How to use the Center Stage feature on iPhone 17 – The selfie camera rotates vertically and horizontally, extremely convenient

The iPhone 17 brings some big changes to the selfie camera, replacing the old 12MP TrueDepth lens with a new 18MP 'Center Stage' camera. But it's not just the higher resolution that's notable – it's the ability to automatically switch between portrait and landscape modes without rotating the phone.

 

This is an extremely convenient feature, allowing you to comfortably take selfies in familiar positions while still being able to adjust the photo composition as desired.

But there's more to 'Center Stage' — here's a detailed guide on how to get the most out of this unique feature.

1. Open the Camera app

 

First, open the Camera app in your favorite way:

1. Tap the Camera icon on the home screen
2. Tap Camera Control
3. Or swipe from the lock screen to quickly turn it on

All methods work the same, so you can choose whichever one you like.

2. Switch to front camera

 

Next, switch to the front camera by tapping the camera switch icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.

3. Press the Orientation switch

 

Once the front camera is on, you'll see the navigation button located just above the camera shutter button (the large white circle at the bottom of the screen).

Tap it to switch between portrait and landscape mode , no matter which orientation you're holding your phone.

4. Zoom in/out

Right next to the navigation button is the Zoom button .
It works similarly to the zoom feature on previous iPhones, but doesn't display a specific zoom parameter .

1. Click once to zoom out
2. Click again to zoom in

5. Customize automatic features

 

Look up at the top corner of the Camera app, next to the quick settings menu , and you'll see an icon of a person in a square .
Tap it to open the Center Stage option .

Here you can enable or disable features:

1. Auto Zoom
2. Auto Rotate

Note that if you enable these two features, you won't be able to use the Zoom or Orientation buttons manually — and conversely, if you adjust manually, the automatic options will be turned off.

The iPhone 17's 'Center Stage' camera is one of those underrated but incredibly useful features .
It gives you creative freedom to shoot from any angle , no matter how you hold your phone.
With just a few simple steps, you can take full advantage of the versatility of this new selfie camera.