Make FaceTime calls on iPhone (original) (raw)

With an internet connection, you can make and receive calls in the FaceTime app. (You may need to set up FaceTime before you can make and receive calls.)

You can also make FaceTime calls over a cellular data connection. (Calling and data rates may apply.) To turn this feature off, go to the Settings app , tap Cellular, then turn off FaceTime below Cellular Data. See View or change cellular data settings.

Note: FaceTime audio calls and Group FaceTime calls aren’t available in all countries or regions.

Make a FaceTime call

  1. Go to the FaceTime app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap New Call.
  3. Enter the name, number, or email of the person you want to call. Alternatively, you can tap the Add Contact button to open Contacts and add people from there, or tap a suggested contact.
  4. Tap FaceTime to make a video call or the Audio Call button to make an audio call.
    Tip: In some countries and regions, you can record a one-to-one FaceTime audio call and view the call transcript in Notes. See Record and transcribe an audio call.

To call multiple people, see Make a Group FaceTime call.

Tip: To see more during a FaceTime video call, rotate iPhone to use landscape orientation. See Rotate your iPhone screen.

Record a video message

If someone doesn’t answer your FaceTime video call, you can record a video message to convey exactly what you want to say.

  1. Tap Record Video, wait for the countdown (from 5 to 1), then record your message.
    The screen for recording a video message when the person you’re calling is unavailable. It includes a Call Again button and a Record Video button you can tap to record a video message.
  2. Tap the Stop button to stop recording.
  3. Tap the Send button to send your recorded message, or tap Retake to rerecord the message. You can also tap Save to save the video message to Photos.
    After you send your video message, the recipient is notified.
    The screen for sending a recorded video message to the person who missed your call. At the top left is the Cancel button. At the top right is the Save button, which saves your video message to Photos. In the middle of the screen is the Play button, which allows you to preview the video message before sending. At the bottom is the Send button and the Retake button.
    Note: You can receive video messages only from saved contacts, people you’ve called, and people suggested by Siri.

Note: You can receive video messages only from saved contacts, people you’ve called, and people suggested by Siri.

See View a video message or listen to a voicemail.

Leave a voicemail

If someone doesn’t answer your FaceTime audio call, and the person you’re calling has Live Voicemail turned on in Settings > Apps > Phone, you’re prompted to leave a voicemail.

If you leave a voicemail, your message is transcribed on their screen as you speak, letting them know what you’re calling about and giving them a chance to pick up your call.

Call again

To call someone again in FaceTime, do any of the following:

Start a FaceTime call from a Messages conversation

In an iMessage conversation, you can start a FaceTime call with the person you’re chatting with.

  1. Tap the FaceTime button at the top right of the iMessage conversation.
  2. Do any of the following:
    • Tap FaceTime Audio.
    • Tap FaceTime Video.

Important: If you remove the FaceTime app from your iPhone, or if you removed FaceTime in an earlier version of iOS, you won’t be able to make or receive FaceTime calls or use SharePlay on your iPhone unless you redownload the app. Cellular calls won’t be relayed from your iPhone to your iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch until FaceTime is reinstalled. Settings and contact cards won’t show FaceTime options. However, if your Apple Watch has its own SIM, it can still make calls through your service provider.