Learn how to create a FaceTime link on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and share it with your Android or Windows friends so they can join your call from their non-Apple devices.
Unlike cross-platform services like WhatsApp, Zoom, Skype, Telegram, and others, FaceTime is not available as an app on Android phones or Windows PCs.
However, even though an Android or Windows user cannot start a FaceTime call or talk with two or more non-Apple users, they can use their web browser to join a FaceTime call started by another iPhone, iPad, or Mac user.
It involves five simple steps, and we’ll go over everything in detail below.
Step 1: Create a FaceTime call link on an Apple device
To allow Android or Windows users to join your FaceTime call, you (an Apple user) will need to create and share a FaceTime link with them.
1) Open the FaceTime app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. We’re using an iPhone for these steps.
2) Tap the Create Link button.
3) Optional: Tap Add Name and assign a name for this call link. I’m going with Call with Android Friend.
4) Tap Copy or use Messages, Mail, WhatsApp, Slack, or some other way to send this FaceTime link to your Android and Windows friends. You can also send it to several people and they all can join in on a group call.
Step 2: Join FaceTime call from an Android phone or Windows PC
1) Ask your Android or Windows friend to visit the link you shared earlier. They must use Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge on their device.
2) FaceTime will ask for their name to join the conversation. They must enter a name and tap Continue.
3) A FaceTime video interface will open. Tap Join and wait.
Step 3: Allow your Android or PC friend to join the call
1) Once your Android or Windows friend follows the above steps, you will get a notification from FaceTime on your Apple device. Tap it. Alternatively, you can also open FaceTime and tap the info button ⓘ next to the call link.
2) Tap the Join button.
3) After you join the call, you will see a Person Waiting banner at the top. Tap the info button ⓘ there and then hit the green check mark to allow your Android or Windows PC friend to finally become a member of this call.
Now, you and your Android or Windows friend can video chat. You can tap the info button ⓘ from the top to manage other aspects of this call.
Step 4: Options available during the call
While the Apple user has several features available, such as sharing their device screen or replacing their face with a Memoji, options on the Android or Windows side are limited to just the following.
- Full Screen: Continue the call on full screen in the web browser.
- Camera: Toggle the camera off or on.
- Mute: Turn off the microphone or turn it back on.
- More: See who is on this call, share the link for this FaceTime call, and manage Camera & Microphone settings.
- Switch between front & back cameras: Tap the video feed to remove all buttons from the screen. After that, tap the device’s video feed and then switch to the back or front camera (right image below).
Step 5: Hang up the call
Either party has the option to leave the call by tapping the End or Leave buttons.
Also see: 12 Android features I miss on my iPhone
Bonus tip: Delete the call link
Even after the call ends, the FaceTime call link continues to be usable. So, if you (the person who created the FaceTime link) do not want it to be active any longer, you should delete this link.
1) Open FaceTime and tap the info button ⓘ next to the call link.
2) Tap Delete Link.
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