As video call apps have seen massive growth over the last few months during the pandemic, Apple users have found Group FaceTime’s moving tiles to offer a distracting experience. With Apple’s iOS 13.5 software comes the option to stop moving faces in Group FaceTime calls.

iOS 13.5 is now available to the public and along with the option to stop moving faces in Group FaceTime, it also includes contact tracing that will work with local health authority apps as they become available.

Each video call service/app has a bit different design but many have a default where the person talking becomes the focus/fills up the majority of your screen.

Zoom does this by default but it also offers a grid view where each person/face is fixed and all take up the same space.

Fortunately, Apple has updated Group FaceTime settings on iPhone and iPad to include a toggle to stop the floating, moving faces that can quickly bounce around as lots of people chat in a call.

iPhone and iPad: How to stop moving faces in Group FaceTime

  • Make sure you’re running iOS 13.5
  • Head to Settings
  • Swipe down and tap FaceTime
  • Near the bottom, tap the toggle next to Speaking under “Automatic Prominence” to stop faces from moving around fast in Group FaceTime calls

Even if you turn off the moving faces you always still double-tap on a face to make it the prominent tile on your screen.

Here’s how these steps look on iOS 13.5:

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