How to Video-Chat with Your Loved Ones
April 13, 2020
How to Video-Chat with Your Loved Ones
During this time of COVID-19 social distancing, it’s challenging to feel connected with your loved ones. Sure, email and a phone call are possible, but there’s nothing like seeing the people you are talking to, especially with youngsters who are growing so fast.
If you have an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or a Mac; it’s simple to FaceTime to see the people you are talking to, if they also have an iPhone or Apple device. But there’s also a video-chat option for Android users. Details for both are shared below:
FaceTime is a free app from Apple that turns your iPhone into a two-way video phone, even better than the one Dick Tracy used in the 1950s. Using FaceTime is as easy as making a regular phone call. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be talking to (and seeing) your loved ones in no time.
- Go to your Contacts and select who you want to FaceTime with.
- Look for the FaceTime camera icon beneath the person’s name. If the icon is there, tap it.
- Hold your phone vertically, so a video of your face shows up on the screen. If two people are making the call together, hold the phone horizontally, so you both fit in the screen. You’ll be looking at the phone screen, and the audio will come through the phone speaker. Don’t hold the phone to your ear.
- When they answer your FaceTime call, you’ll see them and begin video chatting. Your face will appear in the smaller inset window while your screen shows the person you called.
- You can mute a FaceTime call by tapping the microphone button. The sound will stop, but the person will still see you. Tap the button again to talk.
If you like using the Siri voice assistant, just ask Siri to “FaceTime with Mary” or whomever you’d like to talk to in your contacts, and Siri will make it happen for you.
If someone requests a FaceTime call with you, your phone will ring, and you’ll see their face on the screen. Tap the green “Accept” button to take the call. If you aren’t interested in FaceTiming right then, tap the red “Decline” button. They can then leave you a message.
The video quality of a FaceTime call is excellent, and the sound is typically better than when just using your phone to call.
If you have an Android or iPhone, you can video-chat using Google Duo, which is pre-installed on Android phones and can be downloaded for iPhones. Google Duo allows you to group chat with up to 12 people at a time and can leave a video or voice message if they don’t answer the call. The instructions for using FaceTime, above, are similar to using Google Duo on your Android Phone.
If you have trouble setting up or using FaceTime or Google Duo, reach out to someone familiar with these applications (by phone, of course!), and they can help you. There are also dozens of videos on YouTube.com and online tutorials to help you use video-chat on your phone, tablet, or computer.
Don’t let social distancing come between you and the people you love. Maintain social distancing AND enjoy a more personal conversation by using video-chat!