Portrait mode in FaceTime is a handy macOS feature that helps you look more professional in video calls. It blurs out your background and places you in the spotlight, which can help you conceal a messy environment and look sharp. If you just bought a new Mac and you're curious about using this feature on macOS Sonoma (or an earlier OS version), read on.

What is Portrait mode?

Portrait mode, as a branded phrase, was first introduced with the iPhone 7 Plus. It takes advantage of the dual lens rear camera system to focus on a certain subject and blur out the rest. Apple then brought this feature to the front facing camera with the iPhone X. That iPhone was the first to introduce the TrueDepth camera, which supports Portrait mode shots, thanks to the dot projector and IR camera.

Portrait mode remains selfie enthusiasts' favorite. It produces high quality, studio-like photos right from your smartphone. It also supports multiple lighting modes and effects, turning it into a great tool, regardless of your environment and background. However, Portrait mode in FaceTime, while inspired by the same concept of the iPhone photography tool, isn't exactly identical to it.

What is Portrait mode in FaceTime?

Portrait mode in FaceTime was first introduced in macOS Monterey, iOS 15, and iPadOS 15. What does it do? It makes FaceTiming people on the spot less embarrassing, especially if you have a messy surrounding behind you. I mean, we get it — most of us go through moments that we're unable to keep everything at home tidy. Whether it's laziness, busyness, or something else, Portrait mode in FaceTime is here to the rescue.

As its name suggests, if you're familiar with the Portrait mode photography effect, it blurs your background during a FaceTime call. Even if you have a tidy background, it's a cool effect that puts you right in the spotlight.

Portrait mode in FaceTime prerequisites

On the Mac, this feature is exclusive to M-powered machines. So if you're using an Intel Mac, you're out of luck. Apart from having a Mac powered by Apple silicon, you also will need to be running macOS Monterey or a later version.

How to use Portrait mode in FaceTime on macOS

To use Portrait mode in FaceTime on your compatible Mac, follow the steps below:

  1. Launch the FaceTime app.
  2. Click on the Control Center toggle in the Menubar.
    control center toggle in menubar
  3. Tap on Video Effects in the Control Center.
    video effects toggle in the control center on macOS
  4. Click on Portrait under FaceTime in the Video Effects section.
    portrait mode toggle under video effects
  5. Once toggled on, you'll immediately notice that your background has been blurred.
    portrait mode toggle enabled under video effect, blurring the background on FaceTime in the process
  6. You can then dismiss Control Center and FaceTime whenever you want.
    FaceTime window with background blurred, thanks to portrait mode
  7. Follow the same steps to toggle it off. You can do that before, during, or after a call.

It's worth noting that some third-party apps support this feature too. So you could try enabling it when using other video calling apps, but there's no guarantee it'll work. In the Control Center, in the Video Effects section, you'll see the app's name that is accessing your camera, rather than FaceTime.