iPhone 17 Dual Capture video mode explained: How to record yourself and the scene together

iPhone camera

With the launch of the iPhone 17 series, Apple has quietly added a feature that many creators have been asking for. Dual Capture lets you record video from both the selfie camera and the rear camera simultaneously, producing a single picture-in-picture video. The idea is straightforward. You stay on screen while also capturing what you are seeing, making it ideal for reaction videos, walk-throughs, tutorials, travel clips, or casual commentary.

Dual Capture is available across the entire iPhone 17 range, including the lighter iPhone Air models. There is no separate app required and no additional setup beyond a few taps inside the Camera app. Apple has kept the experience consistent with its usual design philosophy, focusing on ease of access rather than customisation.

How to turn on Dual Capture on iPhone 17

To get started, open the Camera app on your iPhone and switch to Video mode using the carousel at the bottom. Once Video is selected, tap the small icon made up of dots in the top-right corner of the screen. You can also trigger the same menu by tapping the active Video option again in the mode selector.

From the menu that appears, choose Dual Capture and then tap anywhere inside the viewfinder. You will now see the rear camera feed filling most of the screen, with the front camera appearing in a smaller floating window. Press the shutter button to begin recording from both cameras at once.

After using Dual Capture once, the Camera app remembers it for the rest of that session. A dedicated icon appears in the top-right corner, letting you toggle Dual Capture on or off instantly without opening the menu again. This small touch makes repeated use far less fiddly.

Controls available while recording

Once recording is underway, the feature becomes more flexible than it first appears. On iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, you can switch between the 48MP main camera, the 48MP ultrawide, and the 48MP telephoto lens during recording. This allows you to change framing or zoom levels without stopping the clip, which is particularly useful for tutorials or live reactions.

The front camera preview window is also fully draggable. You can move it to any corner of the screen if it blocks an important part of the scene. Keep in mind that this positioning is baked into the final video. Wherever you place the window while recording is exactly how it will appear when you play the clip back later.

Video quality and important limitations

Dual Capture supports recording at either 1080p or 4K resolution, with frame rates of 24fps or 30fps. If you plan to edit your footage later, 4K at 30fps offers the most flexibility while maintaining smooth motion and detail.

There are, however, a few constraints. Apple locks Dual Capture into a single layout where the rear camera dominates the frame and the front camera remains in a smaller overlay. Unlike some Android implementations, you cannot swap the feeds or use a split-screen layout where both cameras share equal space.

Another key limitation is file handling. Dual Capture saves everything as one combined video file. You do not get separate clips from each camera, which means you cannot independently reframe or edit the two perspectives later without workarounds.

Dual Capture may not replace dedicated creator apps, but for quick, polished recordings straight from the Camera app, it is a welcome addition. It reflects Apple’s growing focus on built-in creator tools that work instantly, without configuration or learning curves.