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FaceTime privacy and safety settings

Step-by-step guide

FaceTime is Apple’s video and audio chatting platform that lets iPhone users communicate with one another through audio and video chat. You can also use FaceTime on other iOS devices such as an iPad, iPod touch or Mac using an email address. FaceTime’s privacy settings can act like parental controls to promote online safety.
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Quick advice

If your child wants to start using FaceTime, here are a couple of controls that will help them do it safely.

Blocking calls

Blocking calls will prevent unwanted contact with people your child doesn't want to speak to.

FaceTiming with multiple people

Create group FaceTimes if you want to do family FaceTimes, or if your child wants to speak to multiple friends at once.

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How to block calls on FaceTime

You can block any unwanted FaceTime video calls on your iPhone, iPad or iPod through a phone number, contact or email. There are four ways to block a contact:

Block calls on the FaceTime app:

Step 1 – When in the app, tap the info button number next to the contact you want to block

Step 2 – Scroll down and tap “Block this Caller”

Block calls on FaceTime from Messages:

Step 1 – When you’re in Messages, open the conversation app, tap the contact at the top of the conversation

Step 2 – Then tap the info button

Step 3 – Next, tap the info icon, scroll down and tap “Block this Caller”

Block contacts on FaceTime from Mail:

Step 1 – Open the email that has the contact that you want to block

Step 2 – Tap the contact at the top

Step 3 – Tap “Block this Contact”

Block calls on FaceTime from an iPhone:

Step 1 – If on the phone app, under Recents, tap the info button number next to the contact you want to block

Step 2 – Scroll down and tap “Block this Caller”

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Where to manage blocked contacts

You can view the number, contacts and emails you have blocked.

To manage blocked contacts from the FaceTime app:

Step 1 – Go to Settings, then FaceTime

Step 2 – Under Calls, tap “Blocked Contacts”

To manage blocked contacts from Messages:

Step 1 – Go to Settings, then Messages

Step 2 – Under SMS/MMS, tap “Blocked Contacts”

To manage blocked FaceTime contacts from Mail:

Step 1 – Go to Settings, then Mail

Step 2 – Under Threading, tap “Blocked”

To manage blocked FaceTime contacts from an iPhone:

Step 1 – Go to Settings, then Phone

Step 2 – Scroll down and tap “Blocked Contacts” to see the list

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How to turn off FaceTime

To turn off FaceTime on a Mac:

Step 1 – Go to the FaceTime app

Step 2 – From the menu bar, click “FaceTime”, then “Turn FaceTime Off”

Step 3 – Scroll down and tap “FaceTime”

Step 4 – Tap the toggle next to FaceTime to turn it off

To turn off FaceTime on an iPhone and iPad:

Step 1 – Open the Settings app on your iOS device

Step 2 – Scroll down and tap “FaceTime”

Step 3 – Tap the toggle next to FaceTime to turn it off

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FaceTiming with multiple people

You can Group FaceTime via an audio or video call with up to 32 people at one time. You could either add new people to an existing Group FaceTime chat at any time, or you can start up a chat with a group of people then add others as time goes on.

To FaceTime with multiple people from the app:

Step 1 – Go to Settings, then FaceTime and make sure FaceTime is on

Step 2 – Open FaceTime and tap the add button in the top right-hand corner

Step 3 – Enter the name of your contacts, phone numbers or email addresses

Step 4 – To start your FaceTime call, tap “Audio or Video”

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