Make FaceTime calls on Mac

You can make a FaceTime call to another person who has an Apple device that meets these requirements.

1. In the FaceTime app on your Mac, sign in.

2. Click New FaceTime.

3. To add callers to the New FaceTime window, do any of the following:

   • Enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to call. You may need to press Return.

   • If you have a card for the person in the Contacts app, you can just enter the person’s name, or select them from Suggested. For information about adding contacts, see Add contacts while using FaceTime.

     If you’re restricted to calls with only certain people, an hourglass icon appears next to those people you can’t call.

   Note: When a person’s name is blue, they have an Apple ID and you can reach them directly on FaceTime—the call rings on their Apple devices. When a person’s name is green, you can click “Invite with Messages” to send them a text message with a link. When a person’s name is red, that contact cannot be reached by Messages. You should instead create and share a link to start a FaceTime call.

4. To start a FaceTime video call, click FaceTime. To start a FaceTime audio call, click and select FaceTime Audio. (You can also use the Touch Bar.)

   If you choose FaceTime Audio and you’re set up to make phone calls on your Mac, you can choose whether to make a FaceTime audio call or a phone call. When you’re in an audio call or a phone call, the camera is automatically off.

5. After you’re on a FaceTime call, you can add more people to a FaceTime call, change your view of the call, pause a FaceTime video call, change audio options on the call, share a link to the call, or end the call. You can also use SharePlay to share music, movies, or TV shows with others during a FaceTime call.

   Note: Not all features and content are available in all countries or regions. See the Apple Support article Availability of Apple Media Services.

You can also start a FaceTime call from an item you’re collaborating on in the Finder, Reminders, Notes, Safari, Freeform, Keynote, Numbers, Pages, and supported third-party apps. Click the Collaborate button in the app and choose Audio or Video. See Collaborate on projects with Messages.

You can have up to 32 people in a Group FaceTime call. See Group FaceTime requirements.

1. In the FaceTime app on your Mac, sign in.

2. Click New FaceTime.

3. To add callers to the New FaceTime window, do any of the following:

   • Enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to call. You may need to press Return.

   • If you have a card for the person in the Contacts app, you can just enter the person’s name, or select them from Suggested. For information about adding contacts, see Add contacts while using FaceTime.

     If you’re restricted to calls with only certain people, an hourglass icon appears next to those people you can’t call.

   Note: When a person’s name is blue, they have an Apple ID and you can reach them directly on FaceTime—the call rings on their Apple devices. When a person’s name is green, you can click “Invite with Messages” to send them a text message with a link. When a person’s name is red, that contact cannot be reached by Messages. You should instead create and share a link to start a FaceTime call.

4. Repeat the step above until all participants are listed.

5. To start the FaceTime call, click FaceTime, or click to choose FaceTime Audio (or use the Touch Bar).

   If you choose FaceTime Audio and you’re set up to make phone calls on your Mac, you can choose whether to make a FaceTime audio call or a phone call. When you’re in an audio call or a phone call, the camera is automatically off.

Each participant appears in a tile on the screen. When a participant speaks or you click a tile, that tile moves to the front and becomes more prominent. Tiles that can’t fit on the screen appear in a row at the bottom of the screen. To find a participant you don’t see, scroll through the row. (The participant’s initials may appear in the tile if an image isn’t available.)

To send an audible alert to a caller who hasn’t yet joined the call, click the Sidebar button , then click Ring.

After you’re on a call, you can add more people to the call, change your view of the call, change audio options on the call, share a link to the call, or end the call.

When you’re on a FaceTime call, you can add more people to the call (up to a maximum of 32 people), even if you didn’t start the call. See Group FaceTime requirements.

1. In the FaceTime app on your Mac, make or participate in a FaceTime call or a Group FaceTime call.

2. Click the Sidebar button .

3. Click the Add People button , then do any of the following:

   • Enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to call. You may need to press Return.

   • If you have a card for the person in the Contacts app, you can just enter the person’s name, or select them from Suggested. For information about adding contacts, see Add contacts while using FaceTime.

     If you’re restricted to calls with only certain people, an hourglass icon appears next to those people you can’t call.

   Note: When a person’s name is blue, they have an Apple ID and you can reach them directly on FaceTime—the call rings on their Apple devices. When a person’s name is green, you can click “Invite with Messages” to send them a text message with a link. When a person’s name is red, that contact cannot be reached by Messages. You should instead create and share a link to start a FaceTime call.

4. Click Add.

Each participant appears in a tile on the screen. When a participant speaks or you click a tile, that tile moves to the front and becomes more prominent. Tiles that can’t fit on the screen appear in a row at the bottom of the screen. To find a participant you don’t see, scroll through the row. (The participant’s initials may appear in the tile if an image isn’t available.)

To send an audible alert to a caller who hasn’t yet joined the call, click the Sidebar button , then click Ring.

After you’re on a call, you can change your view of the call, pause a video call, change audio options on the call, share a link to the call, or end the call.

You can pause a FaceTime video call to temporarily stop transmitting video. Both participants can still hear each other talk unless you mute the call. On your Mac, do any of the following:

• Pause a video call: In the FaceTime app , click the yellow minimize button at the top of the FaceTime window or switch to another app.

  If you’re in full-screen view, first exit out of the view.

  Note: If you’re on a Group FaceTime call, the minimize button only minimizes the screen; it doesn’t pause the call.

• Resume a paused video call: Click the FaceTime icon in the Dock.

In the FaceTime app on your Mac, do one of the following to end a call:

• End an audio call: Click the End button in the notification.

• End a video call: Move the pointer over the call window, then click the End Call button (or use the Touch Bar).

  After you end a Group FaceTime call, it remains active until all participants leave the call. To rejoin it, click the Join Video button .