You’re sitting there on a call, maybe venting about a bad day or just messing around with your friends, and suddenly the screen starts pouring. It’s not a glitch. It’s not a filter you had to download from some sketchy third-party app. It’s actually a native feature baked right into the Apple ecosystem. Most people stumble upon it by accident, usually by making a specific gesture with their hands that triggers the software to overlay an augmented reality (AR) animation. Knowing exactly how to make it rain on FaceTime is mostly about understanding how iOS 17 and later versions handle "Reactions."
It’s a bit of a party trick. Honestly, the first time I saw it, I thought my connection was dying. But no, Apple just decided that video calls needed a bit more drama.
The Secret Hand Gestures You Need
Apple calls these "Reactions." They aren't just for FaceTime; they work in Zoom, Google Meet, and even some social media apps, provided you’re using an iPhone or iPad with the right hardware. To trigger the rain effect specifically, you need to use two thumbs down.
Wait. Not just a lazy flick of the wrists. You have to hold both hands up in the frame, clearly visible to the camera, and give a firm "thumbs down" with both hands simultaneously. If you do it right, the screen darkens. Digital raindrops start hitting the "glass" of your screen. It’s surprisingly immersive. The system uses the Neural Engine on the A-series chips to segment your body from the background, so the rain actually appears to fall behind you and in front of you at the same time.
If it’s not working, you're probably hiding your hands too low. The camera needs to see your knuckles and the orientation of your thumbs.
Why Your iPhone Might Be Ignoring You
Hardware matters here. You can't do this on an iPhone 8. You just can't. You need a device with the TrueDepth camera system or at least the processing power found in the iPhone 12 and newer models. Specifically, this feature rolled out with iOS 17. If you are still clinging to iOS 16 because you hate the new lock screen, you’re out of luck.
Check your settings. Swipe down from the top right corner of your screen during a FaceTime call to open the Control Center. You’ll see a green bubble that says "Effects" or "Video Effects." Tap that. There is an option for "Reactions." If that isn't highlighted or turned on, your thumbs can point down until they cramp and nothing will happen. Sometimes it gets toggled off by default after an update, which is annoying, but easy to fix.
Beyond the Rain: Other Hidden Triggers
Once you master how to make it rain on FaceTime, you’ll realize there is a whole library of these things. It's kinda like learning combos in a fighting game.
- Hearts: Form a heart shape with both hands. Little red hearts float up.
- Fireworks: Two thumbs up. Boom.
- Confetti: Two peace signs (the "V" gesture).
- Balloons: One peace sign.
- Lasers: Pinky and index fingers up on both hands (the "rock on" sign).
The "rain" is unique because it's one of the few "negative" or "somber" effects. Most of Apple's AR triggers are celebratory. The rain gives you a way to express disappointment or sarcasm without saying a word. It’s very "main character energy" to have a private storm cloud follow you around while your friend tells you about their boring lunch.
Troubleshooting the AR Sensor
Is your lighting bad? That’s usually the culprit. AR triggers rely on contrast and edge detection. If you’re in a dark room or the sun is blowing out the background behind you, the iPhone’s processor struggles to distinguish your thumbs from the shadows.
Try to keep your hands about 12 to 18 inches from the lens. Too close and the camera only sees a blur of skin; too far and the gesture is too small to register. Also, if you’re using a Mac for FaceTime, this works there too, but only if you have a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3 chips) and are using the built-in camera or an iPhone as a Continuity Camera. Intel-based Macs are generally left out of this specific fun.
The Practical Side of Digital Weather
We should talk about etiquette for a second. Making it rain during a job interview on Zoom (since this works there too via the macOS/iOS video overlay) is probably a bad move. It stays on the screen for several seconds. There is no "abort" button once the animation starts. You just have to sit there while the digital storm passes.
It’s also worth noting that the person on the other end sees exactly what you see. This isn't a local-only effect. It’s rendered on your device and sent through the video stream. If they are on an Android device or a PC, they will still see the rain because it’s being "baked" into the video signal before it leaves your phone.
How to Do It Without Gestures
If you’re uncoordinated or just don't want to wave your hands around like a maniac, there is a manual way.
- While in the FaceTime call, tap your own video tile to expand the options.
- Long-press on your tile.
- A menu of icons will pop up.
- Tap the "Rain" icon (it looks like a cloud with drops).
This is actually the "pro" way to do it because it doesn't require the camera to recognize your hands. It’s 100% reliable. Sometimes the gesture recognition is finicky, especially if you have a busy background like a bookshelf or a crowded cafe. The manual menu never fails.
Making the Effect Look Better
To get that "human-quality" look in your video, ensure you aren't wearing clothes that match your background. The "rain" effect uses a depth map. If the phone can clearly see where your head ends and the wall begins, the rain will look like it's actually falling in a 3D space.
🔗 Read more: Frederick MD Weather Radar: What Most People Get Wrong
Also, update to the latest point-release of iOS. Apple is constantly tweaking the sensitivity of these gestures. In the early versions of iOS 17, people were accidentally triggering fireworks during therapy sessions or serious work calls just by gesturing naturally while they spoke. Apple has since calibrated the "dwell time"—meaning you have to hold the gesture for a beat longer now—to prevent accidental rainstorms.
To start using this right now, open your FaceTime app and start a "New FaceTime" call with yourself or a friend. Test the dual thumbs down. If it fails, head to your Control Center and toggle the "Reactions" setting off and back on again. Make sure your hands are centered in the frame. Once you see the screen dim and the water fall, you’ll know the hardware is synced.