How to turn off AR reactions in FaceTime and other video apps

Learn how to turn off hand gestures that trigger augmented reality reactions in FaceTime and other compatible video calling apps on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

The fireworks AR effects played behind the user's head on a FaceTime call — AR effects on video calls aren’t always appropriate. Image: Matt Haughey/Mastodon

You can trigger cool augmented reality (AR) effects with hand gestures on FaceTime and other compatible video calling apps. For example, raising a thumb triggers a Like animation while a thumb-down will play a Dislike reaction. Two thumbs pointed upward trigger a Fireworks effect in the camera feed.

Hand gestures to add FaceTime effects — Hand gestures for the invocation of FaceTime effects. Image: iDB

What you don’t want is accidentally trigger AR reactions in socially unacceptable situations, like when your online therapist asks about your wellbeing and you respond with a double thumbs-up gesture, causing virtual fireworks to explode behind your head. To avoid this, here’s how to turn off AR reactions with a few clicks.

Turn off FaceTime hand gesture reactions

Before disabling hand gestures for FaceTime calls, launch the FaceTime app and call someone because the camera must be active for the video controls to appear.

iPhone and iPad

Open FaceTime or another video app on your iPhone or iPad.
Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner. If your iPhone has a Home button, swipe up from the bottom of the screen instead.
Tap FaceTime Controls at the top of the screen.
Tap the Reactions button to turn off AR animations.

If your iPhone or iPad is running an older version of iOS or iPadOS, tap the Video Effects button in the Control Center to turn off AR reactions.

The Video Effects menu in the iPhone's Control Center with the Reactions option disabled

Mac

Open FaceTime or a compatible video-calling app.
Click the FaceTime icon in the macOS menu bar.
Click Reactions to turn the feature off.

A green icon means the Reactions feature has been turned on. Conversely, a grey icon indicates that AR reactions are turned off.

Be confident on FaceTime calls

AR reactions are turned on by default. As you saw, you can turn them off quite easily to avoid potential embarrassment during team chats, online sessions with your fitness trainer or therapist, job interviews, training seminars, and the like.