Video Calling for Beginners
See your family and friends face-to-face — no matter how far apart you are. We'll walk you through three free apps, step by step.
What Is a Video Call?
A video call lets you see and hear another person through your phone, tablet, or computer — just like a phone call, but with live video. It's free, and you can do it from home. All you need is Wi-Fi or a data plan.
Which App Should You Use?
All three are free. The best one depends on what phone your family uses.
Apple FaceTime
Works on: iPhone, iPad, Mac
Best for: Families where everyone has an Apple device. It's built right into your iPhone — no download needed.
Google Meet
Works on: iPhone, Android, computer
Best for: Calling anyone, regardless of phone type. Free, easy, and works on any device.
WhatsApp Video
Works on: iPhone and Android
Best for: Staying in touch with family who live abroad. Very popular worldwide and completely free.
How to Use FaceTime
FaceTime is already on your iPhone. You don't need to download anything.
Step 1 — Start a FaceTime Call
- Open the FaceTime app on your iPhone (it has a green icon with a white video camera)
- Tap the green "+" button in the top-right corner
- Type the name, phone number, or email of the person you want to call
- Tap Video to start the video call
- Wait for them to answer — you'll see them on your screen when they pick up
Step 2 — Answer an Incoming FaceTime Call
- When someone calls you, your phone will ring and show their name
- Tap the green video camera button to answer with video
- Tap the red phone button to decline
- If your phone is locked, swipe right on the camera icon to answer
Step 3 — Controls During the Call
- Mute yourself: Tap the microphone icon (with a line through it) so they can't hear you
- Turn off your camera: Tap the video camera icon to hide your face
- Flip camera: Tap the rotating arrows to show what's in front of you instead
- End the call: Tap the red button at the bottom of the screen
Group FaceTime — Call the Whole Family
- FaceTime supports up to 32 people at once
- Start a call normally, then tap Add People to invite more
- Each person appears in their own tile on your screen — tiles get larger when someone is speaking
How to Use Google Meet
Google Meet works on any phone or computer and is completely free.
Step 1 — Download the App
- On iPhone: Open the App Store, search "Google Meet", tap Get
- On Android: Open Google Play, search "Google Meet", tap Install
- On a computer: Go to meet.google.com — no download needed
- Sign in with your Google (Gmail) account, or create a free one
Step 2 — Join a Meeting Someone Sent You
- When family sends you a Meet link (it looks like: meet.google.com/abc-defg-hij), tap it
- The Google Meet app will open automatically
- Tap Join — you're in! Your camera and microphone turn on
- If asked for permission to use your camera or microphone, tap Allow
Step 3 — Start Your Own Meeting
- Open Google Meet and tap New Meeting
- Tap Start an instant meeting
- Tap Share to send the meeting link to family by text or email
- When they tap the link, they'll join your meeting
Step 4 — Controls During the Call
- Mute: Tap the microphone icon at the bottom of the screen
- Camera off: Tap the video camera icon to turn off your video
- End call: Tap the red phone button to leave the meeting
- See everyone: Tap the people icon to see who else is in the call
How to Use WhatsApp Video
WhatsApp is especially popular for calling family overseas — completely free, even internationally.
Step 1 — Download WhatsApp
- On iPhone: Open the App Store, search "WhatsApp", tap Get
- On Android: Open Google Play, search "WhatsApp", tap Install
- Open the app and enter your phone number — WhatsApp will send you a 6-digit code by text
- Enter the code to verify and set up your account (it's free)
Step 2 — Make a Video Call
- Open WhatsApp and tap the person's name in your contact list
- Tap the video camera icon in the top-right corner of the chat
- The call will ring on their phone — wait for them to answer
- You'll see their face on your screen and they'll see yours
Step 3 — Answer an Incoming Call
- When someone calls you on WhatsApp, your phone will ring like a normal call
- Tap the green video camera button to answer with video
- Tap the red decline button if you don't want to answer
- You can also answer with just audio (no video) by tapping the green phone icon
Why WhatsApp for International Calls?
- WhatsApp calls use Wi-Fi or mobile data — not your phone minutes, so they're free even overseas
- It's one of the most popular messaging apps in the world — over 2 billion users
- Group video calls support up to 8 people at once
- You can also send text messages, photos, and voice notes for free
Common Problems & Easy Fixes
If something doesn't look or sound right, try these solutions first.
They can't hear me
Check that you haven't accidentally tapped the mute button (microphone with a line). Also make sure your phone volume is turned up. If on a computer, check your microphone in Settings.
The video is frozen or blurry
This is usually a slow internet connection. Try moving closer to your Wi-Fi router. You can also try turning your camera off and back on during the call — tap the camera icon twice.
They can't see me
Your camera may be turned off. Look for the video camera icon at the bottom of the screen and tap it to turn your camera on. Also check that you gave the app permission to use your camera when it asked.