All Secret FaceTime Hand Gestures Revealed

FaceTime hand gestures are similar to the effects in the Messages app, but they look even cooler when experienced in real-time. I'll teach you how to use all eight gestures, and I'll cover how to disable them if you use your FaceTime for business calls and want to keep things professional.

Jump To:

• How to Use Every FaceTime Hand Gesture
• How to Disable FaceTime Hand Gestures
• FAQ

How to Use Every FaceTime Hand Gesture

Here are the eight iOS 17 FaceTime gestures you can try out today. It's like a fun little game you can play on FaceTime! Before you try any of these, make sure you are running iOS 17 or later and that the person you are having a FaceTime with is also running the latest version of iOS. Some of these gestures require you to use both hands, so leaning your phone up or using a stand will work best.

Firework Explosions

If you want to see fireworks on your FaceTime call, make a thumbs-up gesture with both thumbs. Make sure that both of your hands are on the screen because if the phone only picks up one thumbs up, you will get a different FaceTime effect.

Thumbs Up Emoji

To make a thumbs-up appear, just make a thumbs-up gesture with one hand. If you get excited and do both hands, which has happened to me, you'll get fireworks instead.

Beating Heart Emojis

Make a heart shape using both your hands, and beating heart emojis will pop up on your FaceTime screen. For more FaceTime tips, check out our free Tip of the Day newsletter.

Raining Down Confetti

If you want celebratory confetti to fill your FaceTime screen, make a peace (or victory sign) gesture with both of your hands.

Floating Balloons

To get some floating balloons up in your FaceTime call, make a peace (or victory sign) gesture with one hand.

Thumbs Down Emoji

To make it clear that you don't like what's being said or shown, use one hand to make a thumbs-down gesture. This will show a thumbs-down emoji, which could be rude in some scenarios, so use it at your own risk.

Gloomy Rain

If you make a thumbs-down gesture with both hands, your FaceTime screen will go dark and some rain will fall.

Laser Lights

Last but not least, if you make a ‘rock on’ gesture with both hands, laser beams will appear on your FaceTime screen-perfect for rave vibes or a virtual viewing of the Mission Impossible movies.

How to Disable FaceTime Hand Gestures

The FaceTime hand gestures are a lot of fun, but they can come across as unprofessional or even rude in certain situations. If you have a FaceTime meeting with your boss, therapist, etc, you may want to temporarily disable FaceTime hand gestures.

1. Open FaceTime. If you are already in the middle of a FaceTime conversation, you can follow these steps too.
   
   
2. Open the Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of the screen.
   
   
3. Tap Effects.
   
   
4. Tap Reactions to disable it.
   
   

You can always go back in and re-enable it using the steps above!

Now you know how to use these fun FaceTime hand gestures with your loved ones. It is always fun to surprise your friends and family who don't know about them. Sometimes, it can be hard to get some gestures to properly activate. I struggled with my thumbs-down gestures!