HOW TO Face-to-face with FaceTime

1 Get started on iOS

On iPhone, go to Settings > FaceTime and log in using your Apple ID or use your mobile number. It’s the same on iPad, except switch on ‘Calls from iPhone’ if you want to be able to make and receive calls using that device.

2 Get started on Mac

The procedure is different on macOS. Go to Applications, open the FaceTime app and select FaceTime > Preferences then log in using your Apple ID. To make calls using your mobile, ensure ‘Calls from iPhone’ is ticked.

3 Make a call on iOS

In FaceTime for iOS, choose a Contact from the left-hand pane, or click ‘+’ to add one. Contacts that are able receive FaceTime calls will be shown in blue. Select a contact, then tap either Audio or Video to start the call.

4 Group FaceTime call

To start a Group FaceTime call, repeat step 3, only this time, tap ‘+’ again to add a second name (or more, up to a maximum of 32). You can also add a person to a group chat during an existing call, by tapping the ‘+’ again.

5 From Messages

If you’re chatting to friends using Messages for iOS or iPadOS, you can start a FaceTime chat with them from here. To do that, tap their grouped icons at the top of the Messages window, then select FaceTime from the menu.

6 Group chat on macOS

You can achieve the same results from steps 3 and 4 on macOS too. In the FaceTime app, choose a name from the left-hand pane or click ‘+’ to add one or more. In Messages, click Details then either the Video or Audio call buttons.

7 Join a group call

If you receive an alert inviting you to a Group FaceTime call, from the Lock screen or from Notification Centre, you simply tap the FaceTime icon to take part. In Messages, tap the group message thread, then tap Join.

8 Switch view/end call

Pressing the arrowed camera icon switches from the default front-facing camera to the rear-facing one, and viceversa. To leave a Group FaceTime chat in iOS or iPadOS, tap End (bottom right). You can Mute a call here too.

9 Use Effects

FaceTime for iOS/iPadOS includes some fancy effects. To use them during a chat, tap Effects. This reveals seven different options: Animoji/Memoji, Filters, Text, Shapes, Stickers, Memoji stickers and Emoji stickers.