The fastest way to add a contact on FaceTime

To add someone on FaceTime, open the FaceTime app and tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner. Type their name, phone number, or email address into the search field. If they appear in your contacts, tap their name. If not, type their full details and tap the blue add button. That person is now in your FaceTime contacts and you can call them anytime.

You do not need to send them a request or wait for them to accept anything. Once you add them, you can start a call immediately. They will see your name or number appear on their screen when you call, just as they would with a regular phone call.

Key Takeaways

  • Open FaceTime, tap the plus sign, and search for the person by name, phone number, or email address.
  • You can add someone whether or not they are already in your phone's contacts list.
  • Adding someone on FaceTime does not require their permission or a back-and-forth request process.
  • The person you add will see your caller ID when you call them, so make sure they know who you are.

Adding someone from your existing contacts

If the person is already saved in your phone's contacts, FaceTime can pull their information automatically. Open FaceTime, tap the plus sign, and start typing their name. FaceTime will search your contacts and show you matching names. Tap the person's name when it appears, and they are added to your FaceTime list.

This is the easiest route because you do not have to remember or type their phone number or email address. FaceTime uses whatever contact information is already stored in your phone.

Adding someone by phone number or email

If the person is not in your contacts, you can still add them by typing their phone number or email address directly into FaceTime. Open the app, tap the plus sign, and type the number or email in the search field. Make sure you type it correctly—FaceTime will not find them if even one digit or letter is wrong.

Phone numbers work on any iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Email addresses work on all Apple devices, but the person must have FaceTime turned on in their settings for email calls to go through. If you are not sure which one to use, ask them which they prefer.

What happens after you add someone

Once you add a contact, their name stays in your FaceTime app. You can call them whenever you want by tapping their name and then tapping the video or audio call button. You do not have to add them again.

If you want to remove someone from your FaceTime contacts later, swipe left on their name and tap delete. This only removes them from FaceTime—it does not delete them from your phone's main contacts list.

Adding contacts on different Apple devices

The steps are the same whether you use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. On a Mac, open FaceTime and click the plus sign in the top left corner of the window. Type the person's name, phone number, or email address and press Enter. On iPad, the process is identical to iPhone.

Your FaceTime contacts sync across all your Apple devices if you are signed into the same Apple ID. This means if you add someone on your iPhone, they will automatically appear in FaceTime on your iPad and Mac as well.

Troubleshooting when someone does not appear

If you type someone's name and they do not show up in the search results, they are probably not in your phone's contacts. Try typing their phone number or email address instead. Make sure you have the correct information—a typo in even one digit will prevent FaceTime from finding them.

If you type their phone number or email and still cannot find them, they may not have FaceTime turned on in their settings, or they may be using a device that does not support FaceTime (like an Android phone). You can still add their number or email to your FaceTime contacts and try calling—if FaceTime is not available, the call will not go through, but you will see an error message telling you why.

Privacy and what the other person sees

Adding someone on FaceTime does not notify them or ask for their permission. They will only know you added them when you actually call them. When you call, they will see your name (if you are in their contacts) or your phone number on their screen, just like a regular phone call.

If you are calling someone from an unknown number and they do not recognize you, they may not answer. Make sure the person knows who you are before you call, or send them a message first to let them know you are about to call on FaceTime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be friends with someone on social media to add them on FaceTime?

No. FaceTime does not connect to social media. You only need their phone number or email address. You can add and call anyone whose contact information you have, regardless of whether you are connected on other platforms.

Can I add someone if I only know their name?

Only if they are already in your phone's contacts. If you know their name but not their number or email, you will need to get that information from them first. FaceTime cannot search the internet or look up people by name alone.

What if I add someone by mistake?

Swipe left on their name in the FaceTime app and tap delete. They are removed from your FaceTime contacts immediately. If you delete them by mistake, you can add them again by following the same steps.

Will the person know if I delete them from FaceTime?

No. Deleting someone from your FaceTime contacts does not send them any notification. It only removes them from your list on your device.

Can I add a group of people at once?

No. FaceTime requires you to add contacts one at a time. However, once you have added multiple people, you can start a group FaceTime call by tapping the plus sign during an active call and selecting additional contacts to invite.