With the release of macOS Ventura and iOS 16, Apple introduced a brilliant feature called Continuity Camera. If your iPhone is nearby, locked, and on the same Wi-Fi network, your Mac will completely bypass its own built-in webcam and automatically connect to your iPhone’s superior rear camera for video calls on Zoom, FaceTime, or Microsoft Teams.
While the video quality is incredible, the automatic connection can be incredibly disruptive. If your iPhone is sitting face-up on your desk while you jump into a quick Zoom meeting, your colleagues will instantly be treated to a live broadcast of your ceiling fan instead of your face. You are then forced to scramble through Zoom’s settings to switch the camera back to your MacBook’s built-in webcam.
To prevent your iPhone from hijacking your video feeds, you must turn off the automatic Continuity Camera connection.
How to Turn Off Continuity Camera on Your iPhone
The toggle to disable this feature is actually located in the settings of your iPhone, not your Mac.
- Unlock your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on General.
- Tap on AirPlay & Handoff.
- Look for a toggle switch labeled Continuity Camera (or “Continuity Camera Webcam”).
- Turn this toggle to the Off position.
Once disabled, your Mac will no longer attempt to pair with your phone’s camera lenses. When you join a video conference, your Mac will safely and predictably default to its own internal webcam every single time.