How to Add Someone to a FaceTime Call

You can add a person to an active FaceTime call on iPhone, iPad, or Mac by tapping the add button and selecting their contact

FaceTime lets you bring another person into a call that is already happening. On an iPhone or iPad, tap the plus icon during the call, then choose the contact you want to add. On a Mac, click the add participant button (it looks like a person with a plus sign) in the call window. The person you add will receive a notification and can join immediately. You can add up to 32 people total to a single FaceTime call, though the experience may slow down with very large groups.

The steps differ slightly depending on your device, and there are a few situations where adding someone will not work — for instance, if you are on a call with someone who has an older iPhone that does not support group FaceTime. This guide walks through the exact steps for each device and explains what to do when adding someone fails.

Key Takeaways

On iPhone and iPad, tap the plus icon during an active call, search for or select the contact, and they will receive an invite to join.
On Mac, click the add participant button in the call window and select the person from your contacts.
FaceTime calls with more than one other person require all participants to have iOS 12.1 or later, iPadOS 12.1 or later, or macOS Mojave or later.
If the add button does not appear, the person you are calling may have an older device or FaceTime may not be enabled in their settings.
You cannot add someone to a one-on-one call with an Android user, because FaceTime only works between Apple devices.

Adding someone on iPhone or iPad

During an active FaceTime call on your iPhone or iPad, look for the plus icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. Tap it. A list of your contacts will appear, or you can type a name or phone number in the search box at the top.

Select the person you want to add. FaceTime will send them a notification that they have been invited to join the call. They can tap to accept and will appear on your screen within a few seconds. If you are in landscape mode or the screen is crowded, you may need to tap the call window first to make the controls visible.

If the plus icon does not appear, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the control center, or check that FaceTime is enabled in your Settings under Privacy. You can add multiple people one at a time using the same method.

Adding someone on Mac

During a FaceTime call on your Mac, look at the top right of the call window for the add participant button — it shows a silhouette of a person with a plus sign. Click it. A dropdown menu will show your recent contacts, or you can type a name or email address in the search field.

Click the contact you want to add. They will receive a notification and can join the call. On older versions of macOS, the button may be in a different location; if you cannot find it, try right-clicking in the call window to see a menu of options.

When the add button does not appear

If you cannot find the add button or it is grayed out, the most common reason is that the person you are currently talking to has an older device. Group FaceTime requires iOS 12.1 or later on iPhone and iPad, or macOS Mojave (version 10.14) or later on Mac. If the other person is using an older version, you cannot add a third participant to that call.

Check your own device settings as well. Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Microphone and Camera, and make sure FaceTime is listed and enabled. If FaceTime is turned off, you will not see the add button. You can also try ending the call and starting a new one to see if the button reappears.

If you are trying to add someone to a call with an Android user, the add button will not work because FaceTime only functions between Apple devices. In that case, you would need to use a different video service like Google Meet or Zoom that works across platforms.

What happens after you add someone

Once you tap or click the add button and select a contact, FaceTime sends them a notification. On their device, they will see a banner or alert saying they have been invited to join a FaceTime call. They can tap to accept immediately, or they can decline. If they accept, they will join the call and appear on all participants' screens.

The call layout will adjust automatically. With two other people, you will see a grid or side-by-side view. With more people, FaceTime shows the active speaker larger and the others smaller, or displays everyone in a grid. You can tap on any participant to make them the focus of your view.

Limits and what to know about large calls

FaceTime supports up to 32 people in a single call. However, as the number of participants grows, the video quality may decrease and the call may use more battery and data. If you are on a cellular connection rather than Wi-Fi, adding many people can drain your data plan quickly.

All participants must be using compatible devices and software versions. If someone is using an iPhone 5s or older, an iPad Air or older, or a Mac running anything before Mojave, they cannot join a group FaceTime call. You can still call them one-on-one, but you cannot add a third person.

If the call drops or becomes unstable after you add someone, try asking one participant to leave and rejoin, or end the call and start a new one. Sometimes this resolves connection issues, especially if you are adding people over a slower internet connection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone to a FaceTime call if they are not in my contacts?

Yes. When you tap the plus icon or click the add participant button, you can type a phone number or email address directly into the search field, even if that person is not saved in your contacts. FaceTime will send them an invite using that number or address.

What if someone declines the invite to join?

If they decline, the call continues with the people already on it. You can try adding them again later, or you can end the current call and start a new one that includes them from the beginning. There is no limit to how many times you can invite someone.

Can I remove someone from a FaceTime call after I add them?

Yes. During the call, tap or click on the participant's video tile and look for an X or remove button. On iPhone and iPad, you may need to tap the tile first to reveal the controls. On Mac, hover over their video to see the remove option.

Does the person I add have to have FaceTime installed?

FaceTime comes built into all iPhones, iPads, and Macs, so there is nothing to install. However, they must have FaceTime enabled in their settings and their device must be running a recent enough version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS to support group calls.

Can I add someone to a FaceTime call with an Android user?

No. FaceTime only works between Apple devices. If you are on a call with an Android user, the add button will not work. You would need to switch to a different video service like Google Meet, Zoom, or WhatsApp that supports both Apple and Android devices.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.