How to start a group FaceTime call
Group FaceTime lets you talk face-to-face with up to 32 people at once on an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can start a group call by opening the FaceTime app, tapping the compose button (a pencil and square icon), typing or searching for the names of the people you want to call, then tapping the video or audio icon. Everyone you add will get a notification that you're calling them, and they can accept or decline.
The simplest way is to add people one at a time as you type their names. FaceTime will show you contacts that match what you're typing. You can also start a group call by adding people to an existing one-on-one call — just tap the "add person" button during an active call and type in another contact's name.
Group FaceTime works over Wi-Fi or cellular data. All participants need to be using iOS 12.1 or later (iPhone), iPadOS 12.1 or later (iPad), or macOS 10.14.1 or later (Mac). If someone is using an older device, you can still call them one-on-one, but they won't be able to join a group call.
Key Takeaways
- Open FaceTime, tap the compose button, type the names of people you want to call, and tap the video or audio icon to start a group call.
- You can add up to 32 people total to a single group FaceTime call, though larger groups may use more data and battery.
- During an active call, tap the "add person" button to bring in additional people without ending the current conversation.
- All participants need iOS 12.1, iPadOS 12.1, macOS 10.14.1, or later for group calls to work.
- Group FaceTime calls work over Wi-Fi or cellular data, but Wi-Fi is faster and uses less battery.
Adding people one at a time to a new group call
Start by opening the FaceTime app on your device. On iPhone or iPad, tap the compose button in the top-right corner — it looks like a pencil inside a square. On Mac, click the compose button in the top-left corner of the FaceTime window.
Type the first person's name, phone number, or email address in the search field. FaceTime will show you matching contacts from your address book. Tap or click the person's name to add them. Repeat this step for each person you want to call. You'll see their names appear in a list as you add them.
Once you've added everyone, tap or click the video icon to start a video call, or the audio icon (phone symbol) to start an audio-only call. FaceTime will send a notification to each person, and they'll see your name with options to accept or decline the call.
Adding someone to a call that's already happening
If you're already in a one-on-one FaceTime call and want to bring in more people, look for the "add person" button. On iPhone or iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen during the call to reveal the controls, then tap the person with a plus sign icon. On Mac, move your cursor to the top of the FaceTime window to show the controls, then click the person with a plus sign.
Type the name, phone number, or email address of the person you want to add. Select them from the list of matching contacts. The new person will receive a notification that you're adding them to the call. Once they accept, everyone in the call can see and hear each other.
You can add people one at a time this way, and the call continues without interruption for the people already on it. There's no limit to how many times you can add people during a single call, as long as you stay under 32 total participants.
Using Siri to start a group FaceTime call
On iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you can use Siri to start a group call without opening the FaceTime app. Say "Hey Siri, FaceTime [first person's name] and [second person's name]." Siri will start a group call with those people.
You can name as many people as you want in a single Siri command. Siri will add them all to the call at once. This method works best if you call the same group of people regularly, since you only need to remember their names.
What to do if someone can't join a group call
If a person receives your group call notification but can't join, the most common reason is that their device doesn't support group FaceTime. Check that they're using iOS 12.1 or later, iPadOS 12.1 or later, or macOS 10.14.1 or later. If their device is older, they can still receive one-on-one FaceTime calls from you, but not group calls.
Another reason someone might not be able to join is if they have FaceTime turned off in their settings. Ask them to open Settings, tap FaceTime (or System Preferences > FaceTime on Mac), and make sure the toggle next to FaceTime is turned on. They should also check that their phone number or email address is listed under "You can be reached by FaceTime at."
If the person is using the right device and has FaceTime turned on, try calling them one-on-one first to make sure their connection is working. Sometimes a weak Wi-Fi signal or network issue can prevent someone from joining a group call. Ask them to move closer to their Wi-Fi router or switch to a stronger network.
Managing group FaceTime calls on different devices
Group FaceTime works the same way on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, but the screen layout is slightly different on each device. On iPhone, the active speaker appears large in the center, and other participants show as smaller tiles around the edges. On iPad and Mac, you see a grid of all participants, which makes it easier to see everyone at once.
If you're on an iPad or Mac, you can rearrange the grid by dragging participant tiles to different positions. You can also pin a specific person's video to keep them large on your screen while others appear smaller. To pin someone, hover over their tile and click the pin icon.
During a group call, you can mute your microphone by tapping or clicking the microphone icon. You can also turn off your camera by tapping or clicking the camera icon. These controls are visible when you swipe up (iPhone/iPad) or move your cursor to the top (Mac) of the FaceTime window.
Ending a group FaceTime call
To end a group FaceTime call, tap or click the red phone icon or the X button in the top-right corner of the FaceTime window. This will disconnect you from the call, but the other participants can continue talking without you.
If you're the person who started the call, ending it on your device doesn't automatically end the call for everyone else. Other participants can stay on the call as long as they want. If you want to make sure everyone leaves, you would need to ask them to hang up, but there's no way to force everyone off at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record a group FaceTime call?
Yes, but only on iPhone or iPad running iOS 14.3 or later. During the call, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, press and hold the Record button, tap "FaceTime" from the list, then tap "Start Recording." Everyone on the call will see a notification that recording has started. On Mac, you can use the built-in screen recording feature, but participants will see the recording indicator.
What happens if someone declines a group FaceTime call?
If someone declines your group call, they won't join, but the call continues for everyone else who accepted. You can try calling them again later, or you can add them to the call while it's already happening by using the add person button.
Can I schedule a group FaceTime call in advance?
FaceTime doesn't have a built-in scheduling feature. You can create a calendar event and include FaceTime details in the event description, or you can use the Calendar app to remind yourself when to start the call. Some people use third-party apps like Google Meet or Zoom if they need scheduled group calls.
Does group FaceTime use a lot of data?
Group FaceTime uses more data than a one-on-one call, especially with more participants. A video call with multiple people can use 2 to 4 MB of data per minute, depending on video quality and connection speed. Using Wi-Fi instead of cellular data is recommended for longer group calls to avoid using up your monthly data limit.
Can I use group FaceTime on Android?
No, group FaceTime only works on Apple devices — iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Android users can join a FaceTime call if you send them a link, but only for one-on-one calls, not group calls. If you need to call Android users in a group, you'll need to use a different app like Google Meet, Zoom, or WhatsApp.