How to Use iMessage for Video and Audio Calls

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How to Use iMessage for Video and Audio Calls

How to Use iMessage for Video and Audio Calls

iMessage isn’t just for text messaging—it also offers the ability to make audio and video calls, allowing you to communicate with friends, family, or colleagues in real-time. This feature, powered by FaceTime, makes it easy to connect with anyone who uses an Apple device. Here’s how you can use iMessage for video and audio calls:

1. Making an Audio Call Using iMessage

Steps to Make an Audio Call:

  1. Open iMessage: Launch the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
  2. Select a Contact: Open a conversation with the person you want to call. If you don’t have a conversation thread, start a new one by tapping the compose button and selecting a contact.
  3. Tap the Audio Call Icon:
    • On iPhone or iPad: Tap the phone icon at the top of the screen (next to the contact’s name) to start an audio call.
    • On Mac: Hover over the contact’s name or number in the conversation thread, and click the phone icon to start the call.
  4. Start the Call: Your phone will connect to the other person’s device, and you can start speaking. The call will be routed over the internet (Wi-Fi or cellular data) if the person you’re calling also uses iMessage.

Things to Note:

  • Both you and the recipient must have iMessage enabled on your devices for the audio call to work.
  • If you can’t reach someone via iMessage, the call may be made over regular cellular networks, depending on their settings.

2. Making a Video Call Using iMessage

Steps to Make a Video Call:

  1. Open iMessage: Open the Messages app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
  2. Select a Contact: Open an existing conversation with the person you want to call. If needed, start a new message thread.
  3. Tap the FaceTime Icon:
    • On iPhone or iPad: Tap the FaceTime icon (a camera symbol) at the top of the conversation screen to initiate a video call.
    • On Mac: Hover over the contact’s name or number in the conversation thread, and click the video camera icon to start the FaceTime video call.
  4. Start the Call: Your device will connect to the other person’s device, and the video call will begin. You’ll see them in the FaceTime window, and you can chat face-to-face.

Things to Note:

  • Both you and the recipient need to have FaceTime enabled and an active internet connection for the video call to work.
  • The call will be conducted over Wi-Fi or cellular data depending on the available connection.
  • If the recipient doesn’t have FaceTime enabled or is unable to take a video call, the call will either fail or switch to an audio-only call.

3. Switching Between Audio and Video Calls During a Call

You can easily switch between audio and video calls during an active call on iMessage:

  1. Start an Audio Call: Begin with an audio call.
  2. Switch to Video: During the call, tap the camera icon on the screen to switch to video mode. Your camera will turn on, and the other person will be able to see you.
  3. Switch Back to Audio: If you prefer to switch back to an audio call, tap the camera icon again to turn off the video and continue with the audio call.

4. Making Group Audio and Video Calls

iMessage supports group FaceTime calls, which allow you to make audio or video calls with multiple participants at once. This is perfect for team meetings, family chats, or social calls with friends.

Steps to Make a Group Call:

  1. Start a Group Conversation: Open the Messages app and create a new conversation with multiple contacts, or open an existing group conversation.
  2. Initiate a FaceTime Call:
    • On iPhone or iPad: Tap the FaceTime icon at the top of the screen.
    • On Mac: Click the video camera icon in the top right corner of the conversation thread.
  3. Group Call Begins: All participants in the group chat will receive a notification to join the call. You can add up to 32 participants in a group FaceTime video call.

Things to Note:

  • All participants must have iMessage and FaceTime enabled to participate in a group video or audio call.
  • Group FaceTime calls use your internet connection, so a stable Wi-Fi or cellular data connection is recommended.

5. Managing Your Call Settings

You can customize your video and audio call experience with various settings during a call:

  • Mute Your Microphone: During an audio or video call, tap the mute icon to turn off your microphone.
  • Turn Off Video: If you’re on a video call and want to stop sharing your video, tap the camera icon to turn off your camera while still keeping the audio connection.
  • Switch Between Front and Rear Cameras: If you’re on a video call, you can switch between the front and rear cameras by tapping the flip camera icon.
  • Add Participants: On a group call, you can tap the add person icon to add more participants to the call.

6. Using iMessage Calls on macOS

You can also make and receive iMessage calls on your Mac using the Messages app, as long as you’re signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID.

Steps to Make Calls on Mac:

  1. Open the Messages App: Launch the Messages app on your Mac.
  2. Start a Conversation: Select an existing conversation or start a new one.
  3. Initiate the Call: Click the phone icon for audio calls or the video camera icon for video calls in the conversation window.
  4. Answer Incoming Calls: If you receive an incoming FaceTime call, a notification will appear, and you can choose to answer with audio or video.

Conclusion

Using iMessage for audio and video calls is a great way to stay connected with others, whether for personal conversations or business purposes. With FaceTime integration, you can easily switch between audio and video, make group calls, and manage your call settings to ensure a seamless communication experience. Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, iMessage offers a simple and reliable way to connect with others in real-time.