FaceTime calls and other online video meetings just got a lot more interesting thanks to new features in iOS 17. As a result of the powerful new silicon in Apple’s recent iPhone models, Apple has created a new feature that not only allows you to send cool 3D animations like balloons, confetti, and fireworks to your friends but also allows you to trigger them with natural physical gestures.
While the new FaceTime gestures, which Apple officially refers to as “reactions,” are fairly simple to use once you get the hang of them, not all of the gestures that trigger these reactions are immediately apparent. Aside from simply updating to iOS 17, you’ll need to make a few other preparations. Let’s get started and see how to make these preparations, as well as how these cool new FaceTime iOS 17 features work.
FaceTime iOS 17 Features
#1. Audio and Video Messages
When you FaceTime someone and they are unable to respond, you have the option of leaving a video or audio message, depending on the call method you used. You can leave a video message if you were using FaceTime video and an audio message if you were using FaceTime audio.
Following the missed call, you’ll see a “Record Video” option, allowing you to record a message. You’ll see a preview of your video and the option to re-record if it wasn’t successful. The video message is saved in the FaceTime missed call log, where the recipient can watch it and call you back.
Keep in mind that people can save video messages to their Camera Roll, so keep that in mind when sending a video to someone.
#2. FaceTime Reactions
For some time now, the Messages app has had reactions that trigger with specific words, and in iOS 17, Apple is bringing reactions to FaceTime. However, instead of being triggered by words, the reactions are triggered by gestures.
Gestures activate on-screen effects such as hearts, balloons, confetti, fireworks, and more, which flood the display over the FaceTime window.
- Thumbs up – Thumbs up emoji
- Heart – Heart emoji
- Two thumbs up – Fireworks
- Two thumbs down – Cloud
- Single thumbs down – Thumbs down emoji
- Peace sign with one hand – Balloons
- “Rock on” sign with two hands – Laser
- Peace sign with two hands – Confetti
While gestures trigger the reactions, you can also bring up a list of options by long pressing on your FaceTime picture.
These reactions are available by default in FaceTime, and third-party apps can also use them.
How to Make a Facetime Gesture in iOS 17
For the most part, Apple’s gesture-based video reactions just work — and not just as FaceTime gestures; you can use them in almost any video conferencing app that supports the standard iPhone camera APIs, such as Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Zoom. It’s not even necessary for the other party (or parties) to be using iOS 17 or an iPhone or other Apple device because all of the effects are generated on your own iPhone and sent over as part of the video stream.
To use FaceTime gestures and video reactions, you must have an iPhone 12 or later model. This is due to the more powerful A14 chip used in that model and the TrueDepth camera, which has seen significant improvements over the iPhone 11 and previous models. It’s no coincidence that the iPhone 12 is also the model with the most experience with mask-aware Face ID.
This is because the video reaction effects triggered by FaceTime gestures aren’t simply superimposed in front of your face. Instead, they’re three-dimensional immersive effects that use the same depth measurements as Portrait Mode photos to immerse you in the action. Balloons will float around your head, fireworks will explode behind you, and confetti will rain down all around you.
Read Also: iOS 17 Features: 23+ Top New Enhanced Capabilities
If you have an iPhone 12 or later (except the iPhone SE) and have upgraded to iOS 17, there is one more thing you should check to ensure that FaceTime gestures are enabled.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen while on a video call in FaceTime or another compatible video conferencing app to open Control Centre.
- Above the normal controls, you should see two additional buttons for Airplane mode and Now Playing. Choose Video Effects
- Make sure the Reactions button is enabled in your camera preview. And that’s it.
- To dismiss the Control Centre, swipe up.
It should be noted that these steps are only required to enable hand gesture recognition. If you find that Reactions are getting in the way, you can disable them in step 3; you’ll still be able to send video reactions in FaceTime manually even if this is disabled, but you won’t be able to trigger them in other video conferencing apps like Teams or Zoom.
What Facetime Gestures Are Available in iOS 17?
You can manually trigger video reactions in FaceTime by long-pressing your video preview tile in the call. A list of buttons displaying all eight possible reactions will appear. Choose one of these to make it active.
However, the real fun in video reactions comes from FaceTime gestures, allowing you to add animated effects more naturally without touching your iPhone. Third-party video conferencing apps are the only way to activate these video reaction effects.
Here are the eight possible effects and the gestures that can activate them. Keep your hands at least a few inches away from your face to activate the reaction effect and pause for a moment or two. This ensures that it can only be triggered by a fairly deliberate attempt.
However, you don’t have to jerk your hands into position or make any other quick movements because it’s the gesture your iPhone is looking for, not the motion.
#1. Thumbs-Up
The first gesture is extremely natural. Simply place your thumb a few inches away from your face and hold it there for a second or two to see a thumbs-up bubble animate beside your head.
#2. Thumbs-Down
Like the thumbs-up, the thumbs-down is easier to understand and works similarly.
#3. Hearts
Once you know it’s there, it’s simple to figure out. Make a heart gesture with two hands, thumbs at the bottom point, and floating red hearts will emerge from the centre of your hands.
#4. Fireworks
A single thumbs up is a “like,” but if you put two thumbs up at the same time, a burst of fireworks will go off behind your head.
#5. Rain
While it may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you strongly oppose an idea, two thumbs down will put a damper on your parade.
#6. Balloons
The next few gestures become more enigmatic, as there is no obvious link between the gesture and the effect. The first is a two-fingered “peace” sign that causes coloured balloons to float up around you. To begin, your hand should be facing palm-forward, with the back of your hand towards your face. Your thumb should be folded in as well.
#7. Confetti
Consider this one “balloons times two,” as it’s essentially the same two-fingered gesture done with both hands.
#8. Laser Burst
The last and perhaps most difficult to understand of Apple’s FaceTime gestures is the Laser Burst, triggered by holding two hands palm-forward with the index and little fingers up in a rock-n’-roll salute. Like the two-finger gestures, your thumbs must be tucked in for your iPhone to recognise this one.
FaceTime gestures are also recognised and usable on supported iPad models running iPadOS 17 and Apple silicon Macs running macOS Sonoma. Everyone in the call will see any video reactions you send, regardless of platform. However, they will be able to respond with a FaceTime gesture if they use a compatible iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
FaceTime iOS 17 Features: How to Use FaceTime Gestures
You’ll need a compatible device before using these new gestures in FaceTime. Here is a list of all the devices that support FaceTime gestures.
- Apple Phone 12 and later (when using the front camera)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (1st generation and later)
- iPad (8th generation and later)
- iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
- iPad mini (5th generation and later)
- Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and later)
As seen in the list above, you can use these gestures with the iPhone’s front camera. It could change in the future, but they were not set up to work with the rear cameras. Most instructions for using FaceTime gestures are for the iPhone, but they are essentially the same for compatible iPads and Apple TVs.
#1. Begin a video call on FaceTime
You must first initiate a FaceTime video call with someone. You can accomplish this by opening the FaceTime app, selecting your contact, and then beginning the FaceTime call.
#2. Make yourself and your hand visible
Once you’ve started a FaceTime video call, ensure you’re in the frame. Your hand must be visible.
#3. Make the gesture with your hand(s)
The final step in using gestures in FaceTime is to make the actual gesture with your hand. After you’ve performed the gesture, the iPhone will recognise it because your preview window will expand, followed by the augmented reality animation.
The more difficult ones require you to use both hands, as you must prop your phone up for both hands to stay in the frame. Again, you’ll know it’s registered because your preview screen will grow in size while the animation plays.
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FaceTime iOS 17 Features: References
