How to Make a Video Call (FaceTime, Zoom, and Google Meet)

Learn how to video call family and friends using FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Meet on any device.

At a Glance

Before you start — test your camera and microphone

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Before making your first video call, let us make sure your camera and microphone work. - **On iPhone:** Open the Camera app. If you can see yourself on the screen, your camera works. To check the microphone, open Voice Memos and record yourself talking for a few seconds, then play it back. - **On Android:** Open the Camera app and switch to the front-facing camera (tap the circular arrow icon). Record a short video to test both camera and sound. - **On a Windows computer:** Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera. Make sure camera access is turned on. Open the Camera app to check. - **On a Mac:** Open FaceTime or Photo Booth to test your camera.

Quick Tip

Before your first video call, test your camera and microphone. On iPhone: open Camera app to check. On Android: open Camera app. On computer: go to Settings > Privacy > Camera.

Get set up for the best experience

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A few simple things make a big difference on video calls: - **Lighting:** Sit facing a window or lamp. If the light is behind you, people will only see a dark shadow. - **Position:** Prop your phone or tablet up against something stable (a stack of books works great) instead of holding it. Position it at eye level. - **Background:** Make sure there is nothing behind you that you do not want people to see. - **Sound:** A quiet room is best. Close windows if there is traffic noise. You can also use earbuds or headphones for better sound.

Quick Tip

Make sure you are in a well-lit room and your face is clearly visible. Prop your phone up against something stable instead of holding it.

How to make a FaceTime call (iPhone, iPad, Mac)

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FaceTime is Apple's free video calling app. It comes already installed on every iPhone, iPad, and Mac. 1. Open the FaceTime app (the green icon with a white video camera) 2. Tap the "+" button (or "New FaceTime" on newer versions) 3. Type the person's name, phone number, or email address in the "To:" field 4. Tap the green Video button to start the call The other person will see a notification and can accept or decline. FaceTime works over WiFi or cellular data. As of 2025, you can also FaceTime with Android and Windows users by sending them a link — tap "Create Link" and share it via text message.

How to join a Zoom meeting

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Zoom is the most popular video meeting app for group calls. Here is how to use it: 1. Download Zoom from the App Store (iPhone) or Play Store (Android) — it is free 2. Open the Zoom app 3. Tap "Join a Meeting" (you do not need an account just to join) 4. Enter the Meeting ID — this is a number (like 123 456 7890) that the meeting organizer will send you, usually in an email or text 5. Enter your name so people know who you are 6. Tap "Join" 7. If asked for a passcode, enter the one from your invitation 8. Tap "Join with Video" and "Call Using Internet Audio" You are now in the meeting. You will see other people's faces on the screen.

How to use Google Meet

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Google Meet is Google's free video calling service. It works in any web browser or through the Gmail app. **To start a new meeting:** 1. Open the Google Meet app (or go to meet.google.com on a computer) 2. Tap "New meeting" 3. Choose "Send an invitation" to share the meeting link with someone, or "Start an instant meeting" to begin right away **To join a meeting someone invited you to:** 1. Open the Google Meet app (or click the link they sent you) 2. Tap "Join with a code" 3. Enter the meeting code from your invitation 4. Tap "Join" Google Meet is free for calls up to 60 minutes with up to 100 people.

During the call — useful controls to know

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All video calling apps have similar controls. Tap the screen if the controls are hidden: - **Mute/Unmute:** Tap the microphone icon to mute yourself (a line will appear through it). Tap again to unmute. Mute yourself when you are not talking to reduce background noise. - **Camera on/off:** Tap the camera icon to turn your video off or on. - **Switch camera:** Tap the camera flip icon to switch between the front-facing and rear camera. - **End call:** Tap the red phone icon or red "Leave" button to hang up. - **Chat:** Most apps have a chat feature where you can type messages during the call — useful if someone cannot hear you.

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