How to make FaceTime calls from your Apple Watch

Want to FaceTime from your wrist? Here are different ways to make a single or group FaceTime call from your Apple Watch with or without the iPhone.

FaceTime calls are of two types:

• FaceTime video calls
• FaceTime audio calls

The tiny watch has no camera, so you can’t make FaceTime video calls or other video calls from it. But you can make FaceTime audio calls from your Apple Watch using one of the methods mentioned below. You can also use the same methods to make regular calls.

Note: The Camera app on your Apple Watch acts as a viewfinder and remote for your iPhone camera.

Before you begin: FaceTime calls work via the internet. Therefore, make sure your Apple Watch is near the iPhone and connected to it. If the iPhone isn’t nearby and the watch is disconnected, make sure it’s connected to a known Wi-Fi network or 5G/LTE (on cellular Apple Watch models).

Make FaceTime calls on Apple Watch

Use one of these four easy methods.

Use Siri

1. Invoke Siri on your Apple Watch by long-pressing the Digital Crown.
2. Ask it to “Make a FaceTime call to Maa” or “Call Sebastien on FaceTime audio.”

Use the Contacts app

1. Open the Contacts app on your Apple Watch.
2. Tap a person’s name.
3. Tap the phone icon.
4. Finally, tap FaceTime Audio.

Use the Phone app

Apple Watch has a Phone app that shows all your contacts, favorite contacts, and recent calls. It also lets you use the keypad to manually enter a phone number or call voicemail.

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Tap a contact, followed by the phone icon, then FaceTime Audio.

Use the Messages app

1. Go to the Apple Watch Messages app and tap a person’s chat.
2. Tap their profile icon at the top.
3. Tap the phone icon, followed by FaceTime Audio.

Make a group FaceTime call

1. Initiate a normal FaceTime call from your Apple Watch.
2. When you’re on the call screen, tap the three dots icon and choose Add People.
3. Now, dictate a name, find it from the Contacts app, or enter it using the keypad.
4. After that, tap the FaceTime phone number/email address to call that person.
5. Once the third person has joined the call or you have invited them, tap N People Active and use the plus button to add more participants. You can follow this step to add more people even if you didn’t start the call and are just a participant.

Options available during FaceTime calls

When you’re on a FaceTime call from your Apple Watch, you can:

• See the current time.
• Rotate the Digital Crown to increase or decrease the call sound.
• Tap the mic icon to mute and unmute yourself on the call
• Tap the three dots icon to choose the audio output. You can select AirPods, other connected Bluetooth earbuds, or the Apple Watch’s built-in speaker.
• Tap the big red button to hang up the call.

Note: You cannot minimize the active call screen or go out of it on your Apple Watch. If you press the Digital Crown or the Side button on the call screen, it will ask you to end the call first.

Move Apple Watch phone call to iPhone

After you tap the green pill shape (or bar) at the top of your iPhone, it hands off (transfers) the call from your Apple Watch to the iPhone without disconnecting the call. You can now continue the call from the iPhone earpiece or speaker.

Other related tips:

• FaceTime not working on Apple Watch? Here’s how to fix it
• How to use the Apple Watch to answer incoming calls on iPhone