Use Desk View to show your face and desk on camera

Desk View uses your iPhone camera or the built-in camera of your Mac to show your face and an overhead view of your desk at the same time. It's great for tasks such as creating DIY videos or showing live sketches in video apps like FaceTime.

Presenter’s view in FaceTime for Mac after sharing the Desk View window

Use Desk View

  1. Make sure that your devices meet the Desk View system requirements below.

  2. Open your video app, such as FaceTime.

  3. Open Desk View:

    • macOS Sonoma 14 or later: From the Video menu in the menu bar, choose Desk View.

    • macOS Ventura 13: Click Control CenterControl Center in the menu bar, click Video Effects, then click Desk View.

    • If using FaceTime, you can instead click the the Desk View button in the video window.

  4. The Desk View setup window opens, showing a border around the area of your desk that will be captured in Desk View. To get the best framing and picture quality:

    • Drag the onscreen zoom slider or press Command–Plus sign (+) or Command–Minus sign (–). The smaller the area, the more zoomed in it appears when starting Desk View.

    • Change the angle of your display or iPhone.

    • Change the distance between the camera and the edge or your desk or top of your desk. If your computer is on a stand, it may help to place it directly on your desk.

    • Change the orientation of your iPhone. Landscape orientation offers a wider view of your desk; portrait orientation a deeper view.

    • Change the lighting of your desk. Good lighting enhances picture quality.

  5. Click Start Desk View to see an overhead view of the area you selected during setup. You can still zoom in or out and make other adjustments in this view.

  6. To share the Desk View window:

    • If using FaceTime, the Desk View window is now shared. If not, click the Desk View button in the FaceTime window, then click Share Desk View.

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

  7. To stop showing your desk but continue to show your face, close the Desk View window.

This example shows the presenter and their desk as viewed by a participant on a FaceTime call.

Participant's view of a presenter's desk in FaceTime on iPad

Desk View system requirements

The Desk View option appears when using these devices with a video app that supports this feature.

  • Mac using Continuity Camera with iPhone 11 or later (excluding iPhone SE models)

  • MacBook Pro introduced in 2024 or later using its built-in camera

  • iMac introduced in 2024 or later using its built-in camera

Learn more

  • To return to Desk View setup after starting Desk View, choose View > Return to Setup from the Desk View menu bar. To skip Desk View setup in the future, turn off Always Show Setup from the same menu.

  • Use other video features on Mac.

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