How to Group FaceTime

Remember when video chat was only accomplished over a webcam on a computer? And remember when you could only video chat with one person at once? When Apple released iOS 12, video chat was brought to an entirely new level with the ability to FaceTime with up to 31 other people at one time. Whether you’re looking to catch up with a group of friends or have a virtual family meeting, knowing how to group FaceTime is a great way to stay connected to your people.

There are a few ways to start a group video chat on your iPhone, iPad or Mac—we’ll walk you through the steps.

Keep in mind these instructions apply to devices running iOS 12.1.and later.

How to group Facetime using the FaceTime app

1. Open the FaceTime app and tab the Plus icon (+).
2. Either begin typing in the names, phone numbers or email addresses of the contacts you want to invite or press the second Plus icon (+) and select the names from your contact list.
3. Select Video to start a group video chat, or choose Audio to make an audio call to the participants.

How to group FaceTime using the Messages app

1. Open the Messages app and either select an existing group conversation or begin a new one with the contacts you want to invite.
2. Tap the profile images (or profile icons) at the top of the message, where the options of FaceTime, Audio, or Info should pop up.
3. Select FaceTime to start a group video chat.

How to group FaceTime using a Mac

1. Launch the FaceTime app on your Mac.
2. Search for the people you want to call using their name, phone number or email address.
3. Select either Video or Audio to start a group FaceTime call.

Group Video Chat Alternatives

If you don’t have an Apple device, you may be able to use other platforms or apps to group video chat. Here are some examples:

Skype: Group video chat with up to 24 people at once

Snapchat: Group video chat with up to 16 people

Google Hangouts: Include up to 25 people in a group video chat

Facebook Messenger: Group video chat with up to 50 people

At Trademore, we know keeping up with family and friends is important, so knowing how to group Facetime is a great way to stay in the loop. For more information or how-to guides like this, be sure to check out the Trademore blog.

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