rain

To show stormy rain, hold two thumbs down. Or click the Rain buttonRain button in the Reactions submenu.

The rain reaction

Confetti

To show confetti, make two victory signs (peace signs). Or click the Confetti buttonConfetti button in the Reactions submenu.

The confetti reaction

Fireworks

To show fireworks, hold two thumbs up. Or click the Fireworks buttonFireworks button in the Reactions submenu.

The fireworks reaction

Lasers

To show laser beams, make the sign of the horns ?? on each hand. Or click the Lasers buttonLasers button in the Reactions submenu.

The lasers reaction

Presenter Overlay

Requires macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac with Apple silicon

Presenter Overlay elevates your presence by including you on top of the content you’re sharing when on a video call.

Presenter Overlay: Large

The large overlay keeps you prominent while your shared screen is framed next to you — even when using Centre Stage. Your room will appear in the background (virtual backgrounds are disabled), and you can walk, talk and move in front of the screen.

  1. Use the screen-sharing feature of your video app to share a screen.

  2. From the screen-sharing menuscreen-sharing menu in the menu bar, click Large Large. Use the video preview in this menu to confirm that the effect is working and see what your viewers see.

  3. To move the shared screen to the other side of you, move your cursor over the video preview, then click the button with the opposing arrowsopposing arrows in the bottom right-hand corner of the preview.

The screen-sharing menu, showing the preview window and controls for the large Presenter Overlay

Presenter Overlay: Small

The small overlay shows your face in a movable bubble, which gives more space to the screen you’re sharing. You can point to important details.

  1. Use the screen-sharing feature of your video app to share a screen.

  2. From the screen-sharing menuscreen-sharing menu in the menu bar, click SmallSmall.

  3. To move the bubble, drag it to any position in your video window (not in the preview window).

The screen-sharing menu, showing the preview window and controls for the small Presenter Overlay

To turn Presenter Overlay on or off quickly, you can set up a keyboard shortcut: Choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click Keyboard in the sidebar, then click Keyboard Shortcuts on the right. Click Presenter Overlay, then assign keyboard shortcuts on the right.

Camera modes and controls

Use camera modes and controls to enhance your image or background, or change the way you’re framed in the video window.

Centre Stage

Requires a Mac using Continuity Camera with iPhone 11 or later, excluding iPhone SE models

Centre Stage keeps you centred in the camera frame as you move around.

  • In macOS Sonoma or later, choose Centre Stage from the Video menuVideo menu in the menu bar. To switch between the rear cameras on your iPhone, click the arrowarrow next to Centre Stage, then choose Main or Ultra Wide.

  • In macOS Ventura, click Control CentreControl Centre in the menu bar, click Video Effects, then click Centre Stage.

Portrait Mode

Requires a Mac laptop with Apple silicon using the built-in camera, or a Mac using Continuity Camera with iPhone XR or later

Portrait mode blurs the background to keep the focus on you.

  • In macOS Sonoma or later, choose Portrait from the Video menuVideo menu in the menu bar. To change the amount of background blur, click the arrowarrow next to Portrait, then use the slider.

  • In macOS Ventura, click Control CentreControl Centre in the menu bar, click Video Effects, then click Portrait.

Studio Light

Requires macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac laptop with Apple silicon using the built-in camera, or macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac using Continuity Camera with iPhone 12 or later

Studio light dims the background and illuminates your face, without relying on external lighting. Studio Light is great for difficult lighting situations, like backlit scenes in front of a window.

  • In macOS Sonoma or later, choose Studio Light from the Video menuVideo menu in the menu bar. To adjust the intensity of this effect, click the arrow arrow next to Studio Light, then use the slider.

  • In macOS Ventura, click Control CentreControl Centre in the menu bar, click Video Effects, then click Studio Light.

Desk View

Requires a Mac using Continuity Camera with iPhone 11 or later, excluding iPhone SE models

Using the Ultra Wide camera of your iPhone, Desk View shows your desk and your face at the same time. It’s great for creating DIY videos, showing live sketches over FaceTime and more.

  1. Start your video call, then open the Desk View app as follows, depending on your video app and the version of macOS you’re using:

    • macOS Sonoma or later: Choose Desk View from the Video menuVideo menu in the menu bar.

    • macOS Ventura: Click Control CentreControl Centre in the menu bar, click Video Effects, then click Desk View.

    • FaceTime: Click the Desk View button in the video window.

  2. To zoom in or out of your desktop, drag the onscreen control in the Desk View setup window. If you can't get a good view of both face and desktop, try again with your iPhone in portrait orientation. You can also make these adjustments after you start Desk View. (To skip this setup step in the future, use the View menu in the Desk View menu bar to turn off Always Show Setup.)

  3. Click Start Desk View, then share the Desk View window:

      • If using FaceTime, the Desk View window should already be shared. If others on the call can't see your desktop, click the Desk View button in the FaceTime window again, then click the Share Desk View button in the Desk View window.

      • If using a different app, use its screen-sharing feature to select the Desk View window for sharing.

        Desk View as seen by a participant using an iPad

  4. To stop Desk View, close the Desk View window.

Background replacement

Requires macOS Sequoia or later on a Mac with Apple silicon

Use a virtual background to enhance your privacy, present a more professional appearance or suit the occasion.

  1. Choose Background from the Video menuVideo menu in the menu bar.

  2. Click the background preview in the menu to choose a colour, built-in image or image of your own.

Manual framing adjustments

Requires macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac using an Apple Studio Display, or macOS Sonoma or later on a Mac using Continuity Camera with iPhone XR or later

  1. From the Video menuVideo menu in the menu bar, make sure Centre Stage is turned off (dimmed). Centre Stage will automatically make framing adjustments, so it must be turned off to enable manual adjustments.

  2. Move your cursor over the video preview in the Video menuVideo menu, then make these adjustments:

    • Zoom: The zoom control is a series of tick marks showing the zoom level, from 3x zoomed in to 0.5x zoomed out. Drag the control left or right to adjust zoom.

    • Pan: Drag your image within the preview window to pan and adjust the frame.

    • Recentre: Click the Recentre button to position your face in the centre of the frame. (To remain centred as you change position, use Centre Stage instead.)

The video menu, showing the manual framing controls

Mic modes

In macOS Sonoma or later, click Mic Mode from the Video menuVideo menu or Audio menuAudio menu in the menu bar, then choose a mic mode.

In macOS Ventura or macOS Monterey, click Control CentreControl Centre in the menu bar, then click Mic Mode.

Choose from these mic modes:

  • Voice IsolationVoice Isolation gives priority to your voice and minimises the sounds of traffic, dogs barking and other background noise around you.

  • Wide SpectrumWide Spectrum captures your voice as well as the sound around you, such as the sound of music or nature.

  • Spatial Audio makes the voices you hear sound like they’re coming from the direction in which each person is positioned on the screen. It’s available on these Mac models:

    • Mac models with Apple silicon, if using the internal speakers, wired headphones or AirPods

    • Intel-based Mac laptop models introduced in 2018 or later, if using the internal speakers or wired headphones

    • Intel-based iMac models introduced in 2018 or later, if using wired headphones

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