Setting Up Facetime On Mac



As we all know in our previous posts, Apple’s FaceTime app lets you make video or audio calls from your Mac to any of your friends and family for free, as long as they have an ‌iPhone‌, iPad, iPod touch or Mac.

Another (easier!) way to set up a group FaceTime call is to call the entire group from an existing chat within Messages. At the top of the Messages window, you will see the names and/or phone numbers of all participants in the chat. Tap to either side of the names and a list of options will appear underneath: audio, FaceTime, and info. From the notification that appears on your Mac, click Join to open the FaceTime app. Then click the FaceTime button in the app to join. If you're already in the FaceTime app, click the FaceTime button next to the incoming call in the sidebar, then click it again on the next screen to join.

You can talk face-to-face on Mac using your Mac’s built-in ‌FaceTime‌ or iSight camera and built-in microphone.You can equally use a connected camera and microphone if you want.

  • Here’s how to start recording after you have set up QuickTime to record: Open FaceTime on your Mac. Click the Record button in QuickTime. Tap on the screen if you want to record your entire screen, or tap on the FaceTime window to only record FaceTime. Start your FaceTime Call.
  • We'll run through the steps to take to set up a group of contacts to video call on a Mac, as well as how to add more contacts once a call has started. Open the FaceTime app on your Mac.
  • Here’s how to set up and sign into FaceTime on a Mac: Open FaceTime app (press Command + Space and start tying FaceTime) If you aren't already signed into FaceTime you will need to do so.

It is easy to set up FaceTime on your Mac as long as you have a working and stable internet connection.Follow the steps below to learn how to Set Up FaceTime on your Mac.

Facetime
  1. Open the FaceTime app on your Mac From your Dock or Applications folder.
  2. Turn On FaceTime.
  3. Sign in with your Apple ID and Password.
  4. When signed in, select FaceTime from the menu bar at the top of your screen.
  5. Go to Preferences, then in the Settings tab,deselect any email address you don’t want to be linked with your FaceTime account.
  6. Check the box next to Calls from ‌‌iPhone‌‌ if you want to use your ‌‌iPhone‌‌’s cellular number to make and receive calls when it’s nearby and connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your ‌Mac.
  7. If you want people to be able to take Live Photos during ‌FaceTime‌ calls, check the box next to where it saysAllow ‌Live Photos‌ to be captured during video calls.
  8. Using the associated dropdown menu,choose an email address to Start new calls from.
  9. If you like, you can choose a ringtone for incoming ‌FaceTime‌ calls from the Ringtone dropdown menu.
  10. Choose your correct Locationusing the last dropdown menu.
Setting up facetime on macbook

To have a FaceTime call with one other person, you need a Mac with OS X Lion 10.7 or later, a broadband Internet connection, and a built-in or connected microphone or camera. Or use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.

To call a group of people, follow the steps in Use Group FaceTime on Mac.

Start a FaceTime call

The person you're calling doesn't need to have the FaceTime app open, but to receive the call on their Mac, iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, they do need to be signed in to FaceTime on that device. You can then call them using any phone number or email address they set up for FaceTime.

Setting Up Facetime On Mac

Start a call from the FaceTime app

Open the FaceTime app and enter the email address or phone number of the person that you want to call. If the person is in your Contacts app, you can enter just their name. Then click the Audio button or Video button to call.

You can also just ask Siri to ”FaceTime John” or ”FaceTime audio Lisa,” for example.

Start a call from the messages app

  1. Start a text conversation in the Messages app, or select a conversation that's already underway.
  2. Click Details in the upper-right corner.
  3. Click the video button or audio button to open the FaceTime app and start the call.

Answer a FaceTime call

From the notification that appears on your Mac, click Accept to answer the call in the FaceTime app.

If you click the arrow next to Accept, you can choose to accept as an audio call instead of video call. If you click the arrow next to Decline, you can choose to send a message to the caller or set a reminder to call back later.

You can also use the Touch Bar to accept or decline a FaceTime call.

Add another person to a FaceTime call

Setting Up Facetime On Macbook

Anyone on the call can add more people to the call, creating a Group FaceTime call.

  1. While the call is underway, click the sidebar button to show the sidebar.
  2. Click the add button .
  3. Enter the person's name, email address, or phone number, then click Add.
  4. Click the Ring button next to the person's name to invite them to join the call.

Lean more about how to use Group FaceTime.

Use the onscreen controls

Setting up facetime on macbook pro

During a call, move your pointer over the FaceTime window to show these controls.


Mute Video
Turn the video from your camera off or on.


Full Screen
Switch to or from a full-screen FaceTime window.


Camera Shutter
Take a Live Photo of the other person.

Learn more

Setting Up Facetime On Mac

Set Up Facetime On Mac Mini

  • To stop receiving FaceTime calls on Mac, open FaceTime, then choose FaceTime > Turn FaceTime Off.
  • Learn how to delete your call history in FaceTime.
  • Learn what to do if FaceTime isn't working, your built-in camera isn't working, or you can't sign in to FaceTime.

FaceTime is not available in all countries or regions.