How Does Center Stage Work on the iPad?

This article explains Apple’s Center Stage technology, including how to use it with FaceTime and other video chat apps and disable the feature if you don’t like it.

What Is Apple’s Center Stage?

Center Stage is a technology that works with the ultra-wide 12-megapixel TrueDepth camera first included with the 2021 iPad Pro to keep everyone (whether it's one person or a group) centered in the frame during video calls. The technology works by sending just the part of the image you or a group are actually in.

Center Stage uses machine learning technology to recognize and focus on your face and make adjustments on the fly to ensure you’re always in the center of the frame. If you get up and walk around during a FaceTime call, Center Stage is capable of recognizing you are moving and keeps the camera focused on you. It can also recognize when another person enters the camera’s field of view and automatically adjust to keep both people in the frame.

How to Use Center Stage

If you have a supported device, then you can use Center Stage. It will kick in automatically whenever you use FaceTime when it's enabled. You don't have to do anything, as Center Stage works seamlessly in the background to keep you in the center of the frame.

While Center Stage works automatically, you can turn it off. If it doesn't seem to work for you, it may not be on, or your device might not support the feature.

How to Enable Center Stage on an iPad

You can enable Center Stage in FaceTime settings.

1. In the Settings app, scroll down the left sidebar and tap FaceTime.

2. Tap the Center Stage toggle to turn it on.

   If the Center Stage toggle is gray, the feature is off.

How to Enable Center Stage During a FaceTime Call

You can also turn Center Stage on while you’re in a FaceTime call. If you need to get up and walk around, and you want the camera to stay focused on you, then make sure to turn the feature on first.

Here’s how to enable Center Stage during a FaceTime call:

1. Start a FaceTime call.

2. During the call, swipe up from the bottom of the screen on iPadOS 14, or swipe down from the upper right corner in iPadOS 15 to open the Control Center.

3. Tap Center Stage to turn the feature on in iPadOS 14, or tap Video Effects in iPadOS 15.

4. Tap Center Stage in iPadOS 15.

How to Turn Off Center Stage on an iPad

You can disable Center Stage through the Settings menu, and you can also toggle it off during a FaceTime call.

Here’s how to turn off Center Stage via Settings.

1. Open Settings.

2. Tap FaceTime.

3. Tap the Center Stage toggle to turn it off.

   When the toggle is gray, the feature is off.

How to Disable Center Stage During a FaceTime Call

If you want Center Stage to stop following you around during a FaceTime call, you can toggle it off from inside the FaceTime app. You might do this if you’re having a one-on-one conversation with people in the background; otherwise, Center Stage will automatically zoom and crop to include anyone it sees, even if they aren’t participating in the call.

Here’s how to disable Center Stage during a FaceTime call:

1. Start a FaceTime call.

2. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen in iPadOS 14 to open FaceTime call options, or down from the top right corner of the screen in iPadOS 15 to open Control Center.

3. Tap Center Stage to turn it off in iPadOS 14, or tap Video Effects (Center Stage) in iPadOS 15.

4. Tap Center Stage to turn it off in iPadOS 15.

How to Enable Center Stage for Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, and Other Video Chat Apps

Center Stage works with many apps other than FaceTime, but you have to enable it individually for each app. There is no global Center Stage setting, so you need to access the settings for each app and activate the toggle. The process works the same for each, with the only difference being you need to select the app you want to use from the main iOS Settings menu.

Here’s how to enable Center Stage for Zoom, Webex, Google Meet, and other compatible video chat apps:

1. Open Settings and tap the video chat app you want to use with Center Stage (i.e. Zoom).

2. Tap the Center Stage toggle to enable it.

   The toggle will be gray if Center Stage is disabled.

3. Repeat this process for any additional apps you want to use with Center Stage.

4. When you launch the app, i.e. Zoom, Center Stage will be in effect.