Do you miss getting together with family and friends lately? Get together virtually with a Group FaceTime chat! I’ve used FaceTime for years and didn’t realize this was an option. You can video chat with multiple people in different (or same) households at the same time!
photo via Apple
Why you should you Group FaceTime
Is someone having a birthday? It’s hard to have a birthday separated from your family and friends. Schedule a time to sing happy birthday all together from your respective homes. Share stories about the birthday person. Have a (virtual) toast with your favorite beverage or treat to celebrate your loved one.
Stay IN to eat – and dine together! Make yourself a nice meal and schedule a dinner date with your loved ones. Want to make it a challenge? Make the same recipe and vote on which one looks best! You could even chat together while you are making the recipe.
Sure, you can group text, but it’s not the same as seeing your loved ones faces while talking to them. FaceTime Group Chat allows you to connect with multiple people at the same time to share your trials, tribulations, and victories easily.
Group FaceTime chat for Families
Whether you live near or far from your family, you may not be able to see them in person right now. Its especially important to protect older family members by keeping your distance to prevent virus spread. But skipping family gatherings doesn’t mean you can’t all be together virtually. Chat together in multiple households at one time with FaceTime Group Chat.
Grandparents will love seeing their grandchildren from multiple houses at the same time. It may be chaos, but it’s chaos in person too! It’s especially important to keep in touch with loved ones who are living alone and aren’t leaving the house. Having a video chat can be the difference between them having a good day or a sad day.
Have a group FaceTime Chat Happy Hour
Missing your pals? Schedule a FaceTime Group Happy Hour! Make yourself an appetizer, grab your favorite drink, and get ready to gossip, comfort, laugh, advise, and all of the other things that go on at a happy hour. Hanging out with a group of friends, even virtually, will make your day and cheer you up.
Have brunch together (in your respective homes), play a drinking game, put on a fashion show, do a workout together… Do whatever you like to do when you hang out – it’ll pick up your mood and make you forget about the tough times. You can feel sad or lonely when your best friend has a dinosaur head (see below for example).
To use Group FaceTime
Requirements for Group FaceTime video calls: requires iOS 12.1.4 or iPadOS on one of these devices: iPhone 6s or later, iPad Pro or later, iPad Air 2 or later, iPad mini 4 or later, iPad (5th generation) or later, or iPod touch (7th generation). Earlier models of iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch that support iOS 12.1.4 can join Group FaceTime calls as audio participants. All participants must be using an Apple device and have FaceTime turned on in settings. You can also use MacBook or Mac desktop computer with macOS Mojave 10.14.3 or later..
Facetime App
Open FaceTime, tap + in the top right corner, and add your contacts using their name, phone numbers, or emails. To start your FaceTime call, tap Audio or Video.
Messenger App
If you already have a group messenger chat, it’s even easier. Open Messenger and go to an existing group message, or start a new one. Tap the phone icon for a group audio chat or video camera icon for a group video chat to start your call.
Other Tips and Tricks
To join a call – just tap on the notification you receive and click on the video or audio icon. You can leave and re-enter the phone call if you need.
To add a new person to the call, tap the + sign (you may have to swipe up during the call for that option), and enter their name, phone number, or email. Tap “add person to FaceTime”.
Swipe up!
Add Effects! There are tons of effects to add to your call – filters, colors, stickers, animojis, and more. Animoji and Memoji are available on devices with Face ID. You can also mute, flip the camera, flip the camera, use speakerphone, and more.
Up to 32 people can be on one group FaceTime call at a time – which would probably be chaotic, but it’s possible.
Looking for more way to connect with your family and friends? Have a FREE Netflix Party with friends in your own homes! Watch your favorite movie or tv shows together and chat on the side.
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