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To make a FaceTime group call, open the FaceTime application, and then select the + icon. Start typing the names of the people you want to talk to, then click the green button to start the call. You can add more people once the call has started.
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How to make a group call on FaceTime (iPhone and iPad)
Making FaceTime group calls on an iOS device is the most popular because of the device’s portability. So you can keep meetings moving, wherever you are. There are two ways to start a group call on iOS – through the FaceTime application or through the iMessages application.
The FaceTime application
The obvious solution is to use the FaceTime application. Adding people to a FaceTime group call is very easy.
First, make sure the contacts are in your phone contacts application. Then in the FaceTime application tap on the + icon to be taken to your phonebook to select the people you want to talk to. Alternatively, if you already know their names from memory, they start typing and your phone should recognize them immediately and automatically the On: field.
When the contacts are all entered, tap either the green FaceTime button to start a video call or the round green phone icon to start an audio-only call.
The iMessages application
When chatting with a group in iMessage, you can turn that conversation into a FaceTime video call by tapping the video icon in the top right corner. This brings all the current chat participants into the FaceTime call.
Add more people to an iOS FaceTime group call
Once the call starts, if you want to add more people to the call, here’s how to do it. First tap the avatars of the current contestants at the top of the screen. You will then see this screen.
Type Add people and you can start typing the names of more callers. FaceTime will ring on their device and they can choose whether they want to pick up and connect or not.
How to make a group call on FaceTime (Mac)
Making a FaceTime group call on macOS is virtually the same as the iOS method. To get started, click NewFaceTime button in the left bar and start typing the names of the people you want to talk to. Then click on face time button at the bottom. By clicking on the down arrow on that button, an audio-only option will also appear.
When the group call starts, a video tile will appear on the screen with a wait message about each. the wait sign will disappear when the person picks up and starts their video.
A group FaceTime call can have a maximum of 32 participants at any one time.
Yes, you can start a call by giving the names of several people to Siri (“Siri, FaceTime Jack, Jill, John and Jackie”), but Siri will probably not be able to handle up to 32 names at a time. You will also experience problems if two of the call participants have the same first name. It would be best to get Siri to start a call with a few names, and when the call starts, ask her to add the others in small batches.