FaceTime

In a FaceTime call, you can collaborate on a shared document. You can initiate collaboration in a FaceTime call that’s in progress, or you can initiate collaboration from the app where the document was created.

You can share the document through FaceTime, AirDrop, Mail, or Messages. Everyone who opens it can make changes and see changes made by others, and when someone makes a change, everyone who’s collaborating gets a notification.

1. Start a conversation in the FaceTime app with the people you want to collaborate with.
2. Open the app you want to use and then open a document.
3. Do one of the following:
   • Tap Collaborate in the notification that appears.
   • Tap the Share button, choose how to share the document (FaceTime, AirDrop, Mail, or Messages), then tap Collaborate.
4. Tap Start in the collaboration notification that appears at the top of your screen.

   Participants get a notification that you’ve shared a document you want to collaborate on. When they tap Open in the notification, the document opens on their device.

   Everyone who receives and opens the document can make changes and see changes made by others. When someone makes a change, a notification is sent to everyone who’s collaborating on the document.

See also

• Use video conferencing features on iPad
• Share your screen in a FaceTime call on iPad

During a video call in the FaceTime app or a third-party video conferencing app, you can use full-screen video effects and add reactions with hand gestures that fill the camera frame with 3D effects. Video effects include Center Stage, Portrait, and Studio Light, which dims the background and illuminates your face.

Use video effects in FaceTime

1. During a video call in the FaceTime app, tap your tile.
2. Choose any of the following:
   • Center Stage: Automatically keeps you (and anyone else with you) in the camera frame as you move around the field of view during a video conference call. (Available on supported models.) See Turn Center Stage off or on.
   • Portrait: Automatically blurs the background and puts the visual focus on you. To adjust the amount of background blur, open Control Center, tap FaceTime, and then tap Portrait. See Blur the background with Portrait mode.
   • Studio Light: Dims the background and illuminates your face. To adjust the intensity of the studio light, open Control Center, tap FaceTime, and then tap Studio Light.
   • Memoji: The Memoji character you choose captures your movements, facial expressions, and voice, and conveys them through your character. On an iPad with a TrueDepth camera, you can use a Memoji character you created in Messages. See Create and send Memoji.
   • Reactions: Allows you to use hand gestures to add reactions. When Reactions is turned off, you can’t use hand gestures to add reactions, but you can add reactions in FaceTime by tapping the icons that appear when you touch and hold your tile in the call. (Available on supported models.) See Add reactions in a video call.

To use video effects in third-party video conferencing apps, open Control Center, tap the app, then tap one or more effects.

Note: Memoji aren’t available in third-party video conferencing apps.

To adjust the amount of blur in Portrait mode or the intensity of Studio Light, open Control Center, then tap FaceTime (or the third-party video conferencing app). Tap Portrait or Studio Light, then adjust the slider.

Add reactions in a video call

Using simple hand gestures in the FaceTime app, or in third-party video conferencing apps, you can add reactions like hearts, balloons, fireworks, and more, which fill the camera frame with fun, 3D augmented reality effects.

Note: To use hand gestures on a supported model, tap your tile during a FaceTime call (or, in a third-party video conferencing app, open Control Center during the call) and check that Gestures is turned on. Hold your hands away from your face when you use gestures, and pause for a moment or two to activate the effect. Reactions are another option in FaceTime, and you add them by touching and holding your tile during the call and then tapping the icons that show up.

See also

• Hand off a FaceTime call from your iPad to your other Apple devices

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

With an internet connection and an Apple Account, you can make and receive calls in the FaceTime app.

On iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular models, you can also make FaceTime calls over a cellular data connection (calling and data rates may apply), and you can turn that feature off. During a FaceTime video call, landscape orientation shows you more. See View or change cellular data settings. If someone doesn’t answer, you can record a video message, and to call several people at once, you start a Group FaceTime call.

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

Make a FaceTime call

1. Open the FaceTime app on your iPad.
2. Tap New near the top of the screen.
3. Enter the name, number, or email of the person you want to call and tap FaceTime to make a video call or the Call button to make a FaceTime audio call.

   Alternatively, you can tap the Add Contact button to open Contacts and start your call from there, or tap a suggested contact to quickly make a call.

For calls with multiple people, see our guide, Make a Group FaceTime call on iPad.

Siri: Ask Siri something like, “Call Eliza’s mobile.” Learn how to use Siri.

Quick tip: You’ll see more during a FaceTime video call if you rotate iPad to landscape orientation. See our article, Change or lock the screen orientation.

View information when starting a FaceTime call

With Apple Intelligence, when you start a FaceTime call, a Call Context card with related information may appear. This can include an upcoming or recent birthday during a call to a contact, or it can include tickets, orders, or confirmation numbers during a call to certain businesses. Tap the card to view the information in the related app, such as Mail or Messages.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.

Record a video message

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

1. Tap Record Video, wait for the countdown (from 5 to 1). Record your message.

   

2. 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.

   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, you’re prompted to leave a voicemail if the person you’re calling has Live Voicemail turned on in Settings > Apps > Phone on an iPhone signed in to the same Apple Account as their iPad.

Note: Live Voicemail isn’t available in all languages or regions.

Call again

Do any of the following to call someone again in FaceTime:

• Tap Call Again on the Record Video screen.
• In your call history, tap the tile with the contact information of the person (or group) you want to call again, then tap the FaceTime Video button (for a FaceTime video call) or the Call button.

Start a FaceTime call from a Messages conversation

While in an iMessage conversation, you can start a FaceTime call with whoever you’re chatting with.

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

Important: If you remove the FaceTime app from your iPad, or if you removed FaceTime in an earlier version of iPadOS, you won’t be able to make or receive FaceTime calls or use SharePlay on your iPad unless you redownload the app. Settings and contact cards won’t show FaceTime options.

*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

• Set up FaceTime on iPad
• Use Live Captions and Live Translation in FaceTime on iPad
• Create a link to a FaceTime call on iPad
• Get started with Calendar on iPad

To make and receive FaceTime calls on your iPad, you need to be signed in to FaceTime with your Apple Account. Once FaceTime is on, Calls from iPhone lets you use your iPhone cellular connection to make and receive phone calls, too, if you have the Phone app on your iPad.

1. Start the Settings app on your iPad.
2. Tap Apps, then tap FaceTime.
3. If FaceTime is turned off, turn it on.
4. If you see a sign-in screen, sign in to your Apple Account and enter your password.
5. Optionally, turn on Calls from iPhone to use your iPhone cellular connection to make and receive phone calls.

   Note: To use this feature, you need the Phone app. If you don’t have it on your iPad, you can download the Phone app from the App Store.

To stop making and receiving calls with FaceTime, go to the Settings app, tap Apps, then tap FaceTime. Turn off FaceTime (or tap your Apple Account, then tap Sign Out).

See also

• Make FaceTime calls on iPad
• Receive FaceTime calls on iPad

In the FaceTime app, you can answer video and audio calls, decline calls, view video messages or listen to voicemails, and delete calls from your call history. If you’re on a FaceTime audio call and another one comes in, you can put the current call on hold, and Siri can announce incoming calls, too.

Note: Live Voicemail isn’t available in all languages or regions.

Answer a FaceTime call

Do any of the following when a FaceTime call comes in:

• Accept the call: To answer a video call, tap the Video button, then tap Join. To answer an audio call, tap the Audio button.

  If a slider appears, you can drag it right to answer.

• Decline the call: Tap the Decline Video Call button (for a video call) or the Decline Audio Call button (for an audio call).

  For FaceTime audio calls, tap Message to send a text message or tap Voicemail to send the caller to voicemail. (You may need to tap the incoming call banner to see these options.)

• Put the current call on hold: Tap Hold and Accept.

  Note: This option is only available if you’re on a FaceTime audio call and you receive another incoming FaceTime audio call. Otherwise, you can tap End & Accept to end the current call and answer the incoming call.

Quick tip: Siri can announce incoming calls, and you can accept or decline them with your voice.

View information when receiving a FaceTime call

With Apple Intelligence, when you receive a FaceTime call, a Call Context card with related information may appear. This can include an upcoming or recent birthday during a call to a contact, or it can include tickets, orders, or confirmation numbers during a call to certain businesses. Tap the card to view the information in the related app, such as Mail or Messages.

Note: Apple Intelligence on iPadOS 27 or later is available on an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPad mini (A17 Pro) and iPad models with M1 or later. Apple Intelligence is not available in all languages or regions. Usage limits may apply.*

View a video message or listen to a voicemail

If you miss an incoming video call and the caller leaves a video message, you receive a notification about the video message. A thumbnail image from the video also appears in your FaceTime call history. You can tap the notification or image to view the video message.

Note: Video messages can come only from saved contacts, people you’ve called, and anyone suggested by Siri.

If you miss an incoming audio call, the caller can leave a voicemail if you have Live Voicemail turned on in Settings > Apps > Phone, and your iPhone is signed in to the same Apple Account for FaceTime as your iPad.

Quick tip: For quick access to all video messages or voicemails from one specific contact, tap their name in the call history and then tap the Voicemails button or the Videos button.

Delete a call from your call history

1. Start the FaceTime app on your iPad.
2. Touch and hold the call in your call history. Tap Delete.

*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

• Block a FaceTime call and report it as spam on iPad