I’ve been using the Apple Watch Series 8 for a lot of communication lately, and one of the features that stand out to me is the FaceTime Audio.
FaceTime Audio lets you call any of your contacts, even if you don’t have an active cellular plan. And apart from calling one person at a time, you can make a call to a group of contacts simultaneously if you want to pass the same message to many people at once.
What is FaceTime Audio on Apple Watch?
FaceTime Audio is an Apple Watch feature that lets you make free voice calls to any of your contacts, as long as they have an Apple Watch and FaceTime enabled on their iPhone.
Proper set up is necessary to get the most out of the FaceTime Audio on your Apple Watch. You have to:
- Connect your Apple Watch to your iPhone via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi.
- Enable FaceTime on your iPhone so it automatically syncs with your Apple Watch.
- Connect your Apple Watch to the same Apple Account as your iPhone.
- Ensure you have FaceTime enabled on your Apple Watch as well.
How Does FaceTime Audio Work on Apple Watch?
FaceTime Audio requires internet connection to work. So ensure your iPhone is in range with your Apple Watch and connected to each other.
Turn on Wi-Fi on your iPhone and your smartwatch will automatically connect to the same Wi-Fi network.
Connect your Apple Watch to Wi-Fi if you don’t have your iPhone with you. Or, use an LTE connection if you rock a cellular Apple Watch with an active data plan.
Your Apple Watch has an onboard microphone that lets you speak your message to your contact. But you won’t see them as you speak because your Apple Watch doesn’t have a built-in camera for video calls.
The built-in speaker on your Apple Watch delivers crystal-clear voice output, so you’ll hear every word your contact says. If your conversation is too confidential to have in a public space, wear Apple Watch compatible headsets such as AirPods Pro and Marshall Motif II for a private conversation.
How Do I Use FaceTime Audio on My Apple Watch?
To make calls with FaceTime Audio:
- Use the Messages app.
- Ask Siri to make the call.
- Use the Contacts app.
- Use the Phone app.
- Make a group call.
1. Use the Messages App
- Press the Digital Crown to open the apps screen.
- Open the Messages app.
- Select a message from a contact you would like to call or start a new conversation.
- Scroll to the bottom of the conversation.
- Tap FaceTime Audio to call the contact.
2. Ask Siri to Make the Call
You can ask Siri to make a FaceTime Audio call to a specific person on your contacts list, as long as you have Siri activated and the Apple Watch connected to the internet.
- Press the Digital Crown to invoke Siri on your Apple Watch.
- Say something like “Hey Siri, FaceTime call (your contact’s name).
- Wait for Siri to respond to your request.
3. Use the Contacts App
- Open the Contacts app.
- Tap someone’s name.
- Select the phone icon.
- Tap the FaceTime Audio option.
4. Use the Phone App
The Phone app on your Apple Watch lets you use the on-board keypad to enter a phone number you’d like to call. Additionally, you get access all contacts, favorite contacts, and recent calls.
For FaceTime Audio:
- Tap Favorites, Recents, or Contacts.
- Select the person you would like to contact.
- Tap FaceTime Audio to call them via FaceTime.
5. Make a Group FaceTime Call
You need to update your Apple Watch to the latest watchOS 11 software to be able to make group calls via FaceTime Audio.
Once you have the latest update installed:
- Contact one person on FaceTime Audio on your Apple Watch.
- Tap the three dots icon on the call screen.
- Select Add People.
- Choose a recipient from your contacts list and tap OK.
To add even more people to the group call, tap the People Active and use the plus button to invite more contacts.
How to Pick Up an Incoming FaceTime Audio Call
You have five options when someone calls you on FaceTime Audio. You can accept the call, reject the call, send a text message, add someone to the call, or view a recorded video message.
- Tap the green telephone icon to receive the call or the red telephone icon to decline the call.
- Reply with a text by tapping the three horizontal dots and selecting a quick reply, or write and send a custom message.
- Pick the call, tap the three dots, select “Add People”, choose a recipient, and then tap OK to add another person to the call.
- View a recorded video message recorded by the caller if you don’t answer the FaceTime call on your Apple Watch. Simply tap the video message notification as soon as it arrives or access it via the Messages app.
- Tap the red button on the screen to reject or end the FaceTime audio call.
Can I Transfer FaceTime Call from Apple Watch to iPhone?
Yes, it’s possible to transfer an ongoing FaceTime Audio call from your Apple Watch to your iPhone.
Tap the green phone call icon at the top left corner of the screen and watchOS will transfer the conversation to your iPhone instantly.
Do I Need FaceTime to Use Walkie-Talkie on Apple Watch?
Yes, FaceTime is one of the requirements for Walkie-Talkie on Apple Watch.
You and your contacts need to have an active FaceTime account, as Walkie-Talkie uses this service to transmit voice conversations via FaceTime Audio.
Why is FaceTime Not Working on My Apple Watch?
Poor internet connection, software glitches, and obsolete watchOS are the most common reasons why FaceTime won’t work on Apple Watch. Restarting your internet and the watch and ensuring you have the current watchOS version goes a long way to fix such a problem.
