How to Record Front and Back Cameras at the Same Time on iPhone

TL;DR

DualCam uses Apple's multi-camera capture to record both cameras at once and composes them live into one video: picture-in-picture, split, side by side or cutout. It needs an iPhone XS or later with iOS 17, and a single recording stops automatically at 10 minutes.

The problem

You want to be in your own video and show what’s in front of you: a view, a product, a performance, the thing you’re reacting to. A normal camera app makes you choose one. Switch to the selfie camera mid-shot and you lose the scene; film the scene and your face and reaction are gone. The usual workaround is to film twice and combine them in an editor, which means a second performance, a manual sync and an export, and a reaction that never feels real the second time.

What DualCam does

It records the front and rear cameras at the same moment using Apple’s multi-camera capture, and composes them into one frame while you film. When you stop, a single finished video exists. There’s no stitching and no drift between two tracks, because both were captured together.

How to do it

  1. Open DualCam and pick a Quick Start card, or set your own layout. See choosing a layout.
  2. Allow camera, microphone and Photos access when asked.
  3. Frame both cameras. The live preview shows exactly what will be recorded.
  4. Press record (or use the volume button). A countdown can give you a few seconds first.
  5. Stop, check the preview, and save to Photos.

Things to set before you press record

  • Layout and quality (HD or 4K, 24, 30 or 60 fps) are locked during a take.
  • Orientation is fixed to how you started.
  • Audio comes from the phone’s microphone, so keep it clear of your hand.

Limits

  • Needs iPhone XS or later. Recording both cameras needs hardware support.
  • Ten minutes per recording. It stops by itself at 10 minutes.
  • Heavy on the phone. 4K with two cameras and effects generates heat and uses storage quickly. If the phone gets hot, drop to HD 30 fps. See troubleshooting.

FAQ

Which iPhones support it? iPhone XS (A12 chip) or later running iOS 17 or later. On older phones the app tells you dual-camera recording isn’t supported.

Is the finished video ready to share? Yes. Both cameras are composed while you record, so the file is complete when you stop. You preview it and then save to Photos.

How long can one recording be? Up to 10 minutes. It stops automatically at that point and you can start another.

Can I change the layout during a take? No. Layout, quality and camera settings are fixed once recording starts, so set them first.

The app DualCam →