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5 min read 6 stepsMay 4, 2026Verified May 2026

How to FaceTime on Your Apple TV — Video Calls on Your Living Room Screen

Apple TV now supports FaceTime calls using your iPhone or iPad as the camera. Here is how to set it up so you can see family on a much larger screen.

At a Glance

Check your Apple TV version

~37s

On your Apple TV remote, go to Settings > General > About. Look for the "Model" line. You need Apple TV 4K (2nd generation, 2021) or Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, 2022 or later). If your Apple TV is older than 2021, this feature is not available on your device — but you can still cast a FaceTime call started on your iPhone to your TV using AirPlay (see the tip below).

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: If your Apple TV does not support this feature, start a FaceTime call on your iPhone, then tap the Screen button at the top of the FaceTime controls and choose your Apple TV to mirror the call to your TV via AirPlay.

Make sure your iPhone and Apple TV are on the same Apple ID

~21s

On your iPhone, go to Settings and tap your name at the top. You will see your Apple ID (email address). On your Apple TV, go to Settings > Users and Accounts and tap your account. Both should show the same email address. If they are on different Apple IDs, this feature will not work.

Open FaceTime on your Apple TV

~28s

On your Apple TV, go to the Home Screen and look for the FaceTime app. It may be in the top row of apps, or you may need to scroll down to find it. Tap FaceTime to open it. The app will ask to use your iPhone as the camera — confirm on your iPhone when prompted.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: If you do not see FaceTime on your Apple TV, go to the App Store on Apple TV, search "FaceTime," and download it. It is free.

Start or receive a call

~22s

From the Apple TV FaceTime app, you can tap "New FaceTime" to call a contact (you will select from your iPhone's contacts). Or, when someone calls you on FaceTime, you will see the incoming call appear on your TV screen in addition to your iPhone. Answer it on either device — if you answer on the TV, the call right away goes to the big screen.

Position your iPhone for the best camera angle

~36s

Place your iPhone on a nearby surface so it faces you and captures a natural view. A phone stand, a stack of books, or propping it against a cup all work. Aim for eye level if possible. You want the camera to capture your face and upper body without being too close or too far away. Sit back in your comfortable chair and enjoy the call on the full TV screen.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: On FaceTime, you can tap the camera flip button on your Apple TV remote to switch between your phone's front and back cameras — useful if you want to show family members something in your home.

End the call

~15s

Press the red phone button on the Apple TV remote, or tap End on your iPhone. Either device can end the call. The call will disconnect on both the TV and your phone simultaneously.

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If you have an Apple TV connected to your living room television, you can now make FaceTime video calls that appear on your big TV screen — while using your iPhone or iPad as the camera and microphone. Instead of squinting at a small phone screen, you see your family members at full TV size. And they see you in a comfortable, living-room setting.

This feature is called Continuity Camera. Your iPhone or iPad does the camera work wirelessly, while the call itself shows on the TV. You can prop your phone on a nearby surface, sit back in a comfortable chair, and have a video call the way you might watch a movie.

What you need:

An Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or newer, from 2021 or later)
An iPhone running iOS 18 or iOS 19, or an iPad running iPadOS 18 or 19 (iOS 17 also works on most older devices, but iOS 18/19 is current in 2026)
Your iPhone or iPad and Apple TV must be signed in to the same Apple ID
Both devices must have Bluetooth and WiFi turned on
The Apple TV and your iPhone/iPad must be on the same home WiFi network

How it looks on the other end:

The person you are calling sees you in your living room, with your TV in the background. The camera on your phone captures the scene. Many people find this much more natural than a close-up phone camera pointed at their face.

(Sources: Apple Support, support.apple.com/en-us/HT213573; Apple TV User Guide, support.apple.com/guide/tv)

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