FaceTime makes it easier than ever to have chats with your co-workers, friends, and family that aren’t around the corner anymore or you can’t make it to the office. When used, these calls are high-quality and are made over the internet so they are as stable as your internet connection.
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There have been a few updates over the last couple of years, to help bolster the capabilities of FaceTime. This includes making is possible to use FaceTime as a substitute for something like Skype for conference calls.
You can make FaceTime conference calls to one or more people (up to 32 other people) who use a Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with the FaceTime app. FaceTime calls can use WiFi orcellular data for its internet connection.
Contents
- How to conference call using Group FaceTime
- How to conference call using FaceTime on the iPhone and iPad
- Start a Group FaceTime conference call from Messages
- What happens if the video FaceTime call has already started, but you forgot someone?
- How to conference call using Group FaceTime on the Mac
- Here’s how to add a person to the call from your Mac
- How many people can group FaceTime at once?
- How to join or decline a Group FaceTime call
- Leave a Group FaceTime call
- Tips for using FaceTime Video Calls
- FaceTime’s on-screen menu buttons explained
- Conclusion
How to conference call using Group FaceTime
As long as everyone needed on the conference call uses iOS 12.1.4 and above or macOS Mojave or above (requiresmacOS Mojave 10.14.3 Supplemental Update,) you and your callers can get together in a Group FaceTime call. And you aren’t limited to just making voice calls. Apple makes it possible for you to also make group video FaceTime calls.
Unfortunately, all participants must use an Apple device–FaceTime is not supported on Android or Windows devices.
How to conference call using FaceTime on the iPhone and iPad
Starting a FaceTime conference call on the iPhone and iPad is exactly the same. The steps are pretty simple and straightforward, and here’s how to conference call using FaceTime on the iPhone or iPad:
- Open the FaceTime app on your iPhone or iPad
- Press the “+” button in the top right-hand corner
- Enter the contact name, number, or iCloud email address
- Tap “Video” to start the call (or for audio-only calls, press Audio)
Start a Group FaceTime conference call from Messages
In addition to using the FaceTime app, you can also start a Group FaceTime conference call through the Messages app, if you already have a group message chat started!
- Open Messages app
- Tap your group conversation
- Tap the profile icons at the top of the group message thread
- Choose FaceTime from the row of options that appears beneath the profile icon
- Messages auto launches FaceTime and calls each participant and lets you know it is waiting on a response from each participant
Once accepted, each conference participant appears in a tile on your screen. When a participant starts to speaks, their tile gets bigger and moves to the foreground. Any tiles that can’t fit on your screen display in a row at the bottom of your screen.
If you don’t see a participant, scan through the row of additional conference call participants.
What happens if the video FaceTime call has already started, but you forgot someone?
Here’s how to add a person to the Group FaceTime call from your iPhone or iPad.
Any participant can add another person at any time during a Group FaceTime call.
- During a FaceTime call, tap the screen to open the controls, swipe up from the top of the control
- Scroll to the bottom until you seeAdd Person
- Tap Add Person to FaceTime
- Type the name, AppleID, or phone number of the person(s) you want to add in the entry field at the top
- TapAdd Person to FaceTime
Once the contact has accepted the call on their end, they will immediately be added. Then, you can proceed and get everything taken care of while having face-to-face conversations.
How to conference call using Group FaceTime on the Mac
Admittedly, the development of FaceTime for the Mac has been behind that of the iPhone and iPad. However, as new software versions have been released, Apple has added many overdue features. Here’s how to conference call using FaceTime on the Mac.
- Open the FaceTime app on your Mac
- Enter the name, phone number, or email address of who you want to add to the call
- Continue adding contacts until the group has been added
- Click theVideo button at the bottom of the app
Say you started the conference call with FaceTime, but you need to add in someone after the fact.
Here’s how to add a person to the call from your Mac
- After the call has been started, tap theShow Sidebarbutton in the bottom left-hand corner
- Click onAdd Person
- Enter the contact information of the person you wish to add
- Tap theAddbutton
Apple has really made it easy for iOS and macOS users to FaceTime, and now you can have conference calls. Gone are the days of needing to download frustrating third-party applications that never work quite right.
How many people can group FaceTime at once?
Group FaceTime supports up to32total participantson a single FaceTime call. These calls can be eitheraudio or video conference calls.
How to join or decline a Group FaceTime call
When someone invites you to join a Group FaceTime call, you see the incoming call and can accept or decline just like any other FaceTime call.
If you decline the call, you receive a notification that you can tap to join the call at any time as long as it remains active.
Leave a Group FaceTime call
You can leave a group call at any time. Just tap the red x to exit the call.
As long as at least 2 members remain on the conference call, the call remains active.
Tips for using FaceTime Video Calls
Group FaceTime offers the same neat effects, options, and stickers as any one-on-one FaceTime call. So you can liven up a dull meeting or provide some much-needed fun to your conference call experience!
FaceTime’s on-screen menu buttons explained
- Flip – Switches the camera to the rear camera. Tap it again to switch back to the selfie camera.
- Mute – Lets you mute yourself if someone is talking or if you end up needing to sneeze. Or maybe when your dog starts barking at the mailman.
- Effects – Allows you to add different filters and camera effects to your video.
- Camera – Allows you to turn off the camera completely, while staying in the call. Tap this button again to turn the camera back on.
Those are some of the more basic features that you have access too while in FaceTime calls. You can add either Animoji or Memoji as a replacement for your face in the call. Plus, you can change the filters, add text, shapes, or emoji to the playback.
Conclusion
Despite its ups and downs, iOS has continued to evolve and flourish over the last few years. When you look at something as simple as FaceTime, it’s pretty amazing what you are capable of doing from any of your Apple devices.
If you have issues on how to conference call using FaceTime, sound off in the comments below. And if there are some tips to make these interactions easier and seamless, let us know and we’ll add them to the list!
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Andrew Myrick
Andrew Myrick is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US. He enjoys everything to do with technology, including tablets, smartphones, and everything in between. Perhaps his favorite past-time is having a never-ending supply of different keyboards and gaming handhelds that end up collecting more dust than the consoles that are being emulated.