How to use facebook video chat on iphone


How to video call on Facebook Messenger

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(Pocket-lint) - Facebook allows you to use its Messenger platform to make one-on-one video calls and group video calls with up to 50 people through Messenger Rooms, which is like a virtual hangout, where friends can just drop in just to say hi.

Here's everything you need to know about making video calls on Messenger.

Getting started with Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is one of the most widely used messaging services, with more than 700 million people making calls on it every day. It's free and offers several communications features including video calling, and it's available around the globe, across a range of devices.

You can install the Messenger app on your iPhone or Android phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play, respectively. There's also a Messenger app for MacOS and Windows desktops.

You can also access Messenger from Facebook on the web or from the dedicated Messenger web app. Installing or using the latest version of Messenger ensures you will have access to the latest features.

  • Go here to grab the latest version of the Messenger app

If you should ever deactivate your Facebook account, you can still use Messenger. In fact, you can share photos, videos, start group chats, and more - all without a Facebook account. Eventually, Facebook said it hopes to integrate all its messaging platforms, including WhatsAapp and Instagram, so that users will be able to start a conversation and access it across from any of Facebook's services.

The first phase of this effort comes in the form of Messenger Rooms, a video-calling feature introduced in 2020, which we discuss in detail below.

How to video chat with someone or a group on Messenger

You can video chat with just one person or with a group of people using Messenger. 

Messenger mobile app for iOS and Android

From the chats area, open a conversation with the person or group you want to video chat, and then click the video call icon.

Note: If you're not connected to Wi-Fi when placing a video call with your mobile device, the feature will use your existing data plan.

You can download the Messanger mobile app for iOS from here, and for Android from here.

Facebook.com or Messenger.com

From the chats area, open a conversation with the person or group you want to video chat, and then click the video call icon.

Note: Calling on messenger.com or facebook.com is only available using the browsers Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera.

Messenger desktop app for Mac and Windows

From the chats area, open a conversation with the person or group you want to video chat, and then click the video call icon (see above).

You can download the Messenger desktop app for Mac here, and for Windows here.

Facebook Portal devices

Portal calls can be received on Portal devices, the Messenger app on mobile phones or tablets, messenger.com or facebook. com, or on WhatsApp on mobile phones. But you can't use Portal to call Messenger connections that don't have Facebook accounts - confusing we know.

Anyway, to make a video call on a Portal, be sure to add your Facebook Messenger account when you initially set up the device, and then you can simply say to it: "Hey Portal, call [contact name]." Portal may ask you to confirm which contact you're trying to call.

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Facebook

How do Messenger Rooms work?

  • Messenger Rooms: The Zoom-like video calling feature explained

Facebook rolled out a video-calling feature called Messenger Rooms in 2020. It allows you and up to 49 others to join a group video call - which Facebook calls a "room". You can start a room from Messenger, Facebook, Instagram Direct, WhatsApp, or Portal, and you can open the call to all or lock it to stop uninvited people from joining. You can remove participants, too.

While in a Room, you can use Facebook's augmented reality filters and change out your background to a virtual one. Facebook includes 360-degree views of exotic locations for backgrounds, and there's beauty filters as well as filters designed to brighten a dark room. Keep in mind Zoom, a popular alternative, also lets you join large group video calls and use virtual backgrounds.

Create a Messenger Room

Here's how to create a Room from your phone:

  1. Open the Messenger mobile app.
  2. Tap the People tab at the bottom of the screen.
  3. Tap on the first person you want to create a Room with.
  4. Tap on the menu icon with four circles in the bottom left corner
  5. Tap on Create room.
  6. You can share the room in your News Feed, Groups, and Events.
  7. To share a room with people who don't have Facebook, you can send them a link.

Rooms are now available globally in the Messenger app. Messenger Rooms are eventually coming to all of Meta's messaging products, starting with Messenger and Facebook, and then Instagram Direct, WhatsApp, and Portal.

Best iPhone apps 2022: The ultimate guide By Maggie Tillman ·

These are the absolute best iPhone apps available right now, from productivity apps to apps for traveling, reading, listening to music, and more.

You can join a room from your phone or computer -- no need to download anything. Room calls are not end-to-end encrypted.

Check out our Messenger tips and tricks.

  • Facebook Messenger Kids: How does it work and where is it available?

Writing by Maggie Tillman.

How to Make Video Calls with Facebook Messenger

Did you know that you can make video calls with Facebook Messenger? The next time you want to reach out to friends, family members, or colleagues, you might consider using Facebook Messenger to initiate a video chat, and it works for easy video calls on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Windows PC too.

There’s no doubt that Facebook is the biggest social network in the world with over 2.6 billion monthly active users, and many of us already have Facebook accounts. Whether you’re an iOS, Mac, Android, or Windows user, you will be able to use the Messenger app on your devices since it has multi-platform support.

Interested in taking advantage of Messenger’s video calling feature to stay in touch with your loved ones? Well you’ve certainly come to the right place. In this article, we’ll be discussing exactly how you can make video calls with Facebook Messenger on an iPhone, iPad, Mac and Windows PC.

How to Make Video Calls with Facebook Messenger on iPhone & iPad

First of all, you need to install the Facebook Messenger app from the Apple App Store. As long as you have a Facebook account, you should be able to use it right away. If you don’t, sign up for a Facebook account (and don’t forget you can Like us on Facebook too) and simply follow the steps below.

  1. Open the Messenger app on your iPhone or iPad.

  2. In the Chats section, tap on the “compose” icon at the top-right corner to start a new conversation. Alternatively, if you want to video call someone you’ve already had a conversation with, scroll through the chats and open the particular conversation.

  3. Now, you can use the search bar to find the Facebook friend you want to video call with. Once their profile shows up in the list, tap on the name to select them and press “Done” as shown below.

  4. Next, simply tap on the “video” icon located at the top-right corner to start the video call session.

That’s it. Now you know how to make video calls using the Messenger app on an iPhone or iPad.

The same procedure can be followed for video calling from an Android device too.

How to Make Video Calls with Facebook Messenger on Windows / Mac

If you’re on Windows, you’ll need to install the Messenger app from Microsoft Store before going ahead with the procedure. However, if you’re on Mac, you can download the app from the Mac App Store. The procedure is identical on both platforms.

  1. Open the Messenger app on your macOS device or Windows machine.

  2. Here, if you want to video call someone you’ve already had a conversation with, scroll through the chats and click on the particular conversation. To start a new conversation, tap on the “compose” icon located right next to Messenger. Use the search bar to find the Facebook contact you want to video call. You’ll need to send a text message first before you’re able to video call.

  3. Once you’ve sent a text message, the calling options will show up at the top. Tap on the “video” icon to begin the video call session.

Whether you’re a Mac or Windows user, that’s pretty much all you need to do for making video calls with Messenger.

Likewise, you can also make group video calls within the Facebook Messenger app. Instead of selecting one contact as we described above, you can select multiple people to create a new group and begin a group video chat session within seconds. Facebook allows users to create group video calls with up to 50 people.

Looking for alternative solutions to make video calls? There are so many competing services you can try out, like Google Hangouts, Google Duo, Snapchat, Instagram, and WhatsApp to name a few. All of these services are multi-platform and can be used to stay connected with your loved ones while you’re away. And if you want to do big online meetings, another option for video conferencing is setting up and joining Zoom meets, which allows up to 100 participants. And of course there’s FaceTime in the Apple ecosystem as well.

To compete against Zoom and its huge spike in popularity recently, Facebook is currently testing Messenger Rooms in certain countries, which makes it easy to set up online meetings and classrooms. Once it’s available, we’ll be covering that too.

We hope you managed to get in touch with your friends, family and relatives with Facebook Messenger. What other video calling services have you tried before and how do they stack up to Messenger? Do share your thoughts and experience in the comments section down below.

How to use Facebook Messenger for iPhone

The Facebook Messenger app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch is more than just a chat app. Use the Messenger app to access your Facebook messages on mobile devices, read and reply to messages, and post images, videos, and voice messages.

Pexels

The instructions in this article apply to the Messenger app on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices running iOS 9. 0 or later.

Install the Facebook Messenger app

If the Facebook Messenger app is not installed on your device, go to the App Store and download it.

  1. Click on the App Store icon on your iPhone.

  2. Select Search for .

  3. In the search field for , enter Messenger .

  4. In the list of results, press either Messenger, or Facebook Messenger .

  5. Click " Get", to download the free Messenger app on your iPhone.

  6. Open the Messenger app and enter your Facebook username and password in the appropriate fields.

    If the Facebook app is installed on your phone, you will be asked if you want to use the same Facebook credentials with Messenger.

  7. nine0012

    The Facebook Messenger app syncs with Facebook messages on the Facebook website and downloads your conversations.

Scroll through your Facebook conversations

When you open the Messenger app, Facebook user profile icons appear at the top of the Messages screen. Under the icons, you'll find the full list of Facebook users you've been messaging with. Each name includes the date and the first line of the last message. If the person is currently available on Messenger, a green dot appears next to the name. nine0003

If the person you want to chat with is offline, your message will be saved and delivered the next time the recipient is on Facebook.

Look through your contact list to find someone. Either swipe up to scroll through your conversations, or enter a name in the search box at the top of the screen.

Send a message to Facebook

Click on the name to open the conversation and view the messages contained in the conversation. There is also a field where you can enter a new message or reply. nine0003

  1. Click on a conversation to open it.

  2. Enter a message to continue where the chat left off.

  3. Select the icon next to the message input field to add an image, insert a video, or record a voice message.

  4. Click a smiley face in the reply box to add a sticker, GIF, or smiley face to your message.

  5. Click on the symbol $, to send or request money. nine0003

Start a new message

If you want to chat with someone you've never talked to before, start a new conversation.

  1. Click the New icon. It looks like a piece of paper with a pen over it.

  2. On the New Message screen, go to the To field and enter the Facebook recipient name for your message.

    When you enter a name, the choice of friends changes depending on the characters you entered. nine0003

  3. Enter your message.

  4. Press " Return" on your keyboard to send a message.

Make phone and video calls

You can make both voice and video calls using the Facebook Messenger app. Touch a contact to open it on the screen and then select either phone or video icon to start a voice or video call. A green dot next to the icon indicates that the person is currently online. If you choose to video call, the iPhone camera is participating in the video chat. You must allow Messenger access to the camera. nine0003

Play Messenger Games

Click on the four dots in the square at the bottom of the Messenger app to display your location, other app options, and a selection of games you can play with friends on Messenger. Games include Words With Friends, Cookie Crush, Uno, Daily Sudoku and more.

After you play one game, the entire library of games is unlocked. Each game has access to your public profile information and people you know who also play the game. The game may send you messages containing tips or announcements. nine0003

Send money via messenger

If you use a debit card or have a PayPal account, you can send money to one of your Facebook friends in Messenger. Open this person's conversation and click $ next to the message input field. Then click Payments , enter the amount you want to send, attach a note and click the Pay button . Enter payment information as indicated. Your payment is on the way and your friend has been notified. nine0003

This feature is useful when friends want to split the bill at a restaurant or pay half the rent to a roommate. The service is free and secure. You can also use it to request payment from anyone.

Change your Facebook Messenger app settings

To change your Facebook Messenger app settings, tap your profile picture at the top of the app screen. Then adjust your notification settings, change your active status, enter your phone number, switch Facebook accounts, set up Facebook payments, sync contacts, invite people to Messenger, and more. nine0003

How to use Facebook Messenger for iOS

The Facebook Messenger app for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch is more than just a chat app. It gives you access to your Facebook messages on mobile devices and allows you to reply and send images, videos and voice messages. If you and one of your Facebook friends who uses Messenger are connected to the Internet at the same time, Messenger acts as a real-time chat app. If you're both offline, Messenger stores messages until either you or the recipient is online. Posts are synced to the Posts section of the Facebook browser interface. The social media giant has split two features into mobile apps for use on mobile devices: the Facebook app and the Messenger app. nine0003

Using the Facebook Messenger app is easy and you can get started in just a few minutes on your iPhone or other iOS mobile device.

01 of 08

Installing the Facebook Messenger app

If you haven't installed the Facebook Messenger app on your device yet, here's how to do it:

  1. Tap the App Store icon on your iPhone.
  2. Select Search for at the bottom of the screen. nine0017
  3. Type messenger in the search field.
  4. Click Messenger or Facebook Messenger in the result list.
  5. Click Get to download the free Messenger app on your iPhone.
  6. Open the messenger app and enter your Facebook username and password in the appropriate fields. If you already have the Facebook app on your phone, you are asked if you want to use the same Facebook credentials with Messenger. nine0017

The Facebook Messenger app syncs with Facebook messages to download your conversations.

02 of 08

Scroll through your Facebook conversations

Tap the Messenger app to open it. Facebook custom profile icons with names and green dots below them that appear at the top of the Messages screen indicate which of your chat contacts are currently active on Facebook. Click on the person's picture to start a chat. nine0003

Below the icons for online users is a complete list of the names and photos of all Facebook users you have messaged with. Each name, including the date of the last message and the first line of the last message. If the person is currently available on Messenger, a green dot appears next to them.

To navigate through someone's contact list, swipe to scroll through your conversations or enter a name in the search field at the top of the screen. Tap the name to open the conversation and view the messages it contains, and open a field where you can enter a new message or reply. nine0003

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Sending a message to Facebook

Sending a message using Facebook Messenger is easy. If you've already started a conversation, tap the conversation to open it and type your message in the box to continue when the chat has stopped. Use the icons next to the message input field to add an image or video, or record a voice message. Tap an emoticon in the reply box to add a sticker, GIF, or emoji to your message. Tap the + sign to open a screen where you can attach your location to your message or send money to a person. nine0003

Starting a new message

To start a new conversation, click the compose icon in the upper right corner of the application screen (it looks like a piece of paper and a pen or pencil). The New Message screen opens with the To field at the top.

You can select a Facebook recipient from among your friends or enter a Facebook recipient name for your message in the To field. When you enter a name, the friend selection options change, narrowing down based on the name you enter. Also, as you scroll down, you can find group conversations that include people that match the name you entered. nine0003

When you see the name of the person or group you want to send a message to, tap it to start a conversation. If you have had a conversation with a person in the past, they will automatically continue that conversation thread and you will see all the old messages you have shared. If this is the first time you send a message to a person, you will see an empty dialog ready to start.

To send a message when you have finished typing, press Return on your keyboard. nine0003

View your friend's friend's profile

Want to check your friend's Facebook page? Tap your image to open the menu, then tap View Facebook Profile. This launches the Facebook app (if you have it on your iPhones) and displays your friend's profile page.

04 of 08

Making phone and video calls

You can make voice and video calls using the Facebook Messenger app. Click on Call at the top of the app screen to display your Facebook friends list. To the right of each name are two icons, one for initiating a voice call and the other for a video call. A green dot next to the icons indicates that the person is currently online.

Tap the voice or video call icon and Messenger will try to contact you. If you choose Hangout, your iPhone camera will participate in the video chat. You must allow Messenger to access your camera if you haven't already. nine0003

05 of 08

Play Messenger Games

Games The icon at the bottom of the Messenger app displays a list of several games that you can play through Messenger with your friends. They include Words With Friends, Cookie Crush, Uno, The Test, and more. After you play one game, the entire library of games is unlocked. Each game has access to your public profile information and people you know who also play the game. The game may send you messages with tips or announcements. nine0003

06 of 08

Open Auto Messaging

The Search link at the bottom of the Messenger app screen opens a list of auto messaging providers by category. You can choose NBC News for automatic news messages in Messenger, your favorite sports team in the Sports category, or WebMD for health tips. When you select one of the automated messaging providers, it may see your public profile. nine0003

07 of 08

Sending money via messenger

If you use a debit card or have a PayPal account, you can send money to one of your Facebook friends in Messenger. Bring up the person's conversation and tap + next to the message input field to open a screen that includes payments . Tap it and enter the amount you want to send, attach a note and tap the pay button. Enter payment information as directed. Your payment is on the way and your friend has been notified. nine0003

This feature is useful when friends want to split the bill at a restaurant or owe half the rent to a roommate. The service is free and secure.

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Changing your Facebook Messenger app settings

You can change your Facebook Messenger app settings by tapping your profile picture at the top of the app screen.


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