How do I stop my iphone from auto-adjusting camera depth with Camera Continuity while in Teams/Zoom meetings

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How do I stop my iphone from auto-adjusting camera depth with Camera Continuity while in Teams/Zoom meetings

For context, this is a recent development (within the last week) - I use my iPhone 11 with my MacBook Pro (M1, 2020), both updated to latest OS (Sequoia 15.1) and iOS (18.1). We use Microsoft Teams at my employer. I use my Camera Continuity to allow me to use my iPhone as my web cam.

How do I turn off the auto-"zoom" or auto-adjust that the camera does every time I move. If I sit back in my seat, the camera pans in a little more unnecessarily. If I lean it, it pans out more. I don't need that -it's work calls, not a movie (ha). It feels excessive and distracting.

Any ideas or answers are appreciated! I've spent a lot of time trying various solutions and none are correcting that challenge.

iPhone 11, iOS 18

Posted on Nov 13, 2024 12:31 PM

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Answer 1

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mvite579 Author

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Nov 13, 2024 3:22 PM in response to IdrisSeabright

IdrisSeabright - you are my hero! I knew it had to be a Center Stage issue with the Continuity Camera and that was it! I just didn't know how to get there. So the prompt to select the Video icon in the top menu bar solved for this when I opened my Microsoft Teams and connected to the Continuity Camera - this enabled me to (finally) find Center Stage and turn it off. Problem solved! That should not have been that difficult.

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Answer 2

Nov 14, 2024 6:56 AM in response to mvite579

mvite579 wrote:

IdrisSeabright - you are my hero! I knew it had to be a Center Stage issue with the Continuity Camera and that was it! I just didn't know how to get there. So the prompt to select the Video icon in the top menu bar solved for this when I opened my Microsoft Teams and connected to the Continuity Camera - this enabled me to (finally) find Center Stage and turn it off. Problem solved! That should not have been that difficult.

I'm so glad you figured it out. Lots of things are difficult until we learn how to do them!

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Answer 3

Nov 13, 2024 12:36 PM in response to mvite579

Unfortunately, there is no way to turn off the auto-adjust feature of Camera Continuity. However, there are a few things you can do to minimize the amount of auto-adjusting that occurs:

Keep your iPhone still: The more you move your iPhone, the more the camera will adjust. Try to keep your iPhone as still as possible during your Teams/Zoom meetings.

Use a tripod: Using a tripod will help to keep your iPhone stable and reduce the amount of auto-adjusting that occurs.

Disable Center Stage: Center Stage is a feature that automatically keeps you centered in the frame. You can disable this feature by going to Settings > FaceTime > Center Stage and turning it off.

Hope this helps!

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Answer 4

Nov 13, 2024 1:08 PM in response to mvite579

mvite579 wrote:

Also, neither the MacBook nor the iPhone have anything with "Center Stage" - I looked for this first and have yet to find it in settings (search for "center" brings up nothing).

Center Stage should probably be an option on your Mac with the Continuity Camera. However, it's not where the previous poster (who I suspect copy/pasted an AI answer) said. See the requirements in the article below.

Use Center Stage to keep you centered in the camera frame - Apple Support

I wonder if this statement might have any relevance:

When using Center Stage with Continuity Camera, you can also choose which rear camera of your iPhone to use: Click the arrow next to Center Stage in the menu, then choose Main or Ultra Wide.

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Answer 5

mvite579 Author

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Nov 13, 2024 12:45 PM in response to Oliver263_

Thank you Oliver263_ ! I appreciate the quick reply. I've used this setup with my iPhone as a camera for the past few years (since it became available). This is focus adjustment only recent. The camera is on a mount that is stable from vibrations from the desk, etc. I will see what else I can do.

Also, neither the MacBook nor the iPhone have anything with "Center Stage" - I looked for this first and have yet to find it in settings (search for "center" brings up nothing).

I will probably buy a dedicated webcam since is distracting.

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