FaceTime Reactions on iOS 17: Adding Fun to Video Calls

Since its release in September, iOS 17 has introduced a range of exciting new features, and one of the standout additions is FaceTime Reactions. Designed specifically for Apple’s video-based apps, FaceTime Reactions utilize the power of gesture recognition to augment your video calls with entertaining animations and emojis.

What Are FaceTime Reactions?

Imagine giving a double thumbs-up to your camera during a FaceTime call, only to see a corresponding thumbs-up emoji appear on your screen. That’s what FaceTime Reactions can do. Building on the idea behind Apple Messages’ ability to automatically send reactions based on specific keywords, FaceTime Reactions now respond to your physical movements and gestures.

While this feature adds a fun and interactive element to your FaceTime calls, there may be situations where you prefer to disable it.

Turning off FaceTime Reactions on iPhone and iPad

1. Open the FaceTime app.
2. Initiate a call with your camera activated before attempting to disable Reactions.
3. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen to open the Control Center. This action won’t end your call.
4. In the upper left corner, tap on “Effects.”
5. From the menu that appears, tap on “Reactions” to deactivate them.

Turning off FaceTime Reactions on Macs running MacOS Sonoma

1. Open the FaceTime app.
2. In the menu at the top of your screen, click on the camera icon (no need to start a call).
3. Click on “Reactions” to disable them.

Please note that FaceTime Reactions are currently only available on iPhone 12 models and newer devices running iOS 17. On Mac, you must also be running the latest operating system, MacOS Sonoma. To check and update your software version, simply go to Settings > General > Software Updates.