FaceTime is a video chat application for devices made by Apple. Unfortunately for Windows users, there is no way to use FaceTime on Windows PCs. However, there are many suitable alternatives to FaceTime for Windows that make it possible to video chat with friends and family from your computer, phone, or tablet.
How to Download FaceTime For macOS FaceTime comes pre-installed with recent versions of the macOS, so if your software is up to date, you should already have the program. If not, you can download FaceTime from the Mac App Store. Apple may prefer to keep FaceTime to itself to drive sales of the iPhone and other Apple products. This means that there's no way for someone using Windows to make a FaceTime call to someone using an iOS device or a Mac (or for someone on an iOS device to call to a Windows user using FaceTime).
Information in this article applies to all PCs and mobile devices running the Windows operating system.
Why Can't You Get FaceTime for Windows?
When introducing FaceTime at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in 2010, Apple CEO Steve Jobs told attendees, 'We're going to make FaceTime an open industry standard,' which would mean that anyone could create software compatible with FaceTime. This would have opened the doors for third-party developers to create FaceTime apps for Windows and Android.
Not long after it debuted on the iPhone, Apple added FaceTime support for the Mac so that users can make video calls between iOS devices and Macs. However, since then, there's been little discussion about making FaceTime an open standard. Consequently, there's no way for someone using Windows to make a FaceTime call to someone using an iOS device or a Mac.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/5/7/125739556/797170465.png)
Alternatives to FaceTime for Windows and PCs
Even though Apple FaceTime doesn't work on Windows, there are programs that offer similar video chat features, and they work across many operating systems. As long as you and the person you want to call both have these programs, you can make video calls to each other no matter what kind of device you use.
![Mac Mac](/uploads/1/2/5/7/125739556/598725540.jpg)
There are also many video chat app alternatives to FaceTime for Android.
- Skype: One of the most widely used video chat apps, Skype works on macOS, iOS, Windows, Android, Linux, and many other platforms. The software is free to use, and you can even record Skype calls at no extra cost. It's also possible to call long-distance phone numbers directly for additional fees.
- WeChat: With over a billion users, WeChat is a video chat app with international appeal. Although it's not as well known in the U.S., WeChat is extremely popular in China, so you'll probably need this app if you communicate with people there.
- WeChat: With over a billion users, WeChat is a video chat app with international appeal. Although it's not as well known in the U.S., WeChat is extremely popular in China, so you'll probably need this app if you communicate with people there.
- Google Hangouts:Google's chat platform offers text and video chat support for Android, Chome OS, iOS, macOS, and Windows. Since it integrates with the Google ecosystem, you can make video calls from the Gmail interface.
- Glide: In addition to video calling and text messaging, Glide lets you record short video clips and send them to friends to watch later. It also supports group chats with up to 50 people. Glide works on most Android, iOS, and Windows devices.
- imo: This popular texting and video calling app for Android, iOS, and Windows allows users to encrypt communications for greater security.
- iMovicha: Like FaceTime, iMovicha works over 3G and 4G LTE cellular data networks, not just Wi-Fi. It's available for iOS, Windows Phone, Android, macOS, and Windows.
- Viber:Viber claims to have over 500 million users worldwide, making it ideal for connecting with people internationally. It doesn't have ads and supports dozens of languages.
To use FaceTime for audio or video calls, you need an Internet connection and a built-in or connected microphone or camera. Then simply open the FaceTime app and sign in with your Apple ID.
Make a FaceTime call
Open the FaceTime app and use the search field to enter the email address or phone number of the person that you want to call. If that person is already in your contacts, you can just enter their name.
- To make a FaceTime audio call, click Audio.
- To make a FaceTime video call, click Video.
You can also click in the menu bar and ask Siri to ”FaceTime audio Lisa” or ”FaceTime John,” for example.
Answer or decline a FaceTime call
When someone calls you with FaceTime, a notification appears in the upper-right corner of your screen. Click Accept or Decline, or use the Touch Bar to accept or decline.
- If you click next to Accept, you can choose to accept as FaceTime audio instead of FaceTime video.
- If you click next to Decline, you can choose to send a message or set a reminder to call back later.
To stop receiving FaceTime calls on your Mac, open FaceTime, then choose FaceTime > Turn FaceTime Off from the menu bar.
Use Group FaceTime
If you've installed macOS Mojave 10.14.3 (and the macOS Mojave 10.14.3 Supplemental Update1) or later, you can use Group FaceTime to chat with up to 32 people.2 Each person's tile automatically increases in size whenever someone speaks.
Make a Group FaceTime call
- Open the FaceTime app.
- Enter the names of your contacts, emails, or phone numbers.
- Click or to start your FaceTime call.
To make a Group FaceTime call from a group in your recents, click , then click to start the call.
You can also make a Group FaceTime call from Messages. Just go to a conversation, click Details, then click or .
Answer or decline a Group FaceTime call
Use any of these ways to join a Group FaceTime call that someone else started:
- Click the notification from the Notification Center or the Lock screen, then click .
- To join a Group FaceTime call from Messages, click Join from the group conversation in Messages.
- To join a call from the FaceTime app, click next to the active call, then click to join the call.
Add a person to a Group FaceTime call
- Click to show the sidebar.
- Click to add a person.
- Enter your contact's name, email, or phone number, then click Add.
Change your settings during a call
Move your pointer over the FaceTime window during a call to show the onscreen controls.
Click to hide and show the sidebar. From here, you can add more people, see who is on the call, and message everyone on the call.
Learn more
1. macOS Mojave 10.14.3 (build 18D109) and later includes the contents of the macOS Mojave 10.14.3 Supplemental Update. Learn how to update macOS.
2. FaceTime displays up to 4 or 9 live video tiles at the same time depending on your Mac model. The most active 4 or 9 speakers display video tiles, while other participants display an exclamation point.
FaceTime is not available in all countries or regions.