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How to do a group FaceTime video or voice call on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Mar 10, 2021, 05:17 IST
Business Insider
You can start or join a group FaceTime call from almost any Apple device.Apple
  • You can start a group FaceTime and make calls with up to 32 other Apple devices.
  • iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Mac users can all hop on the same group FaceTime calls.
  • FaceTime is exclusively an Apple app, so PC and Android users can't join.
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FaceTime is Apple's video calling app installed in its Macs, iPhones, and iPads.

FaceTime is like Google Hangouts or Zoom, but it only works between Apple devices, so you can't FaceTime your friend with an Android or PC. For this reason, it's good to have access to other platforms.

But it doesn't matter which Apple device you use to hop on a FaceTime call. Users of iPhone, iPad, and Mac can all join the same chats because the app is basically the same across all platforms.

Starting a group call on FaceTime takes only a few seconds, or minutes, depending on how many people you are adding to the call; groups can be as large as 32 devices. You can also join an existing group FaceTime call.

How to start a group FaceTime on iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Group FaceTime calls are easier to start than group audio calls because you can call everyone at once instead of having to wait while merging calls.

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  1. Open FaceTime.
  2. Tap the plus sign "+" icon in the top-right corner of the screen.

    To start a new call, tap the plus sign.Vivian McCall/Insider
  3. Search for your friend's names in your address book or enter the number in the search field.

    Tap the plus sign to search for and add contacts.Vivian McCall/Insider
  4. Tap "Audio" or "Video" to start the call.


How to start a group FaceTime with members of an existing group chat

  1. Open your Messages app and go to your group chat.
  2. Tap the participants at the top of the screen and hit the FaceTime icon.

    This option will appear even in group chats that contain non-Apple users.William Antonelli/Insider

How to add people to a FaceTime call that's already started

  1. Tap the screen so a menu appears at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Swipe up on this menu to make it larger, and find the "Add Person" option. It'll be under the list of people already on the call.

    You can have up to 32 people on a single call.William Antonelli/Insider
  3. Tap "Add Person," and search for the person (or people) you want to add using their name, phone number, or email.
  4. Once you've found them, tap their name and then the green "Add Person to FaceTime" button. They'll receive an invite immediately.

    Anyone you add will need to have an eligible Apple device.William Antonelli/Insider

How to start a group FaceTime on Mac

If your Mac and iPhone use the same Apple ID, all calls made to your number are answerable on either device. All you have to do is open FaceTime on your computer, click "Preferences" and check the box next to "Calls from iPhone."

If you're a Mac user, we recommend syncing your phone's address book to your computer. That way you won't have to manually enter two or more phone numbers when starting a call.

  1. Open FaceTime.
  2. Search for your friend's names or enter their numbers into the search field.
  3. Click "Audio" or "Video" to start the call.

    Find your contacts and then click "Audio" or "Video" to start the call.Vivian McCall/Insider

How to add people to a FaceTime call that's already started on Mac

  1. Hover your mouse over the FaceTime window so buttons appear at the bottom, and click the leftmost button.

    The menu button will appear when you scroll your mouse over the video.William Antonelli/Insider
  2. A menu will appear from the left side of the window. Click "Add Person" under the list of current participants.

    You can add multiple people at once.William Antonelli/Insider
  3. Find the person (or people) you want to add using their name, phone number, or email, and then click the green "Add" button. They'll be called immediately.

    Anyone you add will receive a call right away.William Antonelli/Insider

How to join a group FaceTime

If a contact starts a group FaceTime, there are a few ways to join the call:

  • Once someone has called, you can tap the notification on your lock screen to join.
  • If the call has been made in a group message, you can tap the join icon that appears in your chat.
  • You can join the call in FaceTime by opening the app and pressing the green video chat icon.
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