How to Use FaceTime on iPhone and iPad

Make free video and audio calls to other Apple device users with FaceTime — built into every iPhone and iPad and free to use over Wi-Fi.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Find the FaceTime app
2.Make a video call
3.Make an audio-only FaceTime call
4.Answer an incoming FaceTime call
5.Use Group FaceTime

Find the FaceTime app

~15s

Look for the green FaceTime icon on your iPhone or iPad home screen. It looks like a video camera on a green background. If you do not see it, swipe down from the middle of the screen and type "FaceTime" in the search bar.

Make a video call

~17s

Tap the FaceTime app to open it. Tap the "+" button in the top right corner. In the "To:" field, type the name of someone from your contacts, or type their iPhone phone number or Apple ID email address. Then tap the green video camera icon to start a video call.

Make an audio-only FaceTime call

~15s

To call someone without video — for example, if you want the convenience of a free call but prefer not to be on camera — tap the phone icon instead of the video camera icon after entering their name or number.

Answer an incoming FaceTime call

~16s

When someone calls you on FaceTime, your screen will light up with their name and two options: a green phone icon to answer and a red icon to decline. Swipe or tap the green icon to answer. If your phone is locked, slide to accept.

Use Group FaceTime

~15s

You can call multiple people at once on FaceTime. Start a call with one person, then tap their tile to see options and tap "Add Person" to add more callers. FaceTime automatically enlarges the tile of whoever is speaking.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Use FaceTime on iPhone and iPad

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FaceTime is Apple's built-in video and voice calling app, and it comes pre-installed on every iPhone and iPad. Calls made over Wi-Fi are completely free — you can talk face-to-face with family members and friends who also have an iPhone, iPad, or Mac for as long as you want without using any of your phone plan's minutes. FaceTime also works over cellular data (your mobile data plan) when Wi-Fi is not available.

The image and sound quality on FaceTime is generally very good, making it a popular choice for keeping in touch with family members, especially grandchildren. You can call someone's Apple ID (their email address) or their iPhone phone number.

Starting in iOS 15, Apple also added the ability to invite Android and Windows users to join a FaceTime call via a link, though they join through a browser rather than the FaceTime app.

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