5 Best Fixes for Portrait Mode Not Working in FaceTime on iPhone

For iPhone users, FaceTime is the default app for video calls. To enhance your experience, Apple added SharePlay to FaceTime, allowing you to watch content with loved ones. If you receive work calls on FaceTime, you can enable Portrait Mode to isolate yourself and hide your surroundings.

Users complain of being unable to use portrait mode in FaceTime on their iPhones. If you have encountered this issue, this post will share the best solutions to fix Portrait Mode not working in FaceTime on iPhone.

1. Check if Portrait Mode Is Enabled

If you can’t blur the background in FaceTime calls, check if Portrait Mode is enabled. This feature is not enabled by default and you need to enable it manually from the Control Center. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open FaceTime on your iPhone.

Step 2: Keep FaceTime open and swipe down from the top-right corner.

Step 2: Tap on Effects at the top-right corner.

Step 3: Select Portrait.

To change the level of background blur for FaceTime calls, tap the three dots next to Portrait.

Step 4: Close Control Center and check if the problem is solved.

2. Move Slightly Far From iPhone Camera

If Portrait Mode does not appear during FaceTime calls, try moving away from the camera. The depth sensor on the front camera of your iPhone needs to discern a separation between the background and foreground to apply the background blur effect. So, staying slightly farther from your iPhone camera can activate Portrait Mode during FaceTime calls. Additionally, achieving background blur may be challenging if there are more than 3 people in the frame during the call.

3. Activate FaceTime Again on iPhone

If Portrait Mode isn’t working in FaceTime on your iPhone, reactivate FaceTime. This is a highly effective solution, especially if FaceTime stops working entirely on your iPhone. Here’s how:

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on FaceTime.

Step 3: Disable FaceTime by tapping the toggle next to it.

Step 4: Wait for a minute and toggle again to re-enable this feature.

Step 5: Close the Settings app and open FaceTime to check if the problem is solved.

4. Force Quit and Relaunch FaceTime

If the problem persists, you can force quit FaceTime on your iPhone. Here’s how:

1. From the home screen, swipe up and hold to view the background app windows.

2. Look for FaceTime and swipe right to find it.

3. Swipe up to close FaceTime.

This will give FaceTime a fresh start and may help resolve the issue.

Step 3: Open FaceTime app again and check if Portrait Mode works during calls.

5. Update iOS Version

If the solutions don’t work, the last option is to update the version of FaceTime. You can do that by installing any pending iOS updates on your iPhone. Here’s how to check the pending iOS updates.Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap General.

Step 3: Tap Software Update.

Step 4: Download and install any available updates. Step 5: Open FaceTime to see if the problem is solved after installation.

If you are still facing issues with Portrait Mode in Facetime, we suggest visiting an Apple Store to get the front camera of your iPhone checked by experts. There can be internal damage or malfunction in the depth sensor which is causing this issue.

If Portrait Mode is not working in FaceTime on your iPhone, these solutions can help. You can also use Portrait Mode for FaceTime calls outdoors. However, if you receive an unexpected FaceTime call, you can mute the person on FaceTime to prevent them from hearing your conversation while on another call.