Apple has made video calls more fun than ever. With iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, FaceTime now supports visual effects that respond to your hand gestures. Think hearts, confetti, fireworks, and balloons lighting up your screen — all without touching a button.
This guide will show you how FaceTime reactions work, how to use them, and how to turn them off when needed. Whether you’re on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac running macOS Sonoma, here’s everything you need to know.
What Are FaceTime Reactions?
FaceTime reactions are animated effects that appear on your video during a FaceTime call. These include:
- Hearts (love reaction)
- Thumbs up (like reaction)
- Thumbs down (dislike reaction)
- Balloons
- Confetti
- Rain
- Laser beams
- Fireworks
Each effect can be triggered either by hand gestures or through the FaceTime menu.
These effects add emotion, personality, and fun to your calls — perfect for chatting with friends or family.
How FaceTime Reaction Gestures Work
Apple uses FaceTime hand gestures to make these effects appear automatically. Instead of tapping icons, your camera detects gestures to trigger reactions.
Here’s how each FaceTime gesture works:
1. Hearts gesture: Make a heart shape with your hands.
→ Floating red hearts appear on your screen.
2. Thumbs up gesture: Show a single thumbs-up.
→ A bubble with a like icon appears.
3. Thumbs down gesture: Show a single thumbs-down.
→ A bubble with a dislike icon appears.
4. Balloons gesture: Raise a two-fingered peace sign
→ Colorful balloons float up from the bottom.
5. Rain gesture: Give two thumbs down
→ The background darkens, and rain falls from the top.
6. Confetti gesture: Raise two peace signs with both hands.
→ Confetti rains down around you.
7. Laser beams gesture: Make a “rock on” 🤘 sign with both hands.
→ Colorful lasers shoot behind you.
8. Fireworks gesture: Raise both thumbs
→ Fireworks explode in the background.
Each effect feels smooth and interactive — like bringing emojis to life during your video calls.
How to Enable FaceTime Reactions on iPhone and iPad
FaceTime reactions are enabled by default in iOS 17 and iPadOS 17, but you can manually turn them on or off.
Step-by-Step: Enable FaceTime Reactions
- Start or join a FaceTime video call.
- Open Control Center:
- On iPhones without a Home button: swipe down from the top-right.
- On iPhones with a Home button: swipe up from the bottom.
- Tap Video Effects.
- Tap Reactions.
- If the bubble is highlighted, reactions are on.
- Tap again to disable if needed.
Tip: Keep your hands visible in front of the camera for gestures to work correctly.
Supported Devices
These FaceTime video call effects work on:
- iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd Gen)
- iPhone XR, XS, XS Max
- iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 series (including Mini, Pro, Pro Max, Plus)
- iPad models running iPadOS 17 or later
How to Disable FaceTime Reactions
Sometimes, you might not want to trigger reactions — like during a work call or virtual meeting. Here’s how to turn them off.
Step-by-Step: Disable FaceTime Reactions
- Open the FaceTime app.
- Slide down from the top-right side of the display to open the Control Center.
- Tap Video Effects.
- Tap Reactions until the bubble is not highlighted.
- Swipe up to return to FaceTime.
Now, your gestures won’t trigger any effects. You can re-enable them anytime using the same steps.
FaceTime Reactions on Mac
Apple also added these fun FaceTime visual effects to macOS Sonoma. If you have a Mac with Apple silicon, you can use the same effects — FaceTime hearts, FaceTime balloons, FaceTime confetti, and more.
How to Use Reactions on Mac
- Start or join a FaceTime video call.
- Look for the green FaceTime icon in the menu bar.
- Click it to open the FaceTime effects menu.
- From here, you can:
- Trigger effects manually (like fireworks or hearts).
- View a mini webcam preview.
- Disable reactions anytime by clicking the Reactions button again.
Unlike iPhones, macOS Sonoma doesn’t use Control Center for reactions. Everything is now in the FaceTime menu bar dropdown.
Why FaceTime Reactions Are a Game-Changer
FaceTime reactions make virtual conversations more natural and expressive. They let you show emotion without interrupting your conversation.
For example:
- Send FaceTime hearts during a romantic call.
- Use FaceTime fireworks to celebrate big news.
- Drop FaceTime confetti when sharing good results.
- React with FaceTime rain when expressing empathy or sadness.
They’re subtle, fun, and easy to use — adding that human touch to digital communication.
Tips for Using FaceTime Reactions
To make the most of these new FaceTime features in iOS 17, keep these quick tips in mind:
- Stay visible: Make sure your hands are clearly in view.
- Avoid bright light behind you: It helps the camera recognize gestures better.
- Try each gesture: Practice with FaceTime balloons, FaceTime hearts, and others before your real call.
- Use in the right setting: Great for casual calls, not for formal meetings.
- Keep software updated: Ensure you’re on the latest iOS 17 or macOS Sonoma version.
Troubleshooting FaceTime Reactions
If reactions aren’t working, try these quick fixes:
- Restart FaceTime and reopen the app.
- Check lighting — avoid low light or glare.
- Ensure gestures are clear and visible to the camera.
- Update your OS to the latest version.
- Check settings under Control Center → Video Effects → Reactions.
If you’re using an older iPhone or iPad model, reactions may not appear due to hardware limitations.
Final Thoughts
The FaceTime reactions feature is a fun and expressive way to communicate visually. From FaceTime fireworks and FaceTime confetti to hearts, rain, and laser beams, these effects bring more life to your video calls.
Whether you’re using FaceTime on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, reactions help turn every call into a more personal experience.
If you ever find them distracting, you can easily disable FaceTime reactions in seconds — giving you complete control over how you appear on screen.