How to Use FaceTime on iPhone and Android in the US: Calls, Group Calls, and Screen Sharing

FaceTime is Apple's built-in video calling app, and it is one of the easiest ways to see the people you are talking to. It comes free with every iPhone, iPad, and Mac, it works over Wi-Fi or mobile data, and since iOS 15, even friends on Android can join a call through a link in their browser. This guide covers starting a call, adding a group, sharing your screen, and fixing it when it refuses to connect.

What FaceTime is and what you need

FaceTime is Apple's video and audio calling service. You can call anyone with an Apple device using their phone number or their Apple ID email address, and the call goes through as video by default. There is no separate account to create and no app to download on iPhone, because FaceTime is already on the phone.

To use it, you need an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, an Apple ID, and an internet connection, either Wi-Fi or mobile data. Calls over mobile data use your data allowance. Android users cannot start a FaceTime call, but they can join one through a link.

Before your first call, make sure FaceTime is turned on in Settings under Apps, and that you are signed in with your Apple ID.

How to start a FaceTime call on iPhone

Starting a call takes a few taps.

1. Open the FaceTime app, the green icon with a white video camera.

2. Tap New FaceTime.

3. Type the name, phone number, or email address of the person you want to call.

4. Tap the video button for a video call, or the phone button for an audio-only call.

5. Wait for the other person to answer. You will see yourself in a small window while the call connects.

You can also start a call from the Contacts or Phone app by opening a contact and tapping FaceTime. During a call, tap the microphone to mute yourself, the video camera icon to turn your camera off, and the flip icon to switch cameras. The red button ends the call.

How to make a group FaceTime call

FaceTime supports group calls with up to 32 people, which makes it handy for family catch-ups and small team check-ins. Everyone in the group needs an Apple device, or a link if they are on Android, and a decent connection.

1. Open FaceTime and tap New FaceTime.

2. Add each person you want to invite by typing their name, number, or email.

3. Tap the video button to start the call.

4. When someone answers, they join the group. You can add more people during the call by tapping the participants button and choosing Add People.

In a group call, the person speaking gets the biggest tile. Tap any tile to make it bigger, and mute yourself when you are not speaking. You can also start a family call from a group chat in Messages by tapping the video camera icon.

How to join a FaceTime call from Android

Android users do not get a FaceTime app, but Apple lets them join through a web link. On iPhone, open FaceTime, tap Create Link, and share the link by text, email, or any messaging app. The link stays usable until you remove it, so you can reuse it for a regular call with the same person or group.

On Android, tap the link. It opens in the browser, where you type a name and tap Join. The host on iPhone gets a request to let you in and taps the checkmark to admit you. You get video and audio, mute and camera controls, and the same grid view as everyone else. You do not need an Apple ID, and you do not need to install anything.

Android guests cannot start a call or create links, and some effects like Portrait mode blur are not available in the browser. For a straightforward call, though, it works well.

How to share your screen during a call

Screen sharing lets you show the other person what is on your phone, which is useful for walking a parent through a setting or looking at a document together. It is part of SharePlay, and it needs iOS 15.1 or later.

1. Start or join a FaceTime call.

2. Tap the Share Content button, the icon that looks like a person in front of a screen.

3. Tap Share My Screen.

4. After a short countdown, your screen is visible to everyone on the call.

5. To stop, tap the Share Content button again and choose Stop Sharing.

If FaceTime is not working

When FaceTime will not connect, check first that it is turned on in Settings and that you are signed in with your Apple ID. Make sure you have an internet connection, and if you are on mobile data, check that FaceTime is allowed to use it. A weak signal can make video calls fail even when web pages load.

If the call keeps failing, check the date and time: FaceTime activation can fail when they are wrong, so set them to automatic in Settings under General and then Date and Time. Restart your phone, then check for a software update.

If the other person cannot hear you, check microphone access in Settings under Privacy and Security. If they cannot see you, check camera access there too. A school or office network may block FaceTime entirely, so try mobile data instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is FaceTime free to use?

Yes. FaceTime itself costs nothing, and there is no subscription. The call runs over the internet, so on Wi-Fi it uses your existing connection, and on mobile data it counts against your data allowance. Your carrier may charge for the data, but Apple does not charge for the call.

Can Android users make FaceTime calls?

Android users cannot start a FaceTime call, but they can join one. An iPhone user creates a link in the FaceTime app and shares it, and the Android user opens it in Chrome or Edge, enters a name, and waits to be admitted by the host.

How many people can join a group FaceTime call?

Up to 32 people can join. Start a group call from the FaceTime app, or from a group chat in Messages by tapping the video camera icon. The person speaking gets the largest tile.