How to make a video call on an iPad: step by step

Video calling on an iPad is the easiest way to see grandchildren, speak to a GP by remote appointment, or keep in touch with family overseas. Apple's own app, FaceTime, comes installed on every iPad. It works over Wi-Fi or a mobile data connection and is free to use. This guide walks through how to make your first call and covers the common questions that come up the first few times.

Before you start

Two things need to be true before you can make a FaceTime call. Your iPad has to be connected to the internet, either on Wi-Fi at home or on a mobile data plan. And you need to be signed in with an Apple ID, that is the email and password you set up when you first got the iPad. If the iPad asks for your password along the way, that is the one it wants.

If the person you are calling has an iPhone or iPad, they will receive a FaceTime call directly. If they have an Android phone or a Windows computer, you can still FaceTime them, but you do it slightly differently by sending them a link.

The seven-step walk-through

The numbered steps below match the ones in the yellow box at the top of the page. Follow them in order and you will be on a video call in under five minutes.

Step 1: Open the FaceTime app

Look on your Home Screen for a green icon with a white video camera on it. That is FaceTime. Tap it once.

If you cannot find the green icon, do not worry. Put one finger in the middle of the screen and drag it downward. A search box appears at the top. Type "FaceTime" and the app will show up in the results. Tap it.

Step 2: Sign in with your Apple ID

The first time you open FaceTime, it asks for your Apple ID. That is the email address you used to set up the iPad, together with its password. Type both in and tap Sign In.

You only need to do this once. Next time, FaceTime will remember you.

Step 3: Tap New FaceTime

At the top of the screen, you will see a blue button with the words "New FaceTime". Tap it. A new window slides up.

Step 4: Type or choose a contact

In the To field at the top of that new window, start typing the name of the person you want to call. If they are in your Contacts, their name will appear below. Tap it to add them.

If they are not in your Contacts, you can still call them. Type their mobile phone number or the email address they use for Apple, then tap the return key on the keyboard.

Step 5: Tap the video icon

Look at the right-hand side of the screen. You will see two icons, a small video camera and a telephone handset. Tap the video camera to start a video call. If you only want a voice call without video, tap the handset instead.

Step 6: Wait for them to answer

Your iPad will make a soft ringing sound. The other person's name sits at the top of the screen while you wait. When they answer, their face appears on your screen. They can see you too, so a little wave is a good idea.

The first time you use FaceTime, the iPad may ask for permission to use the camera and the microphone. Tap OK to both. Without those permissions, the other person will not be able to see or hear you.

Step 7: End the call

When the conversation is over, tap anywhere on the screen to make the controls appear. Tap the red circle with a white X through it. That hangs up the call.

Calling someone who doesn't have an iPad or iPhone

Since 2021, FaceTime can reach people on Android phones, Windows laptops, and any other device with a modern web browser. The trick is that you send them a link rather than calling them directly.

To send a link, open FaceTime, tap Create Link at the top of the screen, then choose how to share it, Messages, Mail, or WhatsApp are the usual options. The other person taps the link on their phone, their browser opens, they type a name, and the call begins.

If something goes wrong

A few things can stop a FaceTime call from working. The most common fixes are these.

If none of those help, the problem is usually with the other person's device rather than yours. Ask them to try restarting theirs, or send them a FaceTime link as described above to sidestep any settings issue on their end.

A note on safety

Only accept FaceTime calls from people you recognise. If you get a call from a name or number you do not know, you can decline by tapping the red circle, or simply ignore it. Legitimate callers will leave a message or try another way to reach you.

Video calling should feel more like a visit from a friend than a technical exercise. Once you have made the first call, the rest are much easier, and you can spend the next five minutes looking at the grandchildren rather than at the buttons.