Apple’s FaceTime is a great way to keep in touch with family and friends. But if you’re not sure how to set it up, we’ve got the answer for you. Here are some tips on how to set up FaceTime on your Mac:

  1. Choose the right app: If you’re using an iPhone or iPad, choose the app that corresponds to your device type. For example, if you use an iPhone, select FaceTime for iPhone. If you use an iPad, select FaceTime for iPad.
  2. Connect your phone and computer: Make sure both devices are connected to the same network and have a working internet connection. If your computer doesn’t have a face time connection, it will need to be connected through a USB port or Thunderbolt port.
  3. Set up time: You’ll need to set up time so that everyone can have their own session without having to wait for everyone else’s turn. To do this, open System Preferences and click on Time & Language . Under “Date & Time”, set the following values: “UTC” (UTC), which is America’s standard time; “Months” (January-December), which tells FaceTime where it should start; and “Daylight Saving Time” (DST), which saves energy by turning off clocks during Daylight Saving Time periods.
  4. Connect your phone and computer using Wi-Fi or Ethernet: If you’re using Wi-Fi or Ethernet instead of Bluetooth, make sure that both devices are connected to the same network and have a working internet connection as well as a Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapter installed on your computer (if not already present).

FaceTime is Apple’s built-in video and audio calling app. It pairs with your iPhone and allows you to make phone calls on macOS.

You don’t need an iPhone to make FaceTime calls (or even use iMessage), but you will need one to make calls from a phone number. If you don’t have an iPhone, you can still make calls from the email associated with your Apple ID, but only to other FaceTime users.

Sign in to iCloud

You should already be signed in when you set up your Mac, but if you’re not, you can sign in under “iCloud” in System Preferences. Make sure this account is the same account you use on your phone.

Your iPhone should automatically forward your messages to iMessage and FaceTime on your Mac once you’re signed in, but if it doesn’t, you may have to enable it under the iCloud settings on your phone.

Open FaceTime and Enable Your Accounts

By default, FaceTime should be in the Dock, but you can always get to it by searching for it in Spotlight with Command+Space.

In the app, open the “FaceTime” menu and click the “Preferences” command.

In the Preferences window, make sure your Apple ID is enabled. From here you can also choose the emails and phone numbers at which you want to be reached, the number from which to start new calls, and a custom ringtone.

You can also block people from calling you under the “Blocked” tab. This setting should sync with your iPhone.

Making Calls

In the FaceTime app, you can place calls to people you’ve chatted with or missed a call from recently by clicking on the video or phone icon next to their name. If you’d like to place a video call or an audio call, you can right-click a contact’s name and select “FaceTime” or “FaceTime Audio” from the drop-down menu.

You can also search for someone to call from the search bar at the top.

This search pulls from all of your contacts, so they’ll need to be synced with your Mac as well. Luckily, they should be by default.