Apple FaceTime – Everything You Need To Know

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Apple’s FaceTime is a convenient app that allows iOS users to seamlessly call their friends and families. Especially after the iOS 15 update, FaceTime has become quite a handy tool giving competition to video conferencing tools such as Zoom.

In this article, I will share everything you need to know about FaceTime to understand how it works and how to use it in the best possible way. So read on to get all of your Apple FaceTime-related questions answered.

Table of Contents

Are FaceTime Calls Free?

FaceTime on iOS devices is free whether you make domestic or international calls. The only thing required to use FaceTime is an active internet connection in the apparatus of both parties. That’s all.

FaceTime is an iOS app for Apple devices that is free to use. It works on Macs, iPads, iPod Touch, iPhone 4, and later models. It is completely free-to-use software that does not require any charges to make audio or video calls. You and the other party need the app downloaded on their devices and an active internet connection. 

Originally, FaceTime only used to work over Wi-Fi connections requiring both parties to have active Wi-Fi. However, after the iPhone 4S, Apple optimized FaceTime to be used over a cellular data connection, too, in case of the unavailability of a Wi-Fi connection.

Since many cellular plans come with a data cap, you may have to pay for the data you use when FaceTiming if you have used all the MBs in your data plan. According to a study, FaceTime uses up to 150kbps of bandwidth, making the estimated consumption for 15 hours 1GB. So make sure you know this if you use FaceTime very frequently over your cellular data connection.

Is FaceTime Free For iPhone Users?

Yes. FaceTime is free for iPhone users. In addition, domestic and international FaceTime calls are free, whether making an audio or video call. You need to have an active internet connection on the devices of both parties. 

If you and your friend are iOS users, FaceTime is a great way to make free audio and video calls and stay in touch. If you want to avoid the carrier charges levied by your cellular company, you can make free FaceTime audio and video calls to your friends with iOS devices over Wi-Fi.

You can use FaceTime with both cellular data connections and Wi-Fi. There are no hidden charges whatsoever. You can make hour-long FaceTime calls on your iPhone for free. However, suppose you are making FaceTime calls via the cellular data connection, and you have limited data remaining. In that case, you may have to pay extra charges for the data you use during the call.

Does FaceTime Use A Lot Of Data?

Generally, a 20-minute FaceTime video call consumes about 70MBs to 80MBs. However, this varies based on your connection speed and several other factors. It uses a decent amount of data, but it won’t matter if you have Wi-Fi or an unlimited cellular data package. 

While the data used in FaceTime calls depends on your internet connection speed, the research found that FaceTime uses about 70MBs of data for a 20-minute video call. So basically, it consumes a pretty decent amount of data. So if you want to make long FaceTime calls to your friends or family, you should use Wi-Fi or an unlimited cellular data plan.

If you want to know how much data is being consumed in a FaceTime call, you can check the usage data in the app. To view it,

  1. Go to the FaceTime app.
  2. Tap on the info icon (i) next to a specific call in the recent call log. 

You will see the time, date, and data used in that call.

You can also view the data used in the Phone app on iPhone.

  1. Go to “Recents” in the Phone app.
  2. Find a call that says “FaceTime Audio” or “FaceTime Video” below the caller’s number or name in the call log. 
  3. Tap on the info icon (i) next to the call. 

You will be able to see the time, date, and data used in that call. You can also view the overall data consumed by FaceTime by going to the Settings app.

  1. Go to Settings > Cellular. 
  2. Scroll down to FaceTime to view the aggregated data used by FaceTime since the last time you reset the counter. 

That’s how you know how much data FaceTime uses. 

Do you use FaceTime with your cellular data? Read on to learn if FaceTime would hog your data plan.

Is It Bad To FaceTime All Night While Charging?

No. Not at all. You can use your iOS devices for anything while charging them. The only issue you may encounter is your device taking a bit longer to set as you would be using power-hungry apps like your camera, microphone, and Wi-Fi/mobile data. Other than that, there is no problem.

When you FaceTime with your phone in your hand as it is charging, you may find it getting warm. It can result in overheating, which is bad for your phone. Therefore, place your phone on a surface instead of holding it in your hands to avoid overheating. That way, you can also keep the phone positioned at a still surface and talk freely.

Other than that, there is nothing bad about FaceTiming all night while your phone is charging. It will take longer than usual to set as you constantly use power-hungry applications. Just make sure that your phone is not overheating, and you’ll have nothing to worry about.

Are you worried about your battery health getting low? Then, please read my article to learn which battery health percentage is too low.

Who Pays For A FaceTime Call?

When you call FaceTime and use a cellular network, you will be charged if you don’t have a cellular data plan. FaceTiming over Wi-Fi is free of charge for both parties. But if one or both the parties are using their carrier network to make or receive FaceTime calls, they will both be charged.

FaceTime is a free audio and video calling iOS app designed for iOS users. It only requires Wi-Fi or a cellular network to work. Unfortunately, while Wi-Fis are free, the cellular data connection is not.

Therefore, if any sending or receiving party uses their cellular data network to connect on FaceTime, they will be charged. But, of course, they won’t have to pay any extra charges if they have a good cellular data plan that covers the consumption needs of the FaceTime call.

How Much Does FaceTime Cost Per Minute?

A FaceTime call per minute uses at most 3MBs of data, which will cost you less than $3 if you are using your cellular data without a data plan. However, for people who use a cellular data plan or Wi-Fi to make FaceTime calls, the cost per minute is $0.00, meaning it is free!

According to some data collected by companies, an hour-long FaceTime call uses about 180MB of data, which will easily be covered for free under a cellular data plan, if you have any. It will also be free if you are using Wi-Fi to connect.

But if you don’t have a cellular data plan or Wi-Fi, the cost of the data you use for a FaceTime call will be deducted by your carrier. Since a minute of FaceTime call only uses about 3MB of data, it will cost you less than $3, depending on the charges of your specific carrier network. 

Can You Use FaceTime Without Data?

Yes, you can. You can FaceTime without data by using Wi-Fi to make the call. FaceTime calls require a Wi-Fi connection or cellular data. You need one or the other to FaceTime anyone. So if you don’t have cellular data, you can use Wi-Fi to make FaceTime calls.

FaceTime calls either require a Wi-Fi connection or cellular data. So if you are out of data, you can use Wi-Fi to make free FaceTime calls. However, if you do have cellular data and don’t want to use it for FaceTime, you can turn off cellular data usage for FaceTime in Settings. That way, your device will only use Wi-Fi for FaceTime calls.

  1. Go to your iPhone’s Settings > Cellular.
  2. Scroll down to FaceTime and toggle the switch off to turn off cellular data usage.

Does FaceTime Cost Money?

No. FaceTime is free for iPhone users. However, domestic and international FaceTime calls are free, whether making an audio or video call. You just need to have an active internet connection on the devices of both parties. 

If you are an iOS user, FaceTime is a great way to make free audio and video calls to your friends or family and stay in touch. If you want to avoid the carrier charges levied by your cellular company, you can make free FaceTime audio and video calls to your friends with iOS devices over Wi-Fi.

You can place FaceTime via both cellular data connections and Wi-Fi. There are no hidden charges whatsoever. You can make hour-long FaceTime calls on your iPhone for free. However, suppose you make FaceTime calls via the cellular data connection and have limited or no data remaining. In that case, you may have to pay extra charges for the data you use during the call.

What Happens When You FaceTime Someone Who Is Already On FaceTime?

When you FaceTime someone who is already on FaceTime, they will be prompted to either end the FaceTime call and accept the incoming FaceTime call or reject the incoming FaceTime call and continue their current FaceTime call by tapping on the Decline option.

When you FaceTime someone and they are already on another FaceTime call with someone else, they will see two options appearing on their screen:

  • There is a Decline option to decline the incoming FaceTime call and continue their current FaceTime call.
  • An End & Accept option to end the recent FaceTime call and accept the incoming FaceTime call.

Tap on the options after considering whose call you want to connect to and whose call you want to decline. 

What Happens When Someone Calls You On FaceTime?

When someone calls you on your phone, and you are already on a FaceTime call, you will be prompted to either end the FaceTime call and accept the incoming phone call, reject the incoming phone call and continue your FaceTime call, or hold the FaceTime call and answer the phone call.

When someone calls you on your phone, and you are already on a FaceTime call with someone else, you will see three options appearing on your screen:

  • There is a Decline option to decline the incoming phone call and continue your current FaceTime call.
  • An End & Accept option to end the current FaceTime call and accept the incoming phone call.
  • Hold & Accept option holds the current FaceTime call and attends the incoming phone call. 

Make sure you choose wisely, as people often get confused when they see these three options appearing on their screen.

Is There A Way To End FaceTime Without Ending A Call?

If you want to end a FaceTime video without actually completing the call, press the Home Button on your iOS device, and your video will stop displaying to the other party. So you would still be on call, but the FaceTime video will stop.

If you are on a FaceTime call and want to go back to using your phone, or if you simply want to disable your FaceTime video, you can do so without actually ending the call. Just press the Home button on your device and be directed to your home screen. The call would still be active, but none of the parties would be able to see each other’s video.

But if you want to end the FaceTime without actually hanging up, so the other party does not know that you ended it, you can put your device on airplane mode. That way, you will disconnect your device from the internet connection, and your FaceTime call will fail. Your friend would not know that you ended the call.

How Safe Is FaceTime?

FaceTime is a safe app that uses end-to-end encryption, meaning that no one else can join or listen to your calls except for you and the other party you’re on a call with. So even Apple cannot enter or listen to your FaceTime calls.

All of the FaceTime calls are end-to-end encrypted. They are extremely safe, and only you and the person you are on call with can listen to or join the calls. It means that no one can hack your FaceTime calls. No way anyone else can listen to your calls, not even Apple.

Moreover, FaceTime calls are not recorded or stored in Apple’s database. Only you and the other person can listen to the call. Apple creates a unique ID for all users to ensure that FaceTime calls are routed and connected safely. Just make sure you have a secure internet connection, and you will have nothing to worry about.

Is It Bad To Leave FaceTime On Overnight?

No. It is completely okay to leave FaceTime on overnight. Many couples sleep together over FaceTime as it is comforting. Also, leaving a FaceTime call on all night does not damage your phone. You don’t have to worry about anything. Just make sure you are calling over Wi-Fi because using cellular data tends to overheat iPhones.

If you like to sleep with someone over FaceTime, you can do so easily without worrying about anything. You can stay on a FaceTime call overnight while your phone is charging. It won’t overheat if you call over Wi-Fi and have docked your cellphone at a plain surface.

Just make sure that you are not using FaceTime over cellular data and not holding your phone all night. If you do so, you will end up overheating your iPhone. So if you want to stay on FaceTime overnight, make sure you have placed your iPhone at a distance on a plain surface and that you are using Wi-Fi for the call.

If you use FaceTime all night while your iPhone is charging, read my article if it is safe to use iPhone while it’s charging.

Is FaceTime Only For The iPhone?

You can make FaceTime calls from iPhones, Macs, iPads, and iPod Touch. However, with iOS 15 released, Android and Windows users can also join FaceTime calls now using the links created by the FaceTime caller. It is very similar to Zoom group calls.

Before iOS 15, FaceTime was only restricted to iOS users. However, with the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced a new Zoom-like feature that allows FaceTime callers to share a FaceTime call link with their Android- and Windows-user friends so they can join the call.

Although only an iOS user can start FaceTime calls, they can share the call links with their friends to join the FaceTime call over the web. They don’t need to download any app for this.

Clicking on the link would open the web browser on their Android and Windows devices and connect them to the FaceTime call. They just need to have the latest version of Chrome or Microsoft Edge. 

Check out this guide to learn more about FaceTime between iPhone and Android

How Fast Does A FaceTime Call Go Through?

FaceTime calls go through immediately. So if you FaceTimed someone and immediately hung up the call, they would still get a missed call from you. There’s no going back once you have made the call. 

FaceTime someone immediately gets notification because FaceTime calls are made over the internet, making them extremely fast. So there is no way you can retract because FaceTime calls go through instantly.

The other party will get a missed call notification from you. They will either have the option to call or text you back. In addition, their device will instantly show a FaceTime notification with the caller’s name or number.

No matter how fast your reflexes are, you cannot get out of a FaceTime call soon enough to keep the call from going through. It goes through instantly. So the next time you are on a screen with a FaceTime option, be extra careful not to hit it.

Is It Free To FaceTime On Wifi?

Yes. FaceTime is free for iPhone users. Whether making an audio call or a video call, domestic and international FaceTime calls are free. You just need to have an active internet connection on the devices of both parties. 

If you and your friend are iOS users, FaceTime is a great way to make free audio and video calls and stay in touch. If you want to avoid the carrier charges levied by your cellular company, you can make free FaceTime audio and video calls to your friends with iOS devices over Wi-Fi.

You can make FaceTime calls through both cellular data connections and Wi-Fi. However, to avoid additional carrier charges for the data consumed on a FaceTime call (if you have no cellular data plan), you should make FaceTime calls over Wi-Fi. They are free and won’t cost you a penny.

Why Am I Getting Someone Else’s FaceTime Calls?

If you are getting someone else’s FaceTime calls, that’s because you are sharing an Apple ID with someone else. When people use shared Apple IDs with their friends or family, they will receive someone else’s iMessage and FaceTime calls. There’s no way to avoid it other than splitting your Apple IDs.

You are getting someone else’s FaceTime calls because you share an Apple ID with someone. Since FaceTime calls and iMessages are tied with Apple IDs, devices with the same Apple ID account would get the FaceTime call.

So if you are sharing your Apple ID with your parents, they would get your FaceTime calls and iMessages. The only way you can avoid this is by splitting your Apple IDs. Everyone should have their Apple ID so that they don’t get anyone else’s iMessages or FaceTimes.

You can also stop getting someone else’s FaceTime calls by removing the Apple ID from your FaceTime Settings. To do so:

  • Go to Settings on your iOS device.
  • Scroll Down to Facetime
  • Click on Remove Apple ID.

This way, you won’t get anyone else’s FaceTime calls in the future. However, you should have your unique Apple ID and not share it with anyone to ensure security.

Can You FaceTime And Talk On The Phone At The Same Time?

No. You cannot be on two calls at the same time. You will either have to hold your FaceTime call to answer a phone call, end and accept the phone call or decline and continue your FaceTime call. You cannot be on two calls simultaneously.

If you are on a FaceTime call and you get a phone call from someone, you have three options:

  • There is a Decline option to decline the incoming phone call and continue your current FaceTime call.
  • An End & Accept option to end the current FaceTime call and accept the incoming phone call.
  • Hold & Accept option holds the current FaceTime call and attends the incoming phone call. 

You will have to choose any of these options as you cannot be on two calls on the same device simultaneously. However, if you want to talk to both parties simultaneously, you can call a group on FaceTime.

If your friend is not an iOS user, you can send them a FaceTime video link to join using their Android or Windows device. How cool, right?

Why Is My Phone Not Charging While On FaceTime?

If your iPhone is not charging while it’s on FaceTime, that’s because it is using more power than it is receiving from the charger. FaceTime uses all the power-hungry apps such as your camera and microphone, which results in it using more charge than it usually does.

If you are on FaceTime while your iPhone is charging, you may sometimes feel like it is charging slower than usual. That’s because FaceTime uses power-hungry apps such as your camera and your microphone. These apps use more power than is being delivered to your phone via the charger.

Apps like FaceTime, Zoom and FaceTime are graphic intensive and require a lot of power. So your iPhone will charge slowly when it is plugged into your wall charger. It is because your battery drains faster than it is charging. It would help if you considered using a higher wattage charger.

But if this is not the case and your iPhone is not charging at all, it may have had these potential issues:

  • Your USB-C cable is broken.
  • Your charger brick is broken.
  • The power management system may not be working properly. 

If your iPhone is not charging properly and it drains out of charge very quickly, you should get your battery replaced from an Apple Store.

Do you need to get your iPhone batteries replaced? Read my article to learn if replacing iPhone batteries is worth it.

Does Falling Asleep On FaceTime Ruin Your Battery?

No. Falling asleep on FaceTime does not ruin your battery. All iOS devices come with lithium-ion batteries, which deteriorate over time, no matter how you use your devices. Therefore, falling asleep on FaceTime won’t affect your battery.

If you are someone who falls asleep on FaceTime, you may worry about its effects on your iPhone’s battery. However, you don’t have to worry about anything because it is completely okay to fall asleep on FaceTime. 

If you fall asleep on FaceTime while your phone is charging, there’s nothing to worry about even then because once your iPhone reaches 100% charge, it stops getting power from the charger. So you don’t have to worry about it overheating or damaging your battery.

However, just make sure that your iPhone does not overheat. Place it on a flat surface and away from your bed. Avoid putting it under your pillow as it would make your phone overheat. 

Do you often charge your iPhone overnight? Then, read my article to learn the best practices to charge iPhones.

Is FaceTime Free Internationally?

As long as you are making FaceTime calls over Wi-Fi, FaceTime calls are free no matter where you are calling from. You can make domestic or international audio and video calls on FaceTime for free.

You can make FaceTime via both cellular data connections and Wi-Fi. There are no hidden charges whatsoever. In addition, you can make unlimited FaceTime calls from your iOS devices for free.

If you are making FaceTime calls via the cellular data connection and have limited or no data remaining, you may have to pay extra charges for the data you use during the call. But if you have an unlimited cellular data plan, you can make international FaceTime calls for free.

FaceTime calls are free regardless of your country or the country you are calling to. So you can call anyone, anywhere in the world, on FaceTime for free. Both audio and video calls are 100% free.

Does FaceTime Hang Up After 4 Hours?

No, they don’t. Theoretically, FaceTime calls can last forever. There is no call length limit on FaceTime calls. If none of the parties ends the call and there is no disruption in the internet connection of both the parties, your FaceTime calls can last forever.

FaceTime is a free way to an audio call and video call your friends from anywhere in the world. All you need is a stable internet connection. That’s it! There is no time limit for the call. It can go on forever if both of you have a stable, undisturbed internet connection, and none of you cut the call.

If it were a phone call, there could be a cap on the length of the call, but there is no time limit since FaceTime calls are made over the internet.

It will only end in three scenarios:

  • When either of the parties terminates the call.
  • When you or the other party lose their internet connection.
  • When you or the other party’s phone battery dies.

Otherwise, FaceTime calls can go on forever.

What Is FaceTime And Without FaceTime In iPhone?

If you get an iPhone from the UAE, you will find it listed as “without FaceTime.” Due to restrictions levied by the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) on Apple, iPhones in the UAE cannot have FaceTime preinstalled. As a result, they come without Facetime, hence the term.

If you buy iPhones from anywhere globally, excluding the UAE, they will come with FaceTime preinstalled. So you can use FaceTime on these phones to make audio and video calls for free.

However, if you buy an iPhone from the UAE, it comes ‘without FaceTime.’ That’s because the Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA) of UAE has imposed restrictions on Apple. So all the Apple Stores in the UAE sell iPhones without FaceTime.

They don’t come preinstalled with FaceTime so you can’t video call anyone using FaceTime in the UAE. If you do use FaceTime very often and you live in the UAE, you will have to buy iPhones that are sold outside of UAE. For instance, you can buy a USA iPhone that comes with FaceTime.

Are you planning on getting an iPhone from UAE? Read my article to learn if iPhones in Dubai are any good.

Can Someone See You On FaceTime Before They Answer?

No. They cannot see you on FaceTime before they answer your call. However, when you video call someone on FaceTime, they will see their front camera results, which they can choose to hide, mute, or decline the call altogether. 

You can view your face through the front camera when you FaceTime someone. However, this does not show your face to the other party before they answer the call. Meaning that the video connection is only made once the call is answered.

In FaceTime calls, visual data is transferred end-to-end. So the video is only visible to the other party once they accept the call. Before that, no information is transmitted.

So they won’t see your face or hear you before answering your FaceTime call. Instead, they will see their front camera results, which they can hide.

How Much Data Does A 30 Minute FaceTime Use?

An average FaceTime video call uses up to 80MBs for a 20-minute call. So a 30-minute FaceTime call would consume about 120MBs. However, this depends on several factors, such as your internet speed and the network bandwidth. 

A 10-minute FaceTime call consumes about 40MBs of data. So a half-hour FaceTime call would roughly consume about 120MBs. Of course, this depends on other factors, too, such as your connection speed. You should use an unlimited cellular data plan or Wi-Fi to make FaceTime calls.

If you want to know how much data is being consumed in a FaceTime call, you can check the used data in the app.Go to the FaceTime app.

  1. In the recent call log, tap on the info icon (i) next to a specific call. 
  2. You will be able to see the time, the date, and the data that was used in that particular call. 

You will be able to see the time, date, and data used in that particular call.

  1. Go to “Recents” in the Phone app.
  2. Find a call that says “FaceTime Audio” or “FaceTime Video” below the caller’s number or name in the call log. 
  3. Tap on the info icon (i) next to the call. 

You will be able to see the time, date, and data used in that call.

Is your iPhone on 3G? Read my article to learn how to change your iPhone from 3G to LTE. 

What Does It Mean If FaceTime Rings Once?

If FaceTime only rings once every time you call the same number, it means that they have blocked your number on their iPhone. However, if it says “unavailable” after ringing once, it means that the other party has declined your call.

When you call someone on FaceTime, and it only rings once, no matter how many times you call them, it means that they have blocked your number.

However, if you see “unavailable” on your screen after the first ring, it means that the person has declined your call and they are probably busy. So whenever they drop your call, your screen would read “unavailable.”

Can You FaceTime Yourself?

Yes, you can. You just need to have different email addresses for FaceTime on both devices to FaceTime yourself. You don’t need to have two Apple IDs. Just make sure your other iOS device uses another email address or phone number. 

You cannot FaceTime another device with the same number or email address. Therefore, if you want to call yourself on another one of your iOS devices, you will need to have a second address assigned for FaceTime on that device.

To do this, go to Settings > FaceTime, and make sure that you have a different email address or phone number listed under “You can be reached by FaceTime At.” You need to have additional selections on both of your devices to call yourself on FaceTime. 

You don’t necessarily need a different Apple ID. You just need a different email address where FaceTime can reach you. And once you do that, you will be able to call your other devices, and they will all ring.

Are you unable to change your Apple ID email address? Read my article to learn everything you need to know about Apple IDs.

What Does It Mean When You FaceTime Someone And It Automatically Hangs Up?

If you FaceTime someone and it hangs up automatically, it means that either you or the other party does not have a good and stable internet connection. If you or the other party has a poor internet connection, your FaceTime call will hang up automatically.

FaceTime uses Wi-Fi or cellular data to make free audio and video calls anywhere in the world. Therefore, if it does not have a stable and reliable internet connection available, it won’t connect you to the call.

So if you are calling someone and the FaceTime call hangs up automatically, it means that one or both parties don’t have a stable internet connection. So your call would hang up automatically.

However, whenever you try to make a FaceTime call, there may be an issue causing your FaceTime calls to fail. Here’s how you can troubleshoot this issue on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch:

  1. Reset the Network Settings on your iOS device by going to Settings > General > About
  2. Next, go to Reset > Reset Network Settings
  3. Finally, click on Confirm when your device prompts you to confirm the reset operation. However, you should know that doing so would erase all your network customizations, preferences, and Wi-Fi passwords.

Does FaceTime Work Better On Wi-Fi Or Data?

FaceTime works better on Wi-Fi. On Wi-Fi, FaceTime uses about 300KB/s, which offers a better connection quality than 4G, which uses 30KB/s. However, if your Wi-Fi connection is weak, the video stability would be better and easier to transmit at 30KB/s on 4G.

Since Wi-Fi uses 300KB/s to transmit your image, it works better than 4G, which uses only 30KB/s. However, this only works if you have a stable internet connection. If your internet connection gets weak, then using 4G would be a better option than using Wi-Fi because sending the video on 30KB/s through 4G is much better and easier.

So if you have a great Wi-Fi connection, you should use FaceTime on Wi-Fi as it will work better. But if you don’t have a stable internet connection, switch to data for a seamless FaceTime call.

Can You FaceTime On Windows?

The FaceTime App does not work on Windows devices. However, you can create a FaceTime call link from your iOS devices and share it with Windows users to join the call. That’s the only way you can use FaceTime on Windows. The call link connects you to the call through your web browser.

You can only make FaceTime calls from iPhones, Macs, iPads, and iPod Touch. However, with iOS 15 released now, Android and Windows users can also join FaceTime calls now using the links created by the FaceTime caller. It is very similar to Zoom group calls.

Before iOS 15, FaceTime was only restricted to iOS users. However, with the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced a new Zoom-like feature that allows FaceTime callers to share a FaceTime call link with their Android- and Windows-user friends so they can join the call.

Although only an iOS user can start FaceTime calls, they can share the call links with their friends to join the FaceTime call over the web. They don’t need to download any app for this.

If you are a Windows user, clicking on the FaceTime link would open the web browser on your Windows device and connect you to the FaceTime call. You just need to have the latest version of Chrome or Microsoft Edge. 

Check out this guide to learn more about FaceTime between iPhone and Windows. 

Do You Need A SIM For FaceTime?

No. You don’t need a SIM card for FaceTime. FaceTime only requires your email address and an active internet connection to make calls. FaceTime uses your Apple ID to make calls. It even works on non-cellular devices, such as your iPod Touch, MacBook, and iPad.

FaceTime uses your email address and your internet to make calls. It does not require a SIM card. Unlike cellular calls, FaceTime calls are exclusively operated over an internet connection. So the only thing you would be needing is an internet connection, be it Wi-Fi or cellular data.

FaceTime calls are made through the email address you set up on iCloud. Only your Apple ID is used to make FaceTime calls, which means that you can call anyone on FaceTime from even non-cellular devices like your iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac. 

Even if you don’t have a SIM card on your iPhone, you can still use it to make FaceTime calls over Wi-Fi. So you can use FaceTime without a SIM card but not without an internet connection.

Do iPhone SIM cards hold your images and other data? Read my article to learn if that’s really true. 

What Does It Mean When FaceTime Rings 10 Times?

When you call someone on FaceTime, it will ring a total of 11 times before it shows that the person you are trying to contact is not available. However, if it rings any less than that and says they are unavailable, it is either because they have declined your call or because they don’t have internet.

For iOS users, FaceTime is the go-to app for making audio and video calls to other iOS users. If you call someone on FaceTime and they don’t answer, it will ring a total of 11 times before it indicates that the other party is unavailable.

After it rings 11 times, FaceTime automatically hangs up the call and notifies you that the other person is unavailable. However, if the other party declines your call, FaceTime will ring less than 11 times and indicate that the other person is unavailable.

There are several other situations too when FaceTime indicates that the other person is unavailable:

  1. It will say that the other person is unavailable when they don’t have an internet connection or are in an out-of-reception area. In this case, your FaceTime will ring a couple of times and then show “unavailable” on your screen.
  2. It will also say that the other person is unavailable when they decline your call. In this case, FaceTime will ring a few times and then display “unavailable on your screen.”

So if your FaceTime rings ten times and then says “unavailable,” it most likely means that the other person has declined your call.

What Happens When Your Phone Dies On FaceTime?

If your phone dies on FaceTime, the call will end abruptly. It will not notify the other person that your phone has passed, and if they try calling you back, it will ring for a few minutes and then indicate to them that you are unavailable.

Imagine that you are on FaceTime with your friend, and your phone dies. What would happen? Will they be notified in any way that your phone died?

Well, no, they won’t. If your phone dies when you are on FaceTime, the call will end abruptly. And if the other party tries calling you back on FaceTime while your phone is dead, they will hear the ringing a few times before their screen displays “unavailable.”

They will hear it “ring” a few times even though your phone is dead because a FaceTime call tries to connect to any device that can connect on FaceTime. Therefore, it first queries Apple servers to see if any devices are available.

If the servers check and there are no devices available, your FaceTime call would ring and end afterward if the other party’s phone is dead.

Can I FaceTime On A Samsung Phone?

You can turn off FaceTime on your iOS device by going to Settings > FaceTime and toggling it off. This way, you won’t be reachable on FaceTime by anyone.

If you are someone who does not use FaceTime and is often annoyed by the random FaceTime calls you to get, you can cancel FaceTime on your iOS time for as long as you want.

Before iOS 15, FaceTime was only restricted to iOS users. However, with the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced a new Zoom-like feature that allows FaceTime callers to share a FaceTime call link with their Android- and Windows-user friends so they can join the call.

Although only an iOS user can start FaceTime calls, they can share the call links with their friends to join the FaceTime call over the web. They don’t need to download any app for this.

If you are a Samsung user, clicking on the FaceTime link would open the browser on your Samsung device and connect you to the FaceTime call. You just need to have the latest version of Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser. Check this space to learn more about how to use FaceTime on Android.

How Do I Cancel FaceTime?

You can turn off FaceTime on your iOS device by going to Settings > FaceTime, and toggling it off . This way, you won’t be reachable on FaceTime by anyone.

If you are someone who does not use FaceTime and is often annoyed by the random FaceTime calls you to get, you can cancel FaceTime on your iOS time for as long as you want. However, disabling FaceTime on one device won’t disable it with the same Apple ID on the rest of your devices. Instead, you will need to disable it on each device manually.

To cancel or disable FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad:

  • Go to Settings > FaceTime, and switch the toggle to off.  

To cancel or disable FaceTime on your Mac:

  • Open the FaceTime app on your Mac.
  • Click on “FaceTime” in the top menu bar.
  • Select the “Turn FaceTime Off” option.

That way, you won’t receive any FaceTime calls on your iOS devices. 

How Do I Know If I Can FaceTime With Someone?

To know if you can FaceTime someone, try to send them a message through the Messages app on your iOS device. If their name or number appears in blue, it means that they have an iOS device, and you can FaceTime or iMessage them. 

You can only directly FaceTime someone who has an iOS device. But what do you do if you aren’t sure whether the other party has an iOS device? What if you want to FaceTime them?

You can determine if someone has an iOS device by going to the Messages app and typing them a message. Once you start typing, you will notice that their name or number at the top appears in blue, meaning they have an iOS device and hence are eligible for getting iMessages or FaceTimes.

If that’s the case, go ahead and call them up on FaceTime. It will start ringing if they are available on FaceTime.

Can You FaceTime Anonymously?

No, it’s not possible to FaceTime anyone anonymously. Your FaceTime caller ID can be your contact number or your email address. There’s no way to hide your caller ID on FaceTime.

If you want to hide your caller ID on FaceTime and FaceTime someone anonymously, there is no way you can do that. On FaceTime, you have the option to either show your email address or your phone number as caller ID. There’s no other option.

So if you have multiple addresses or numbers set up for FaceTime, you can choose which one appears as your caller ID. To do this:

  • Go to Settings > FaceTime
  • Under “Caller ID,” select the email address or phone number you would like to appear as your caller ID. 

And voila! The selected number or email address would now appear as your caller ID whenever you call someone on FaceTime.

Are you planning on buying an iPhone without a Face ID? Read my article to learn if buying iPhones without Face ID is worth it.

Does FaceTime Cost Both Parties?

FaceTiming over Wi-Fi is free of charge for both parties. But if one or both the parties are using their carrier network to make or receive FaceTime calls, they will both be charged. In addition, FaceTime calls without a cellular data plan will be charged if both parties use cellular data.

FaceTime is a free audio and video calling iOS app designed for iOS users. It only requires Wi-Fi or a cellular network to work. However, while Wi-Fi calls are free, the cellular data connection is not.

Therefore, if any sending or receiving party uses their cellular data network to connect on FaceTime, they both will be charged.

Of course, they won’t have to pay any extra charges if they have a good cellular data plan that covers the consumption needs of the FaceTime call. But if they don’t have a cellular data plan, both parties will be charged for the FaceTime call.

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