FaceTime

In some countries and regions, you can record a FaceTime audio call when you’re talking to one other person, and view the transcript of the call in the Notes app. You can also use Hold Assist to get a notification when a live agent becomes available while you’re placed on hold.

You’ll both hear an audio notice when recording starts, and the recording lands in a Call Recordings folder in Notes. You can turn off Call Recording, too.

Record an audio call

Before you begin, check the iOS and iPadOS Feature Availability website to see if call recording is available in your language and region, and make sure the other call participant is willing to be recorded.

1. During a one-to-one audio call in the FaceTime app, tap the More button and then tap Call Recording.

   Both call participants hear an audio notice that the call is being recorded.

2. To stop recording, tap the Stop button.

   If the Stop button doesn’t appear, tap the More button, then tap Stop next to Call Recording. Call recording also stops when you end the call.

The Notes app automatically saves call recordings to a Call Recordings folder.

Play a call recording

1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Select a note in the Call Recordings folder and then tap the Play button.

View a call transcript

You’ll find the transcript of a recorded call in the Notes app in select regions and languages. The transcript may take a moment to appear. You may see a message that the transcription is in progress.

Note: A transcription might not be a perfect representation of the conversation, so verify its accuracy before relying on it.

1. Start the Notes app on your iPad.
2. Select a note in the Call Recordings folder. Then tap the More button.

   Note: Spoken words in supported languages are automatically transcribed. If you don’t see Transcript, your iPad doesn’t meet the minimum requirements or detect a supported language.

   In the transcript, the speaker of each statement is identified.

3. While viewing the transcript, you can do any of the following:
   • Play the audio from a specific point: Select the text you want to hear.
   • Search the transcript: Tap the More button and then tap Find in Transcript.
   • Copy the transcript: Tap the More button and choose Add Transcript to Note or Copy Transcript.
   • Save or delete the audio recording: Tap the More button. Choose Save Audio to Files or Delete.

     Note: Deleting the audio recording also deletes the transcript.

   • View the waveform of the recording: Tap the Hide Transcript button.

With Apple Intelligence*, you can summarize a recorded FaceTime call. See View a summary of an audio recording.

Turn off Call Recording

Call Recording is turned on by default, but you can turn it off.

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Apps, then tap Phone.
3. Tap Audio Call Recording and turn off Audio Call Recording.

Use Hold Assist

If you’re placed on hold during a FaceTime audio call, Hold Assist can let you know when a live agent is available. Read our guide, Receive a notification when you’re no longer on hold.

*Apple Intelligence is available with Siri and device language set to Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, Swedish, Turkish, or Vietnamese. Some features may not be available in all regions or languages. Some devices may not be available in all regions. Siri AI is available in beta in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 and requires an Apple Intelligence–enabled device set to a supported language. Available in English to start. Siri AI will not be initially available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, and watchOS. Certain Apple Intelligence features that rely on server-side models are subject to daily usage limits, including but not limited to Siri AI, Intelligent Photo Editing Tools, Image Playground, and AFM 3 Cloud models in Shortcuts. Daily limits may vary by feature, request complexity, system demand, system policies, and other factors. Expanded access to such features will be available for a fee in the future. Use of these features is subject to the Apple Intelligence Terms and Conditions.

See also

• Change FaceTime audio settings on iPad
• Screen and filter FaceTime calls on iPad

Learn how to use the FaceTime app to visit face-to-face with friends and family—over Wi-Fi or cellular. While on a call, you can watch TV shows and movies, listen to music, and even work out together, and if someone doesn’t answer, you can leave a video message.

While on a call, the FaceTime controls let you turn your camera or mic on or off and share your screen. You can also start a call on one device and move it to your iPad, or move it to another device.

Set up FaceTime

Go to the Settings app, tap Apps, then tap FaceTime. Make sure that you’re signed in to your Apple Account and FaceTime is turned on. You can choose a default calling option for audio calls below Default Calling App. If more than one contact method appears below “You can be reached by FaceTime at,” you can tap to select or deselect it.

Leave a video message

If someone doesn’t answer your FaceTime video call, you can leave a video message. Tap Record Video, then record your message. When you’re finished recording, tap the Stop button, then tap the Send button.

Use the FaceTime controls

While on a FaceTime call, use the FaceTime controls to turn your camera or mic on or off, share your screen, and more. If you don’t see the controls, tap your screen.

Switch a FaceTime call to another device

When you’re signed in to your Apple Account on multiple devices, you can start a FaceTime call on one of them, then move it to your iPad. You can also move your call from your iPad to another device. On the device you want to switch to, tap the FaceTime Video Call button or the FaceTime Audio Call button at the top of the screen or the suggestion “Move call to this [device],” then tap Switch.

There’s plenty more to FaceTime, and these guides walk you through it:

• Set up FaceTime on iPad
• Make FaceTime calls on iPad
• Use Live Captions and Live Translation in FaceTime on iPad
• Hand off a FaceTime call from your iPad to your other Apple devices
• Use SharePlay to watch, listen, and play together in FaceTime on iPad
• Change FaceTime video settings on iPad
• Change FaceTime audio settings on iPad

Note: Not all features and content are available in all countries or regions.

With SharePlay in the FaceTime app, you can stream TV shows, movies, and music in sync with friends and family while on a FaceTime call. You can also play supported multiplayer games in Game Center with friends during a FaceTime call, and watch supported live sports events together.

If you’ve started watching a video together, you can move it to the big screen of Apple TV 4K. And when you listen to music together, anyone with access can see what’s next and add songs to a shared queue.

SharePlay can also be used in other apps during a FaceTime call. To see which apps are supported, tap the More button, tap SharePlay, then scroll through the apps.

Note: Apple TV (includes Friday Night Baseball, MLS, or both in some countries and regions, and Formula 1 in the U.S.), Apple TV channels, and some apps that support SharePlay require a subscription. To watch a movie, TV show, or live sports event together, every participant needs to have access to the content on their own device, through either a subscription or purchase. Each device must meet the minimum system requirements. SharePlay may not support the sharing of some movies, TV shows, or live sports events across different countries or regions. FaceTime, some FaceTime features, and other Apple services may not be available in all countries or regions.

Watch video together during a FaceTime call

When you’re on a FaceTime call, movies, TV shows, and supported live sports events play in sync for you and your friends and family.

1. Start a call or a Group FaceTime call in the FaceTime app on your iPad.
2. Tap the More button, tap SharePlay, and then tap an app below Listen and Play Together (for example, the Apple TV app).

   Alternatively, you can go to the Home Screen, then open a video streaming app that supports SharePlay.

3. Select a show, movie, or live sports event that you want to watch.
4. Tap the Play button. Then select SharePlay (if it appears) to begin watching with everyone on the call. (Others on the call may have to tap Join SharePlay to see the video.)

   For everyone on the call who has access to the content, the video starts playing at the same time. People who don’t have access are asked to get access (through a subscription, a transaction, or a free trial, if available).

Each person watching the content can use the playback controls to play, pause, rewind or fast-forward. (Settings like closed captioning and volume are controlled separately by each person.)

With Picture in Picture, the video keeps playing while you use another app to order food or check your email. You can even jump into the Messages app to discuss the video by text when you don’t want interruptions to the movie or TV show’s sound.

Invite friends to watch video together from a supported app during a FaceTime call

If your iPad meets the minimum system requirements, you can start a FaceTime call from the Apple TV app or another supported video app while browsing or watching video content, and use SharePlay to share it in sync with others. Everyone on the call needs the same type of access to the content, like a subscription or purchase, on their own device.

1. In the Apple TV app (or other supported video app), find a show, movie, or live sports event that you want to share.
2. Tap the item to see its details and tap the Share button. Tap SharePlay.
3. In the To field, enter the contacts you want to share with. Tap FaceTime.
4. When the FaceTime call connects, tap Start or Play to begin using SharePlay.

   The recipients tap Open to begin viewing.

Note: If the content requires a subscription, people who aren’t subscribers can subscribe before watching.

Once playback starts, you can stream the video to Apple TV 4K, too. See Send what you’re watching in SharePlay to Apple TV 4K, below.

Send what you’re watching in SharePlay to Apple TV 4K

You can send a video you’ve already started watching together on iPad to Apple TV 4K and enjoy it on the big screen.

To send it from your iPad, do one of the following:

• In the streaming app, tap the AirPlay button, then choose Apple TV as the playback destination.
• Open Control Center, tap the AirPlay button, then choose Apple TV as the playback destination.

The video plays in sync on Apple TV 4K. Meanwhile, the conversation continues on your iPad.

Listen to music together during a FaceTime call

Listening to an album or favorite playlist together works on a FaceTime call, too. If someone on the call has access to the music on a device that meets the minimum system requirements, say through a subscription, a transaction, or a free trial, they can see what’s next, listen along, add songs to a shared queue, and more.

1. Start a call in the FaceTime app on your iPad.
2. Tap the More button, tap SharePlay, and tap an app below Listen and Play Together.

   Alternatively, you can go to the Home Screen, then open a music streaming app that supports SharePlay (for example, the Music app).

3. Select the music you want to listen to and then tap the Play button to begin listening to the music together. (Others on the call may have to tap Join SharePlay to hear the music.)

   For everyone on the call who has access to the content, the music starts playing at the same time. People who don’t have access are asked to get access (through a subscription, a transaction, or a free trial, if available).

Each person can use the music controls to pause, rewind, fast-forward, scrub to a different part of the song, or go to the next track. And anyone on the call can add songs to the shared queue.

Invite friends to listen to music together on FaceTime from a supported app

In the Music app or another supported music app, an iPad that meets the minimum system requirements can start a FaceTime call and share the music in sync with everyone on the call using SharePlay. With the music controls, each person can rewind, pause, fast-forward, or scrub to a different part of the song. The shared queue is open to anyone using SharePlay for adding songs. Everyone on the call needs access to the content, such as through a subscription.

1. Go to the Music app (or other supported music app). Tap the music you want to share.
2. Do one of the following:
   • Tap the More button next to the music, tap the Share button, then tap SharePlay.
   • Tap the More button at the top right, tap the Share button, then tap the SharePlay button.
3. In the To field, enter the contacts you want to share with. Tap FaceTime.
4. When the FaceTime call connects, tap Start.

   To begin listening, recipients tap the song title at the top of the FaceTime controls, then tap Open. The music starts playing at the same time for everyone on the call who has access to the content.

Note: Every participant needs to have access to the content on their own device, either through a subscription or a purchase. People who don’t have access to the content you share are asked to get access.

Play games in Game Center with friends during a FaceTime call

To play supported multiplayer games on a FaceTime call, set up your Game Center profile in the Settings app, add friends, and find and download a supported multiplayer game for Game Center in the App Store.

During a FaceTime call, open the game, tap Start SharePlay, then follow the onscreen instructions.

To play games together, read our guide, Play with friends in the Apple Games app.

During the conversation, sharing your screen lets you show apps, webpages, and more. See our article, Share your screen in a FaceTime call.

SharePlay lets you work out with others using Apple Fitness+.

See also

• Make a Group FaceTime call on iPad

While you’re on a call using the FaceTime app, you can use other apps—for example, to look up information, write a note, or perform a calculation. You can get back to the FaceTime screen at any time, and you can even share your screen with the other people in your call while you use another app.

1. Go to the Home Screen on your iPad.
2. Tap an app icon to open the app.
3. To return to the FaceTime screen, tap the green bar (or the FaceTime icon) at the top of the screen.

While using another app, you can share your screen with the other people in your FaceTime call, too. See our guide, Share your screen in a FaceTime call.