To FaceTime on your iPad, turn on FaceTime in Settings > Apps > FaceTime, sign in if prompted, then open FaceTime, tap New, enter a contact, and tap FaceTime for video or Call for audio. You need an internet connection. These steps use iPadOS 27 menus; the setup and direct calling steps also apply to iPadOS 26.
The short version
- Set up first: Turn on FaceTime in its settings and sign in with your Apple Account if prompted.
- Start a call: Open FaceTime, tap New, enter a contact, and choose FaceTime or Call.
- Invite a group: Enter multiple recipients to call up to 32 participants where Group FaceTime is available.
- Include browser guests: Share a FaceTime link so Android or Windows guests can request to join through current Chrome or Edge.
| Calling option | Where to start | What to choose |
|---|---|---|
| Video call | FaceTime > New | Enter a recipient, then tap FaceTime |
| Audio call | FaceTime > New | Enter a recipient, then tap Call |
| Suggested or saved contact | FaceTime > New | Tap a suggestion or Add Contact |
| Previous caller or group | A tile in FaceTime history | Tap FaceTime Video or Call |
| Call from Messages | An iMessage conversation | Tap FaceTime, then choose FaceTime Audio or FaceTime Video |
| Call from Contacts | A person’s contact card | Tap FaceTime beneath their name |
| Group call | FaceTime > New | Enter multiple recipients, then tap FaceTime or Call |
| Shared invitation | FaceTime > New | Enter contact information, then tap Link |
Turn on FaceTime and choose your contact details
Open Settings > Apps > FaceTime, then turn on FaceTime. If prompted, enter your Apple Account and password. Sign in only through Apple’s own app or website, and never share a code, password, or remote access with someone who contacts you.
Under You can be reached by FaceTime at, tap an available email address or phone number to select or deselect it. The choices depend on your Apple Account, so select the details you want people to use when calling you. You can also choose your default audio-calling option under Default Calling App.
To use your iPhone number, sign in to FaceTime on the iPad with the same Apple Account you use on the iPhone. Return to Settings > Apps > FaceTime and select the available iPhone number under You can be reached by FaceTime at. Select it under Caller ID as well to use that number as your caller identification.
On a Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad with service, you can allow FaceTime to use mobile data. Open Settings > Cellular, then enable FaceTime. If the category is named Cellular Data, open that category instead.
Make your first video or audio call
Open FaceTime and tap New. Enter the person’s name, phone number, or email address, then tap FaceTime for a video call. For an audio call, tap the Call button instead; FaceTime audio availability varies by region.
You can also tap a suggested contact after selecting New. To choose someone from Contacts, tap the Add Contact button. Then choose FaceTime or Call to start the call.
For someone you have called before, tap their tile in FaceTime history. Choose FaceTime Video or Call to call again. The same approach works with a previous group’s tile.
To call from Messages, open an iMessage conversation and tap the FaceTime button at the upper right. Choose FaceTime Audio or FaceTime Video. On iPadOS 27, you can also open Contacts, select a person, and tap the FaceTime button beneath their name while FaceTime is installed. Touch and hold a contact-method button to choose its default number or email address.
Answer calls and handle missed connections
For an incoming video call on iPadOS 27, tap the Video button, then tap Join. For an audio call, tap the Audio button. If you get an answer slider instead, drag it to the right. Tap Decline to reject a call.
When you are already on a FaceTime audio call and another FaceTime audio call arrives, choose Hold and Accept to hold the first call. In other cases, choose End & Accept when offered to end the current call and answer the incoming one.
After an unanswered video call, tap Call Again to retry. For an eligible recipient, you can instead tap Record Video, wait for the countdown, record your message, and tap Send. Choose Retake to record again or Save to keep a copy in Photos.
To watch a video message you receive on iPadOS 27, tap its notification or its thumbnail in FaceTime history. You can also tap the contact’s name, then choose Videos to find their messages.
Use the controls during a call
Tap the call screen to reveal the controls. Use the microphone control to mute or unmute yourself, or the camera control to turn your video off or on. To switch between cameras, tap your tile, then tap Flip.
On supported iPads, tap your tile and select an available Portrait, Studio Light, or Center Stage effect to toggle it. The available effects depend on your iPad’s hardware. To adjust the intensity of Portrait or Studio Light, open Control Center, tap FaceTime, and adjust the corresponding slider.
For microphone processing on compatible models, swipe down from the upper-right corner to open Control Center during the call. Tap FaceTime Controls, then choose Automatic, Standard, Voice Isolation, or Wide Spectrum under Audio & Video. The Automatic option requires iPadOS 18 or later.
On iPadOS 27, you can go to the Home Screen and open another app without ending your call. Return through the green bar or FaceTime icon at the top of the screen. When you are finished talking, reveal the call controls and tap End.
Start a group call or share an invitation link
To call several people together, open FaceTime, tap New, and enter multiple recipients. Tap FaceTime for video or Call for audio. Group FaceTime supports up to 32 participants where the feature is available.
To add people during a one-on-one call, tap the call screen to show the controls, then tap More > Add People. During a Group FaceTime call, tap the people count at the top of the screen, then tap Add People. Enter the name, email address, or phone number of each person you want to add, then tap Add People. The same Group FaceTime availability and participant limits apply.
For a shareable invitation, open FaceTime, tap New, and enter contact information for one or more people. Tap Link, then choose Messages, Mail, or another offered sharing destination. FaceTime links are unavailable in some regions, including China mainland.
If you receive a link on an iPad with FaceTime installed, open it to join or start the linked call in a supported region. To include an Android or Windows guest, send them the link. Your guest opens it in current Chrome or Edge, enters their name, and selects Continue. They select Join and wait for host admission, then select Leave when they want to exit.
Your browser guests do not need an Apple Account to join. They cannot use SharePlay or screen sharing through the browser.
Share your screen or enjoy content together
On devices that meet FaceTime screen-sharing requirements, tap More > Screen Sharing, then select Share My Screen. To stop sharing, tap More, then tap Stop beside Screen Sharing. To request the other participant’s screen instead, choose Screen Sharing > Ask to Share Screen.
For shared entertainment during a call, tap More > SharePlay and select an app under Listen and Play Together. Choose content, tap Play, and select SharePlay if prompted. Other participants tap Join SharePlay when prompted.
You need a SharePlay-compatible app, and every participant needs access to the selected content. Regional restrictions also apply, and Android or Windows browser participants cannot join SharePlay.
Restore missing or restricted FaceTime access
If you cannot find FaceTime, open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps & Features. Enable both Camera and FaceTime to allow access through these Screen Time restrictions.
If FaceTime was deleted, search for it in the App Store and tap Redownload, or open the official FaceTime App Store listing and confirm the developer is Apple. Reinstall FaceTime before making FaceTime calls or using SharePlay again. On current iPadOS, deleting FaceTime also removes its calling options from contact cards.
If Screen Time communication limits prevent a call on iPadOS 27, open Settings > Screen Time > Communication Limits > During Screen Time. Choose Contacts Only, Contacts & Groups with at Least One Contact, or Everyone. For access while the device is paused, open When Device Paused or Unavailable and choose Always Allowed or Everyone. Apple requires version 27 or later across devices for all the latest Screen Time features.
If your organization manages an iPad running iPadOS 26, ask its administrator to review the FaceTime restriction controlled by allowVideoConferencing. A false value restricts FaceTime, and the management console’s path depends on its vendor. If you use a Managed Apple Account in Apple Business, ask the administrator to check your role permissions and enable Use FaceTime where appropriate.
Fix FaceTime sign in or activation trouble
If you cannot activate FaceTime or sign in, open your Apple Account page and sign in to verify the account. Verify your email address if requested, then return to FaceTime setup on your iPad.
For online activation, open Apple’s FaceTime activation page. Under Enable Apple Account, select Get Started, sign in, and follow the instructions. You can use this activation route for iPad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ask Siri to make a FaceTime call on iPad?
With Siri configured in a supported language and region, activate Siri and say FaceTime Mom. The relationship must identify the intended contact, so substitute the appropriate contact for your request.
Can you schedule a FaceTime call in Calendar?
On iPadOS 27, open Calendar in Day view, tap Add, and enter a title. Tap Location or Video Call, choose FaceTime, set the times and invitees, then tap Done. You can also paste an existing FaceTime link into Location.
How do you turn on captions in a FaceTime video call?
During the video call, tap More, then Live Captions. You need a supported iPad model and language to use Live Captions.
Can you move an existing FaceTime call to your iPad?
You can transfer a call between compatible Apple devices that support FaceTime Handoff and use the same Apple Account. On the destination device, tap the FaceTime Video Call or FaceTime Audio Call button at the top, or the suggestion to move the call to that device. Tap Switch to transfer the call.
How do you stop unknown FaceTime callers from ringing?
Open Settings > Apps > FaceTime and turn on Silence Unknown Callers. You can also configure Unknown Callers and FaceTime Spam, then use the Filter button in FaceTime to view the corresponding call lists.