An iPad makes a wonderful video phone. The screen is big, the camera sits at eye level when you prop it up, and you can see the grandchildren’s faces without squinting at a small phone.

FaceTime is Apple’s free video calling app, and it’s already on your iPad. This guide walks through every step: switching it on, making and answering calls, calling a whole group, inviting family who use Android or Windows, and letting a trusted relative fix something on your iPad from far away.

The steps below match iPadOS 26 and iPadOS 27, the current versions as of October 2026. If your screens look a little different, check for an update first.

Plain talk: FaceTime

FaceTime is a calling app made by Apple. It sends your voice and picture over the internet, so you can see and hear the other person. It works between iPads, iPhones and Mac computers, and with a link, on other devices too.

How do I set up FaceTime on my iPad?

Open Settings, tap Apps, tap FaceTime, and turn the FaceTime switch on, signing in with your Apple Account if your iPad asks.

Here are the steps in full:

  1. Open the Settings app (the gray gear).
  2. Scroll down and tap Apps.
  3. Tap FaceTime.
  4. Turn on the FaceTime switch.
  5. If a sign-in screen appears, type your Apple Account email and password.

On the same screen, look for You can be reached by FaceTime at. This lists the email addresses (and phone number, if you have an iPhone) that people can use to call you. Make sure the address your family knows is ticked.

While you’re there, check that SharePlay is switched on. You’ll need it later if you ever want to share your screen. You’ll also see a Live Captions switch, which we cover below.

Try this

Before you make your first call, add your family to the Contacts app with their mobile number and email address. FaceTime finds people much more easily when they’re saved, and some features, such as remote control, only work with saved contacts.

How do I FaceTime on my iPad?

Open the FaceTime app, tap New near the top of the screen, type the person’s name, number or email, then tap FaceTime for a video call or the Call button for an audio-only call.

Step by step:

  1. Tap the FaceTime app (a white video camera on a green square).
  2. Tap New.
  3. Start typing the person’s name. If they’re in your Contacts, tap their name when it appears. You can also type a phone number or email address.
  4. Tap FaceTime to make a video call, or tap the Call button for a voice-only FaceTime audio call.

Calling from Messages

If you’re already texting someone in the Messages app, you don’t need to switch apps. Tap the FaceTime button at the top right of the conversation, then choose FaceTime Video or FaceTime Audio.

Calling from Contacts

When you’re picking a person in FaceTime, you can tap the Add Contact button (a plus sign) to open your contacts list and choose them from there. This helps when you can’t remember how a name is spelled.

How do I answer a FaceTime call on my iPad?

When a call comes in, tap the answer button on the screen. On a video call in iPadOS 27 you then see a preview of yourself and tap Join.

Apple’s guide for iPadOS 27 says to tap the Video button and then Join for a video call, or tap the Audio button for an audio call. If you see a slider instead, drag it to the right.

Not ready to talk? Tap the decline button. Apple says that if you’re already on a call when a second one arrives, you can choose End & Accept, Hold & Accept or Decline.

What do the buttons on a FaceTime call do?

Tap the screen once during a call to bring the buttons back. They let you mute, turn your camera off, open the More menu and end the call.

Here’s what they do:

Button What it does
Microphone Mutes you (shows a line through it when muted)
Camera Turns your video off and on
More (three dots) Add People, Live Captions, Screen Sharing, SharePlay and more
End (red) Hangs up

You’ll also see a small picture of yourself, called your tile. Tap it for camera options, such as Flip to switch to the back camera so you can show someone the garden.

Keep yourself in the picture with Center Stage

Many recent iPads have Center Stage. It uses the front camera to follow you as you move, so you stay in the frame even if you lean back or a grandchild sits beside you.

According to Apple, it works on iPad (9th generation) or later, iPad mini (6th generation) or later, iPad Air (5th generation) or later, and iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation) or 12.9-inch (5th generation) or later. Apple’s iPad guide says it’s on by default.

To turn it on or off during a call, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap FaceTime Controls at the top, then tap Center Stage. On some models a Center Stage button also appears when you tap your own tile.

Turn on Live Captions

If you find voices hard to follow, Live Captions types out what people say, as they say it. During a call, tap the screen, tap More, then tap Live Captions. The words appear near the top of the screen.

Apple warns that captions aren’t always accurate and shouldn’t be relied on in emergencies. Our guide to Live Captions on your phone covers more ways to use them.

How do I make a group FaceTime call?

Tap New, add more than one person, then tap FaceTime. To add someone during a call, tap More, then Add People.

Apple’s iPad guide says Group FaceTime calls can include up to 32 people besides you. In Messages, a group conversation works the same way: tap the FaceTime button at the top right and everyone in the group gets the call.

Our guide to video calling the grandkids compares FaceTime with Zoom and WhatsApp if part of your family prefers another app.

Can I FaceTime family who have Android or Windows?

Yes. Send them a FaceTime link. They open it in Chrome or Edge, type their name and tap Join, and you let them in.

To make a link on your iPad, open FaceTime, tap New, add the people you want to invite, then tap the Link button and choose how to send it, such as Messages or Mail.

Apple says the person on Android or Windows needs:

  • the latest version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge
  • a good Wi-Fi or mobile data connection

They open the link, enter their name, select Continue, allow the camera and microphone if asked, then select Join and wait for you to let them in. They don’t need an Apple Account. Apple notes that screen sharing and SharePlay don’t work for people joining from a web browser.

Can someone control my iPad screen on FaceTime?

Yes. On a one-to-one FaceTime call, a family member with iOS 18, iPadOS 18 or later can ask to control your shared screen, and nothing happens until you tap Allow.

It’s ideal when a son or daughter far away wants to fix a setting for you rather than talk you through 20 taps.

Here’s what Apple says you both need:

  • iPadOS 18, iOS 18 or later on both devices. Check in Settings > General > About.
  • A one-to-one FaceTime call, video or audio. It doesn’t work on group calls.
  • The helper saved in your Contacts.
  • A supported country. Apple says remote control isn’t available in the European Union or in every country or region.

Step 1: Share your screen

  1. During the call, tap the screen, then tap the More button.
  2. Tap Screen Sharing, then tap Share My Screen.
  3. After a short 3, 2, 1 countdown, the other person sees your screen.

Your helper can also start this from their end by choosing Ask to Share Screen. You’ll see a request and can accept it.

Step 2: Let them take control

  1. Your helper taps the window showing your screen, then taps the Remote Control button.
  2. A request appears on your iPad. Tap Allow to let them in, or Don’t Allow to keep simply sharing.
  3. Your helper can now tap and type on your iPad from theirs. Your own taps always come first.

To take back control, tap Stop at the top right of the screen-sharing window. Ending the call stops everything.

Apple builds in some limits. The person in control can’t change your Apple Account or Face ID settings, make payments or erase your iPad, and Face ID and Touch ID are switched off during the session. They can still open apps, change settings, delete things and send messages, so only allow someone you trust.

If you’re the family member doing the helping, our guide to helping a parent with their phone remotely covers the helper’s side in more detail.

Say this

“Tap the middle of the screen. Tap the three dots, then Screen Sharing, then Share My Screen. When a box pops up asking about control, tap Allow.”

Safety tip

Never share your screen with someone who called you out of the blue, even if they say they’re from Apple, your bank or “tech support”. Real companies don’t call to ask for your screen. Only share with family, on a call you started or were expecting. If you’re unsure, hang up. Read more about tech support scams.

Why isn’t FaceTime working on my iPad?

Most problems come from FaceTime being switched off, a weak internet connection or a Screen Time setting. Work through these checks in order.

“FaceTime unavailable” or calls won’t connect

Apple’s troubleshooting page suggests:

  1. Update your iPad in Settings > General > Software Update.
  2. Go to Settings > Apps > FaceTime, turn FaceTime off, then back on.
  3. Check the date and time are set automatically in Settings > General.
  4. Make sure you’re on Wi-Fi or have mobile data. Both people need a good connection.
  5. Restart your iPad.

Apple also says FaceTime may not be available in every country, region or with every carrier. And if the person you’re calling has no signal or has FaceTime turned off, the call can’t go through, so try them again later.

The FaceTime app or camera is missing

If the FaceTime switch or the camera seems to be gone, a Screen Time limit may be hiding it. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps & Features and make sure Camera and FaceTime are turned on.

No sound, or they can’t see you

  • Check the mute button. Tap the screen and look at the microphone button. If it has a line through it, tap it.
  • Check your camera button the same way.
  • Turn the volume up with the buttons on the edge of your iPad while the call is going.
  • Check nothing is covering the camera or speaker, such as a finger, a sticker or a folded cover.
  • If nothing helps, end the call and call back.

Making FaceTime easier day to day

A few small changes make a big difference:

  • Prop your iPad on a stand at eye level for a better picture and less arm strain.
  • Make text and buttons bigger. Our guide to making your iPad easier to use covers text size and other helpful settings.
  • If you’re shopping for a new tablet, our guide to the best iPad for seniors explains what to look for, including the front camera.

For the very first setup, our FaceTime basics guide is a good companion to this page.

Where to go from here

Make one practice call today, maybe to a family member who knows you’re testing. Try the mute button, flip the camera and turn on captions. Then, on a calm day, try screen sharing together so it feels familiar before you ever need it.

If you’d like all of this in large print, with pictures of each screen, Your iPad, Plainly Explained walks you through your iPad step by step, so you can look things up on your own, at your own pace.