Adding a person to an active FaceTime call

To add someone to a FaceTime call that is already happening, swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or tap the screen if the controls have hidden). You will see a row of buttons. Tap the one that looks like a person with a plus sign — this is the "Add Person" button. A list of your contacts will appear. Find the person you want to add and tap their name. FaceTime will send them an invitation to join, and once they accept, they will appear on your screen alongside the people already in the call.

On an iPad or Mac, the process is similar. During an active call, look for the "Add Person" button in the call controls (usually near the bottom or top of the window, depending on your device). Click it, then select the contact you want to add from the list that appears.

The person you are adding will receive a notification that they have been invited to join the FaceTime call. They can accept or decline. If they accept, they join immediately. If they decline or do not respond within a few minutes, the call continues without them.

Key Takeaways

  • Swipe up from the bottom of your iPhone or iPad screen during a call to reveal the "Add Person" button with a plus sign icon.
  • You can add up to 32 people total to a single FaceTime call, though the number of video feeds shown at once depends on your device.
  • The person you add will receive an invitation notification and can choose to join or decline the call.
  • If you want to add someone before starting a call, create a group in your Contacts app and start a FaceTime call with that group instead.

Starting a FaceTime call with multiple people from the beginning

If you know ahead of time that you want several people on the call, you can set this up before you dial. Open the FaceTime app and tap the plus sign button to start a new call. You will see a field where you can type or search for contacts. Add each person's name one at a time by tapping their name when it appears in the search results. A checkmark will appear next to each person you select.

Once you have selected everyone you want, tap the "Audio" or "Video" button at the bottom to start the call. FaceTime will send invitations to all of them at once. They will each receive a notification and can join when they are ready.

This method is faster than adding people one at a time during a call, especially if you are organizing a larger group conversation.

Using group contacts to make FaceTime calls easier

If you regularly call the same group of people together, create a group in your Contacts app. Open Contacts, tap the plus sign to create a new contact, and give the group a name like "Book Club" or "Family Sunday Call". Then add each person's contact information to that group.

Once your group is saved, open FaceTime and search for the group name. When you tap it, FaceTime will show you all the members. Tap "Video" or "Audio" to call everyone in the group at once. This saves you from typing multiple names every time you want to have the same conversation.

What to do if someone cannot join the call

If you try to add someone and nothing happens, or if they receive the invitation but cannot join, check a few things. First, make sure they have an active internet connection — FaceTime calls require either Wi-Fi or cellular data. Second, confirm they are using an Apple device (iPhone, iPad, or Mac) or that they have a link to a FaceTime call you have sent them. FaceTime does not work with Android phones or most other devices unless you create a FaceTime link and send it to them through a text or email.

If the person has an Apple device and a good connection but still cannot join, ask them to restart their device and try again. Sometimes a temporary glitch prevents the invitation from going through or being received.

Adding people when you are using FaceTime Links

FaceTime Links let you invite people who do not have Apple devices to join your call. To create a link, start a FaceTime call or open the FaceTime app and tap the plus sign. At the top of the screen, you will see an option to "Create Link". Tap it, and FaceTime will generate a unique link you can copy and send through text, email, or any messaging app.

Anyone with that link can join the call from a web browser, even if they are using an Android phone or a Windows computer. When they click the link, they will see a screen where they can enter their name and join. You will see them appear on your screen just like you would with any other FaceTime participant.

FaceTime Links are useful when you want to include people outside the Apple ecosystem, but keep in mind that the person with the link can share it with others, so the call may grow larger than you intended.

Removing someone from a FaceTime call

If you need to remove someone from an active call, swipe up to show the call controls. Find the person's name or video tile and tap and hold on it. A menu will appear with the option to "Remove Participant". Tap that option, and they will be removed from the call immediately. They will see that they have been disconnected and can rejoin if you add them again.

Only the person who started the call can remove participants. If you are a guest on someone else's call, you cannot remove other people.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people can I add to a FaceTime call?

FaceTime supports up to 32 participants in a single call. However, your device may only show video from a limited number of people at once — older iPhones might show fewer video tiles than newer models. Audio from all 32 people will still come through even if you cannot see everyone on screen.

Can I add someone to a FaceTime call if they do not have my phone number or email?

Yes. You can add anyone in your Contacts app, or you can create a FaceTime Link and send it to them through any messaging platform. They do not need to be in your contacts to join a call via link.

What happens if someone declines the invitation to join?

If they decline, they are not added to the call and the call continues without them. You can try adding them again later, or you can send them a FaceTime Link so they can join on their own time.

Can I add someone to a FaceTime call on Android?

Android users cannot join a standard FaceTime call, but they can join if you send them a FaceTime Link. They will open the link in a web browser and can participate in the call from there.

Why does the "Add Person" button not appear during my call?

If you are on an older version of iOS or macOS, the feature may not be available. Make sure your device is updated to the latest version. Also, some carriers or network setups may prevent the feature from working — if updating does not help, restart your device and try again.