How to show your front and back cameras at once in a FaceTime call

Apple iPhone 18 Pro 2up
Image: Apple

On an iPhone 17 or later running iOS 27, you can share both cameras in a one-on-one FaceTime call, so the other person sees your face in a small window over whatever your rear camera is pointed at. During the call, tap your own tile, then tap the Flip to Back Camera button, and both cameras show by default.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro photography Fusion Main 48MP
A sample photo from the 48MP Fusion Main camera on iPhone 18 Pro, one of the rear cameras FaceTime can share. Image: Apple

Apple calls the feature Dual Capture, and its “What’s new in iOS 27” guide describes it in one line: “Dual Capture lets you share both your front and back camera views during a FaceTime call.” Flipping to the rear camera used to take you out of the picture. Now you can show someone the view from a hike, a leaking pipe or a new puppy and stay in the conversation.

What you need

  • iPhone 17 or later. Apple’s guide doesn’t name individual models, so if you’re unsure about yours, look for the option on your next call.
  • iOS 27. Apple lists Dual Capture in FaceTime as new in this release.
  • A one-on-one call. Apple’s steps are written for one-on-one calls in the FaceTime app and don’t mention Group FaceTime.
Apple iPhone Duo Center Stage front camera
The Center Stage front camera on iPhone Duo. Image: Apple

Turn on Dual Capture

  1. Start or answer a one-on-one call in the FaceTime app.
  2. Tap your tile, the small view of yourself.
  3. Tap the Flip to Back Camera button.

Both the front and back cameras now show, with your face as a small window inside the rear camera view. To return to the usual selfie view, tap the Flip to Front Camera button.

Don’t miss the best of The Mac Observer

Set us as a preferred source and our Apple reporting ranks higher in your Google Search results and Discover feed — one tap, no account changes.

Or get it by email

While the rear camera is on, tap 1x to change the zoom. The label shows the current level, from 0.5x to 6x, and you can also pinch in or out.

Share only the rear camera

Sometimes the other person needs to see the thing, not you. After you flip to the back camera, tap the Hide Front Camera button, and only the rear view is shared.

That choice sticks. Apple says the setting “persists on future calls” until you tap the Show Front Camera button. So if a later call flips to the rear view without your face in the corner, one tap on Show Front Camera brings the small window back.

Other FaceTime camera controls

  • Portrait mode: tap your tile, then tap Portrait to blur the background behind you. Tap it again to turn it off. You can also open Control Center and tap FaceTime Controls.
  • Camera off: tap the screen to show the controls, then tap the Camera Switch button. Tap it again to turn the camera back on.

Not the same as Dual Capture video

Apple also uses the Dual Capture name for a video recording feature. The tech specs for iPhone Duo list “Dual Capture up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps” under video recording, which is separate from the live FaceTime feature above. If you have an iPhone 18 Pro, you get the FaceTime version, since it meets Apple’s iPhone 17 or later requirement.