How to use Center Stage on Mac and iPad

Apple introduced Center Stage with the 5G iPad Pro at its spring event in 2021. One year on, and Center Stage is now also available in the iPad Air, iPad, iPad mini and to Macs with a Studio Display. In use, it keeps you in the picture during video calls.

What does Center Stage do?

The feature makes use of machine learning and the FaceTime camera on your system to automatically keep you in the frame when making a video call.

It means you can move around and invite more people to join you in the frame without spending time adjusting angles or self-consciously checking to ensure your head remains in the picture. It helps you look your best near the next unyielding team meeting.

(Do note, the feature can’t work miracles, so if you walk out of the view it won’t make you look as if you’re still there).

Center Stage works with FaceTime and the Ultra Wide camera. It also works with Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Skype, Slack, and WebEx.

Which devices support Center Stage?

The feature works with all new Macs introduced since spring 2021, so that’s the 3^rd gen 11” iPad Pro, the 5^thgen 12.9” iPad Pro, the new iPad Air 5, iPad 9, and sixth-generation iPad mini. These need to be running iOS 15 or later for best results.

It also works with Apple’s all-new 27-inch 5K Studio Display, which hosts its own A-series chip and a video camera and integrates with any Mac. The display has TrueTone, a three-mic array and six speakers. It also has that 12MP ultra-wide Center Stage camera.

How to turn it on and off again

Center Stage is enabled by default on any system that supports it, but you can switch it off using Control Center once you are in the video calling app you use. Once you launch the video application you’ll find a new Effects control in Control Center, tap it and then tap Center Stage to turn it off, or switch it back on.

You can also control Center Stage during a FaceTime call by tapping the video thumbnail of yourself, then tapping the Center Stage button. You may also find controls for Center Stage buried in the settings of your video chat app.

It’s so simple to use you don’t really need to think too much about it, and so effective you’ll wonder how you managed without it.

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