How to make a video call on an Android phone or tablet

This guide is for anyone who wants to see the face of the person they're calling, not just hear their voice. By the end, you'll be able to start a video call using WhatsApp, Google Meet or Zoom on any Android phone or tablet - and you'll know what to do if the camera seems to be pointing at the ceiling rather than at you. No technical background needed.

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Step 1: Check that your camera and microphone work

Before calling anyone, it's worth a thirty-second check. A lot of first-time frustrations ("they couldn't see me", "they couldn't hear me") come down to a setting that got switched off at some point.

Open your phone's Camera app - the one that came with the phone, usually showing a small camera icon on the home screen. Along the top or bottom of the screen you'll see a switch between "Photo" and "Video", and somewhere nearby a small icon of a camera with rotating arrows. Tap that icon to flip to the front-facing camera. You should now see yourself on screen.

If nothing appears, or you get a message asking for permission, go to Settings > Apps > Camera > Permissions and make sure Camera and Microphone are both switched on.

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Step 2: Decide which app to use

The right app is simply whichever one the person you're calling already has. There's no point installing Zoom if your daughter uses WhatsApp, and no point setting up Google Meet if your friend only knows Zoom.

A quick rule of thumb: WhatsApp is the most common choice for family calls in the UK. Google Meet comes pre-installed on many Android phones and is useful for calls with grandchildren who use school Google accounts. Zoom became widespread during the pandemic and many community groups, GP practices and library events still use it.

All three are free to download and free to use for standard calls.

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Step 3: Make a WhatsApp video call

WhatsApp is installed on most Android phones already. If it isn't, search for WhatsApp Messenger in the Google Play Store (the colourful triangle icon, usually on your home screen) and install it. It's free.

To call someone:

1. Open WhatsApp and tap the Chats tab at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap on the name of the person you want to call. This opens your conversation with them.
3. In the top-right corner of the screen, you'll see two icons: a telephone handset and a small video camera. Tap the video camera icon.
4. WhatsApp will ask "Video call [name]?" - tap Video Call to confirm.
5. Their phone will ring. Wait for them to pick up.

Once connected, you'll see them on the main part of the screen and a small image of yourself in the corner. To end the call, tap the red telephone icon.

If you want to call someone who isn't in your contacts yet, go to WhatsApp > Calls tab > the phone icon with a plus sign, and search for their number.

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Step 4: Make a Google Meet call

Google Meet is often pre-installed on Android phones made in the past few years. Look for a green-and-white video camera icon. If it's not there, search for Google Meet in the Play Store.

You'll need a Google account to use it, which is the same account you use for Gmail if you have one. If you don't have a Google account, the app will walk you through creating one in a couple of minutes.

To start a call:

1. Open Google Meet.
2. Tap New Call at the bottom of the screen.
3. You'll see options: "Create a meeting", "Start an instant meeting" or "Schedule in Google Calendar". For a simple one-to-one call, tap Start an instant meeting.
4. Your camera will open. Tap Start meeting.
5. To invite someone, tap the small person-with-a-plus icon and type their name (if they're in your Google contacts) or their email address. They'll receive a link they can tap to join.

Alternatively, if someone has sent you a Google Meet link by text or email, simply tap that link and it will open the call directly.

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Step 5: Make a Zoom call

Zoom works slightly differently from the other two. Most of the time you'll be joining a meeting that someone else has organised, rather than starting one yourself. Your GP surgery or a community group might send you a Meeting ID and a Passcode by email or letter - those are the two pieces of information you need.

Search for Zoom in the Play Store if you don't have it. It's free. You'll need to create a free Zoom account with an email address and password.

To join a meeting someone else has organised:

1. Open Zoom and tap Join.
2. Type in the Meeting ID (usually nine or ten digits).
3. Enter your name as you'd like it to appear.
4. Tap Join Meeting.
5. Zoom will ask for the Passcode if there is one. Type it in and tap OK.
6. You'll enter a waiting room briefly, then the host will let you in.

To start your own call with someone:

1. Tap New Meeting on the Zoom home screen. This opens your camera so you can see yourself first.
2. Tap Start a Meeting.
3. Tap the Participants icon at the bottom, then Invite, then share the Meeting ID with the person you want to call by text or email. They tap a link or enter the ID, and they join you.

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Step 6: Fix the camera if it's pointing the wrong way

This is one of the most common problems and, happily, one of the easiest to fix.

Android phones have two cameras: one on the back (for photographing things in front of you) and one on the front (for selfies and video calls, facing towards you). Most apps default to the front camera, but occasionally they don't, or they switch unexpectedly.

During any call, look for a small icon that shows two rotating arrows or a camera with a circular arrow. On WhatsApp it sits at the top of the screen; on Google Meet and Zoom it appears in the row of icons along the bottom or top during the call. Tap it once to flip between front and rear camera.

If your image looks upside down or sideways to the other person, the issue is usually how you're holding the phone rather than the camera itself. Android doesn't always rotate the call screen when you rotate the phone. Hold the phone upright (portrait) to start with - that's the safest default.

One more thing worth mentioning: if the screen looks very dark, you may have inadvertently covered the front camera with your finger or palm. The front camera is typically a small dot at the very top-centre of the screen, easy to block without realising.

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Positioning the phone or tablet for a comfortable call

A small practical note that's easy to overlook. Propping your phone against a mug or a book so it faces you at roughly eye level makes a significant difference. It's far more comfortable than holding it at arm's length for twenty minutes, and the other person sees your face properly rather than the top of your head or the ceiling.

For tablets, a small stand (widely available from Amazon or Argos for a few pounds) is worth having. It frees both hands and reduces fatigue considerably on longer family calls.

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