Ultra wide lens on iPad Air (M2) suddenly not available to use on FaceTime after flipping the camera

re the iPad Air M2 chip,

When I first got my iPad I was super delighted to find the Ultra Wide ("UW") lens on FaceTime. However, 2 weeks later, I switched the camera from the front to back on FaceTime and when I switched it back to the front camera the UW feature had disappeared. I was super super distraught and tried everything to fix it.


I contacted Apple Support who then ran diagnostics, told me to reset settings, restart my iPad, or restore my iPad. After trying everything, he booked me an appointment to the Apple Store to get a technician to take a look-- when I went into the store, I was given a solution to either restore/replace the iPad (since it had been within 14 days since purchase). Even when I had replaced the iPad and set up the iPad in the apple store, the UW feature was just gone- I was unable to find a solution. The technician was very helpful and reassuring, in trying to find out why there was an issue, he restored my old iPad in hopes to find out whether it would restore the UW feature too. It did not...


Is this a software bug? Did Apple suddenly remove the feature on facetime?


#Feeling hopeless at this point of time; Please help/restore the feature! :(

iPad Air, iPadOS 17

Posted on Sep 9, 2024 12:56 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 9, 2024 4:45 AM

Perhaps you have changed your Centre Stage settings within the FaceTime App.


Open the FaceTime App - then swipe-down from the upper-right corner of the screen to expose the expanded Control Centre.





Tap the Effects button - and then tap the Centre Stage button to either enable or disable the Centre Stage feature.


With Centre Stage disabled, FaceTime will only use the ultra-wide camera view.

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3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 9, 2024 4:45 AM in response to yongtaufunicole

Perhaps you have changed your Centre Stage settings within the FaceTime App.


Open the FaceTime App - then swipe-down from the upper-right corner of the screen to expose the expanded Control Centre.





Tap the Effects button - and then tap the Centre Stage button to either enable or disable the Centre Stage feature.


With Centre Stage disabled, FaceTime will only use the ultra-wide camera view.

Sep 9, 2024 9:06 AM in response to yongtaufunicole

I'm unable to replicate your issue - and I've not seen any other reports of this or similar difficulties. You may already have tried some of the following...


If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:


Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

  1. Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
  2. Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
  3. Press and hold the top button.
  4. When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.





If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support


When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings


If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support


Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044


You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad - and you can explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Sep 9, 2024 8:47 AM in response to LotusPilot

Hey! thanks for trying to help :)


Unfortunately this is a solution that I’ve already navigated- when I first received the iPad the camera would revert to UW once I turned off center stage. The advertising of the iPad to begin with is the feature of ultra wide lens when on FaceTime as well as centre stage. I dislike the camera following my head around so I don’t use centre stage!


Let me know if you have any other ideas

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Ultra wide lens on iPad Air (M2) suddenly not available to use on FaceTime after flipping the camera

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