How to make a Group FaceTime call on iPad

In the FaceTime app, you can talk with up to 32 participants in a Group FaceTime call.

Each participant appears in a tile on the screen, and the person speaking, verbally or with sign language, becomes more prominent. You can stop that from happening. Any tiles that don’t fit on the screen sit in a row at the bottom, and you can also start a Group FaceTime call from a group Messages conversation.

Here’s how to make a Group FaceTime call on iPad.

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

Start a Group FaceTime call

1. Start the FaceTime app on your iPad.
2. Tap New.
3. In the field near the top of the screen, enter the names, numbers, or emails of the people you want to call.

   You can also tap the Add Contact button to open Contacts and add people from there, or tap suggested contacts.

4. Tap FaceTime to make a video call or tap the Call button to make a FaceTime audio call.

Each participant appears in a tile on the screen. When a participant speaks (verbally or by using sign language) or you tap the tile, that tile becomes highlighted or more prominent. Tiles that can’t fit on the screen appear in a row at the bottom. To find a participant you don’t see, swipe through the row. The participant’s initials may appear in the tile if an image isn’t available.

To prevent the tile of the person speaking from becoming more prominent during a Group FaceTime call, go to the Settings app, tap Apps, tap FaceTime, then turn off Speaking below Automatic Prominence.

Note: The presenter needs a supported model for sign language detection, and both the presenter and participants need to have iOS 14, iPadOS 14, macOS 11, or later.

Start a Group FaceTime call from a group Messages conversation

From a group iMessage conversation, you can start a Group FaceTime call that includes everyone you’re chatting with in Messages.

1. Tap the FaceTime button at the top right of the iMessage conversation.
2. Tap FaceTime Audio or FaceTime Video.

Add another person to a call

Any participant in a FaceTime call can add another person at any time.

1. Do one of the following:
   • During a one-on-one FaceTime call: Tap the screen to show the FaceTime controls (if they aren’t visible) and tap the More button. Then tap Add People.
   • During a Group FaceTime call: Tap the people count at the top of the screen and tap Add People.
2. Enter the name, email, or phone number of the person you want to add, or tap the Add Contact button to add someone from Contacts. You can add multiple people.
3. Tap Add People.

Join a Group FaceTime call

If someone invites you to join a Group FaceTime call, you get a notification of the incoming call, and you can join or decline. Check out our guide, Answer a FaceTime call.

Leave a Group FaceTime call

To leave a group call at any time, tap Leave.

If one or more participants remain, the call stays active.

See also

• Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together in FaceTime on iPad
• Create a link to a FaceTime call on iPad