It’s pretty wild that FaceTime, once an Apple-only thing, is now opening up to the rest of us! Apple finally made it possible with iOS 15, allowing those of us on Windows, Android, or even Linux to join in on FaceTime calls.
Now, there’s a slight catch: you can’t start a FaceTime call from a Windows PC, but you can join calls started by iPhone or Mac users. Think of it as getting an invite to the party rather than hosting it yourself.
No need to download any app, you can join through your web browser. For now, it works with Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
You will need a FaceTime link, which has to be generated by someone using an Apple device. Just open the link in Chrome or Edge, and as long as the person who created the link doesn’t delete it, you’re good to go.
Next, you’ll be prompted to enter your name. Don’t worry, you don’t need any iCloud or other kind of account to use FaceTime on Windows. Just enter your name or nickname, something recognizable so that the call host can let you in. You’ll need to do this each time you join a FaceTime call. Hit ‘Continue’ after you’ve entered your name.
If this is your first time, FaceTime will need permission to access your camera and microphone. Just click ‘Allow’.
Your video will be displayed on the screen. You can choose to mute your mic or turn off your camera using the icons at the lower-left of the screen. When you are ready, click on ‘Join now’.
The host of the FaceTime call will be notified that you’re waiting to join, and your screen will display ‘Waiting to be let in’. Once they let you in, you will automatically join the ongoing call.
Layout Options
To change the layout of the call, you can switch to a grid layout which shows everyone on the screen at the same time.
- Click the ‘More options’ icon, which looks like three dots. It’s in the meeting toolbar.
- From the menu that appears, click ‘Grid layout’.
Sharing and Leaving
You can also share the FaceTime link with others, but remember that the call host is the one who needs to admit them into the call. To share the link, click on ‘Share link’ to see the options.
To end the call, click ‘Leave’ from the meeting toolbar.
That’s pretty much all you can do with FaceTime on Windows. It’s not as feature-rich as on Apple devices, where you can do things like use memojis, filters, screen sharing, or SharePlay (which started with iOS 15). But hey, it’s a good start, and now everyone can join those calls without having to buy an Apple device.