FaceTime is a great way to stay connected to others, whether you’re on an iPhone, iPad, or a Mac (you can even add Windows and Android users to a call). FaceTime also regularly gets new features, like group calls and video effects, to make it a viable competitor to other video conferencing apps.

We’ve covered one of these new features below, which reduces background noise during FaceTime calls on your Mac to make you easier to hear for people. This feature is called Voice Isolation mode.

Introducing FaceTime and Voice Isolation Mode

If you haven’t used it before, FaceTime is Apple’s service for audio and video calls over the internet. It was initially limited to Apple devices, but you can now also attend a FaceTime call on Android and other devices (as long as you get an invitation from someone with an Apple device).

One of the features Apple includes with FaceTime is Voice Isolation mode. The feature—as the name suggests—separates your voice from any distracting background noises that may be around you. You can also pair this with blurring your background on a FaceTime call to isolate yourself from your surroundings if you wish to do so.

The Voice Isolation feature is available on several devices, including the Mac or the iPhone, and uses machine learning to block out ambient noise and elevate your voice. The feature can be especially useful whilst you’re in a noisy environment.

How to Use Voice Isolation on a Mac

Here’s how to enable Voice Isolation on Macs running macOS Monterey or later:

  1. Open the FaceTime app and initiate a call (video or audio).
  2. Once you’re connected to the call, open on the Control Center in the top-right corner of the screen.
  3. Click on Mic Mode and select Voice Isolation. Voice Isolation will now be activated. It may not be that apparent to you, but other people on your call should hear the difference in audio quality.
Voice Isolation mode in Facetime

You can turn Voice Isolation off at any time by going back to the Mic Mode in the Control Center and selecting Standard or Wide Spectrum. Using the Wide Spectrum mode enhances background noises around you, rather than reducing them.

Get Better Sound Quality With Voice Isolation

FaceTime’s Voice Isolation feature should allow anyone you’re calling to get better sound quality so they can hear you better. It works both ways, too, so if you can’t hear them properly, just ask them to enable Voice Isolation on their device.