Here’s How to Make a Group FaceTime Video Call on Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac Computer

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Q. How do you make a group FaceTime video call? I’d rather use FaceTime than Zoom, Facebook Rooms, or Google Meet. I just can’t figure out how to do a FaceTime call with more than one person.

Can you do an article at The Wonder of Tech explaining how to make a group FaceTime video call?

A.  Great question! I’ve actually gotten this question a lot since the beginning of the pandemic and am happy to explain how to do a group FaceTime call.

Social distancing during the pandemic has made video chats even more popular and FaceTime can be a helpful way of staying in touch with others. Group FaceTime calls mean even more people can join in the discussion so you can stay in touch with others from afar (or even within your home).

About Group FaceTime Calls

Group FaceTime video calls can be made between Apple devices, such as iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Mac computers (see below for compatible devices).

Up to 32 people can join a FaceTime video call so your group can get quite large, though not as large as some other video chat services. The tile for the person speaking is enlarged, so you can keep track of who’s talking.

Group FaceTime calls are free and there’s no time limit for the calls. Note that FaceTime only works between Apple devices, you can’t use FaceTime to call Android phones, Windows computers, or other non-Apple devices.

Also see => Facebook Launches Messenger Rooms — A Group Video Chat Feature to Help You Stay Connected

How to Make a Group FaceTime Call

You can place a group FaceTime call from the FaceTime app or from the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac computer. Unlike individual FaceTime calls, you can’t make a group FaceTime call from Contacts or the Phone app.

How to Make a Group FaceTime Call from an iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch

To make a group FaceTime video call from an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch, open the Settings app, tap FaceTime, then turn FaceTime on (if it isn’t on already).

Using the FaceTime App to Make a Group FaceTime Call

To use the FaceTime app to make a group FaceTime video call, open the FaceTime app, then tap the + button to add people to the call. You can add people by name (if they’re in your Contacts), phone number, or email address.

Note => If you’re using an email address to add someone to a FaceTime call, be sure that the email address is connected to their Apple ID.

When you’ve added all of the people you want to join the video call, tap Video to place the call.

Using the Messages App to Make a Group FaceTime Call

To make a group FaceTime call from the Messages app, open a group chat, or start one. Then tap the FaceTime icon at the top of the screen to place a FaceTime call to people in the group chat.

Using the Messages app to make a group FaceTime call can be very handy because if there is already a group chat, you don’t have to type in the names, phone numbers, or email addresses of people you want to call. You can also send a message to let them know about the group FaceTime call and schedule a time that’s convenient for the group.

How to Make a Group FaceTime Call from a Mac Computer

You can use the FaceTime app on your Mac computer to make group FaceTime calls. Having the larger screen of a computer may make group video chats more manageable if a large group joins the call.

Using the FaceTime App to Make a Group FaceTime Call on a Mac Computer

To make a group FaceTime call on a Mac computer, open the FaceTime app. (You may need to sign in to the app using your Apple ID.)

Add people to the call by typing in the box at the top of the sidebar. If you don’t see the sidebar, click on the screen of the FaceTime app to open the sidebar.

You can add people to the call using their names (if they’re in your Contacts), phone numbers, or email addresses (if their email addresses are connected to their Apple IDs).

Then click the Video button at the bottom of the screen to place the call.

Using the Messages App to Make a Group FaceTime Call on a Mac Computer

To make a group FaceTime call from the Messages app on your Mac, open a group chat or start a group chat. Then tap Details at the top of the screen. Tap the video camera icon    to place a FaceTime video call to people in the group chat.

Availability

Group FaceTime video calls are available on these models of iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, running iOS 12.1.4 or later:

• iPhone 6s or later,
• iPad Pro or later,
• iPad Air 2 or later,
• iPad mini 4 or later,
• iPad (5th generation) or later, or
• iPod Touch (7th generation).

Earlier models of iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch that support iOS 12.1.4 can join Group FaceTime calls, but only with audio.

See => FaceTime Audio – Why and How You Should Use It

Group FaceTime video calls are also available on Mac computers running OS X Lion 10.7 or later.

Your Thoughts

Have you ever made or joined a group FaceTime video call? Do you prefer FaceTime to other ways of making video calls? Were you wondering how to make a group FaceTime video call?

Share your thoughts in the Comments section below!