Apple lets you invite others to a FaceTime call through link sharing, and that link can be used on other devices beyond iPhones and iPads. Here’s how you can generate and share one with all your friends.
RELATED: How to Make a Facetime Audio Call
What Are FaceTime Links?
Beginning in iOS 15, iPadOS 15, and macOS Monterey, Apple is allowing users to generate links that can be sent out to colleagues to invite them to a FaceTime call. If you aren’t on the latest operating system version, read our guides to updating your iPhone, updating your iPad, or updating your Mac computer.
A FaceTime link is similar to the kind of link you generate with other video conferencing apps like Zoom and Google Meetings. It gives you an easy way to invite family, friends, co-workers, and other acquaintances to a video chat. The feature was undoubtedly born out of the COVID-19 pandemic given how many people had to resort to video conferencing to get work done and stay connected.
Before, you’d have to manually add everyone you wanted on the FaceTime call, but now it’s as easy as sending a URL to whomever you’d like to speak with.
Notably, however, you can’t schedule a FaceTime call beyond creating a link and asking everyone to access it at a specified time.
Which Devices Support FaceTime Links?
Virtually any mobile device or personal computer with a camera, microphone, and access to a web browser can use a FaceTime link to join a call. This means that not only will iPhone, iPad, and Mac users be able to participate, but those on Windows, Android, and even Linux will be able to as well for the very first time.
While FaceTime will directly open upon clicking or tapping on such a link on an Apple device, users on Windows, Android, or Linux will be taken to their default browser since there isn’t an official FaceTime app for those platforms. Controls over the call will also be less extensive since you wouldn’t be operating on an Apple device.
How to Generate and Send a FaceTime Link
First, go to the FaceTime app on your device. Then, tap the “Create Link” button near the top of your screen.
From, there your share sheet will appear. You can either share the link directly through your messaging app or copy the link and paste it where you’d like. You can also add a name to the call if, for example, you’ll be discussing a certain topic.
If you choose to copy the link, just open your favorite messaging app (we’re using iMessage for this example) and long-press on the text box in your chat thread. Then, select “Paste” and hit the send button.
After you’ve done this with everyone you’d like to invite, you’ll be ready to jump on the FaceTime call. Go back to the FaceTime app and select the call you set up, found under “Upcoming.”
Then, hit the Call button and you’ll be ready to go.
If your friends and family have never opened a FaceTime link on their device before, consider sending them our guides to using FaceTime on Windows and FaceTime on Android.