After keeping its users waiting for a long time, Apple finally introduced the ability to make group FaceTime calls with the latest iOS 12 and macOS Mojave updates. With this new capability, users can now make group FaceTime calls to up to 32 people. I also like Apple’s group FaceTime app, as it automatically highlights the caller so you always know who’s talking. Apple also lets you initiate group FaceTime calls in several ways. In this article, we will see all these methods as we show you how to make a group FaceTime call on iPhone and Mac.
Making Group FaceTime Calls on iPhone and Mac
Like I said, there are several ways to initiate a group FaceTime call on your iPhone and Mac, and we’ll go over all these methods. First, we will see the steps you can perform on your iPhone to make group FaceTime calls and then move on to the Mac.
How to Make Group FaceTime Calls on iPhone and iPad
While I will be using screenshots taken on an iPhone to illustrate these steps, they will work just as well on your iPad. So whether you’re using an iPhone or iPad, you’ll be able to initiate a group FaceTime call.
Initiating a Group FaceTime Call Using the FaceTime App
Starting a group FaceTime call using the FaceTime app is probably the simplest way to start a group FaceTime call. Using FaceTime, you can start a group FaceTime call all at once, or you can start a FaceTime call first and then add other participants.. Here’s how both work:
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Starting a Group FaceTime Call
- First start the FaceTime app and then Tap the “+” button to initiate a FaceTime call. Now, tap the “+” button in the “To:” field to add contacts.
2. Select the contact you want to call by tapping their name. Now, tap the plus button again to add another person to make a group FaceTime call. You can repeat this process until you have added all participants or you have reached the 32 caller limit. After adding all the contacts, tap the video button to make the call.
Pro Tip: You don’t have to tap the + button in the contact field and select contacts one by one. You can directly type the person’s name and select it from the search field.
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Starting a FaceTime Call and Invite Other Members to Join
Start your FaceTime call as you normally would. Now, tap the three-dot menu. Here, tap the “Add Contact” button to add more callers to your call. Now select the contact you want to add to the call.
Initiating a Group FaceTime Call Using the Messages App
The Messages app makes it pretty easy to initiate a group FaceTime call. In fact, if you have a fixed group of friends or family that you always call, it’s easier to initiate that call from your Messages app than from the FaceTime app. Here’s how you can do it:
- Tap the group chat whose members you want to FaceTime call and then tap on the “members” area marked in the image below.
- Now all you have to do is Tap the FaceTime video button and the group FaceTime call will be initiated.
How to Make Group FaceTime Calls on Mac
You can make group FaceTime calls on an iPhone or iPad, or use your Mac to make group FaceTime calls. This is similar to how you make calls on your iPhone, and here’s how it’s done:
- Launch the FaceTime app on your Mac, and then Add contacts by searching by name or adding their phone number or email id. Add up to 32 contacts and then click the “Video” button to start the search.
That is all. Unfortunatelyas of now there is no way to initiate a group FaceTime call on Mac using an iMessage group. However, once you make a group FaceTime call, that call will be saved in your recent call history, allowing you to connect to the entire group without having to repeat the above process.
SEE ALSO: How to AirDrop Passwords in iOS 12
FaceTime with Multiple People Using Group FaceTime
While Apple may be late to the group video calling game, its app is one of the best I’ve seen in the business. I really like how a person’s video grows as it helps identify them when they start talking. It’s especially useful when there are lots of people on a FaceTime call. I hope you find this tutorial easy to follow. If you have any problems, comment below and I will answer all your questions as soon as possible.
