This article explains how to start a FaceTime audio or video call, as well as information about how the app works, including how to use FaceTime and SharePlay.

What to Know

  • Open FaceTime app > select a contact.Or, tap contact > tap FaceTime or the camera icon. Select phone icon to make an audio call.Use SharePlay to listen to music, watch movies and shows, and share your screen.

How to Make a FaceTime Call

Using FaceTime on your iOS device is easy. Just launch the FaceTime app (it’s green like the one for your normal phone) and choose a contact to call.

You can also select a recipient from Contacts and then select FaceTime, or tap the camera or phone icon to start a video or audio call.

There are several reasons FaceTime might not be working when you try it, but the first thing you should check if it doesn’t work is that it’s actually enabled in Settings. Go to Settings > FaceTime and make sure the feature is turned on.

How Does Facetime Work?

Apple’s FaceTime app works on Wi-Fi, so one major benefit it has over your regular Phone app is that it can make free internet-based calls anywhere you have a Wi-Fi connection. You can use FaceTime from home, a hotel, restaurants, or any Wi-Fi hotspot without the need for quality mobile service. Plus, since Wi-Fi is supported, it works on not only iPhone but also iPod touch, iPad, and Mac.

However, FaceTime also runs on cellular networks, so you can use it away from home, too, via your device’s mobile data plan.

Basics: FaceTime Video Calls

One side of FaceTime is the video calling feature. Introduced with the iPhone 4 in 2010, FaceTime Video uses the device’s front-facing camera to show the caller to the receiver, and vice versa.

FaceTime calls can be made between any two FaceTime-compatible devices, such as from iPhone 8 to iPhone X, from Mac to iPhone, or from iPad to iPod touch — the devices don’t need to be the same model or type.

For many years, FaceTime only supported direct, person-to-person video calls, but as of iOS 12.1, you can make group calls with FaceTime.

Basics: FaceTime Audio Calls

While FaceTime Video has been around since 2010, it wasn’t until 2013 with iOS 7 that Apple released FaceTime Audio. Very similar to the video feature, this one is simply audio-only, so only your voice is transmitted in the call.

FaceTime Audio is particularly useful for people who don’t have unlimited calling plans because it uses data instead of minutes, meaning that as long as you have the data to support it, you can make “free” FaceTime calls to any other user of an Apple device.

However, FaceTime audio calls do use data, so if you have a limited data plan, you might opt out of using FaceTime Audio too often.

FaceTime System Requirements

  • iOS Version: iOS 4 or newer
  • Mac Software: Mac OS X 10.6.6 or newer with the FaceTime app (it’s included free with most installations)
  • Device: iPhone 4 and newer, 4th generation iPod touch and newer, iPad 2 and newer, Mac with camera

FaceTime Compatibility

FaceTime runs on both Wi-Fi and cellular networks. When originally released, it only worked over Wi-Fi because phone companies were concerned that video calls would consume too much bandwidth, resulting in slow network performance and high data usage bills. 

With the introduction of iOS 6 in 2012, that restriction lifted, and people could make calls over Wi-Fi or cellular networks.

At its introduction in June 2010, FaceTime only worked on iOS 4 running on the iPhone 4. Support for the iPod touch was added in the fall of 2010, Mac in February 2010, and iPad in March 2011 (starting with iPad 2).

How to Use SharePlay

If you’re running iOS/iPadOS 15 or macOS Monterey (12.1) or later, you can do even more with FaceTime via SharePlay. This feature lets you do even more during calls, including:

  • Listening to tracks from Apple Music.Watching movies and shows through a compatible streaming app.Sharing your screen.

Media you’re watching together with SharePlay will sync up, and you’ll get shared controls that anyone can use to pause, skip, rewind, or fast-forward. Everyone on the call can also add songs to an Apple Music playlist.

Compatible video streaming apps include Apple TV, Paramount+, HBO Max, and Hulu. In iOS/iPadOS 15.4 and later, you can start SharePlay sessions directly from these apps without starting a FaceTime call first.

  • How can you FaceTime on Android?
  • While there is no official FaceTime app for Android, people using iOS 15 and higher can invite Android users into their FaceTime sessions. Open the FaceTime app and select Create Link, give the chat a name, then choose who you want to share the link with. The Android user goes to a waiting room when they use the link; you can let them join the call by tapping a check mark next to their name.
  • How do you share the screen on FaceTime?
  • On iOS 15 and higher, you can use the SharePlay feature to share your screen with others in FaceTime. Open FaceTime and start a new video call, then tap the SharePlay icon in the top right of the screen. Select Share My Screen.
  • Apple SharePlay: What It Is and How to Use It
  • Why is FaceTime not working?
  • There are a number of reasons why your FaceTime call might not be connecting properly. Your home internet network could be experiencing problems, there might not be a phone number or email address associated with your FaceTime account, or the person you’re trying to call could be blocked. The good news is that there are several ways to fix it when Facetime isn’t working.
  • How do you make a group call on FaceTime?
  • Open the FaceTime app and select Add in the top-right corner. Enter your contacts’ names, emails, or phone numbers, then select Audio or Video. You can add up to 32 people to a call at one time.
  • Learn more about Group FaceTime
  • Where do FaceTime photos go?
  • Any screenshots you take in FaceTime are saved in the Photos app by default. If you don’t see them there, try selecting All Photos to make sure the app isn’t filtering them out.
  • How do you record FaceTime with audio?
  • If you’re on a Mac, use the Command+Shift+5 shortcut, then select Options and enable the built-in microphone. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion, start a recording, then place your FaceTime call. The iPhone has a built-in screen recording tool as well.

While there is no official FaceTime app for Android, people using iOS 15 and higher can invite Android users into their FaceTime sessions. Open the FaceTime app and select Create Link, give the chat a name, then choose who you want to share the link with. The Android user goes to a waiting room when they use the link; you can let them join the call by tapping a check mark next to their name.

On iOS 15 and higher, you can use the SharePlay feature to share your screen with others in FaceTime. Open FaceTime and start a new video call, then tap the SharePlay icon in the top right of the screen. Select Share My Screen.

There are a number of reasons why your FaceTime call might not be connecting properly. Your home internet network could be experiencing problems, there might not be a phone number or email address associated with your FaceTime account, or the person you’re trying to call could be blocked. The good news is that there are several ways to fix it when Facetime isn’t working.

Open the FaceTime app and select Add in the top-right corner. Enter your contacts’ names, emails, or phone numbers, then select Audio or Video. You can add up to 32 people to a call at one time.

Any screenshots you take in FaceTime are saved in the Photos app by default. If you don’t see them there, try selecting All Photos to make sure the app isn’t filtering them out.

If you’re on a Mac, use the Command+Shift+5 shortcut, then select Options and enable the built-in microphone. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion, start a recording, then place your FaceTime call. The iPhone has a built-in screen recording tool as well.

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