iPhone 17 has made some big changes to the selfie camera, swapping out the old 12MP TrueDepth lens for the 18MP "Center Stage" camera. But this new camera offers more than just higher resolution; it's also capable of switching between portrait and landscape without changing the orientation of the phone itself.
That's a very useful feature to have, since it gives you a bunch more freedom in how you take your selfies — all while your phone stays in whatever position you're most comfortable holding it in.
But while Center Stage's key benefit is changing orientation, there is a little more to it than that. Here's how to make it all work
1. Open the camera app
The first thing you need to do here is open up the camera app in whichever way you prefer.
Either tap the camera app icon on your home screen, press the Camera Control button, or use the lock screen shortcut.
All three methods work equally well.
2. Switch to the front camera
Next, you'll need to switch to the front camera, by tapping the Camera switch button in the bottom right corner of the phone screen.
3. Tap the orientation switch button
Once the front camera is open, you'll need to look for the Orientation switch button. It can be found right above the shutter button, that big white circle at the bottom of your phone screen.
Tapping this button lets you switch between portrait and landscape mode as you see fit. Regardless of which way the phone is actually sitting in your hand.
4. Zoom in and out
Next to the orientation switch is the Zoom button. This functions similarly to the zoom out feature on older iPhones, just without the numbers.
Tapping it will initially zoom out, and tapping it again zooms back in.
5. Change which features happen automatically
Head to the top of the camera app and next to the quick settings menu, you'll see an additional icon. This looks like a person in a square box, and tapping it opens up the Center Stage options.
Two options are currently available, letting you choose whether you want the zoom and auto-rotate features switched on or off. However, just be warned, if you toggle either feature on, you can use the manual Zoom or Orientation switch icons.
Tapping them will switch the respective toggle back into the off position.
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