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How to use FaceTime Reactions in iOS 17
In This Article
iOS 17is finally here, bringing with it loads of exciting new benefits. One new feature available with the big software update is FaceTime Reactions. Here’s how to use them.
FaceTime Reactions is a FaceTime feature that allows users to send fun augmented reality animations through the video calling app. This includes themed 3D effects like fireworks, balloons, laser bursts, confetti and rain, as well as more straightforward thumbs up, thumbs down and heart reactions.
All of the above can be accessed with a series of taps or you can trigger them hands-free using gestures.
Keep reading to learn how to use FaceTime Reactions or scroll down to the troubleshooting section of this page for a quick guide to the eight gestures you need to know.
What you’ll need:
The Short Version
How to use FaceTime Reactions in iOS 17
Step1
Open the FaceTime app
Make sure your phone is running iOS 17 before following any of these steps.
Step2
Tap New FaceTime
Or choose a recent contact.
Step3
Choose a contact or group
You can type their name or click on any of the suggested contacts.
Step4
Tap FaceTime
This will start the call.
Step5
Press and hold on your camera view
This is the window in the bottom right corner. You can also skip steps 5 and 6 and use gestures to trigger FaceTime Reactions.
Step6
Tap to select a reaction
You can choose between hearts, thumps up, thumbs down, balloons, rain, confetti, laser burst and fireworks.
Troubleshooting
You can trigger all of the new FaceTime Reactions hands-free using gestures. Take a look at the table from Apple’s support page below for reference:
All iPhone models that run iOS 17 support FaceTime Reactions. This includes the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max and above.
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Hannah joined Trusted Reviews as a staff writer in 2019 after graduating with a degree in English from Royal Holloway, University of London. She’s also worked and studied in the US, holding positions …
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Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
