What to Know

• First,on iPhone:Settings>Cellular>Calls on Other Devices,and enableAllow Calls on Other Devices.
  
• Make calls from your iPad by selecting phone numbers inFaceTime,Contacts,Messages,Calendar, orSafari.
  
• You can also call usingContactsor manually enter phone numbers inFaceTimefrom your Mac.

This article explains how to make and receive phone calls on your iPad or Mac, instead of just on your iPhone.

Can You Use an iPad or Mac as a Phone?

Yes, you can use your Mac or iPad in lieu of a phone, but you do have to have your iPhone nearby since the iPhone is often doing most of the work.Now, there's some initial setup to do else the function won't work, but we'll cover what you'll need to do.Before we get into that, make sure:

• All your device are running the latest operating system it can (at least macOS Yosemite, 10.10 and iPadOS 13)
• FaceTimeis enabled on each device
• Your devices are all signed into the same Apple ID/Apple Account
  

After that, you'll either need to use your iPad or Mac's external microphone, orotherwise have a headset with a microphone available to plug in. And lastly, you'll need to enable the ability to route calls to your other devices on the iPhone and whatever other devices you plan to use.

The Mac mini does not have a built-in microphone. Also, some models of iPad and Mac don't have a headphone jack, so if you want to plug in a headset you may need to get ahold of a USB-C or Lighting headphone adapter.

Adjust the Settings in Order to Make or Receive a Call on Your Mac

Once you have this working, you'll wonder how you lived without making or receiving calls this way.

1. OpenSettingson your iPhone, tapCellular, then tapCalls on Other Devices.

2. Make sureAllow Calls on Other Devicesis toggled on.

   

3. UnderALLOW CALLS ONyou can see which usable devices are connected, and toggle call routing on or off for each of them.

4. For the iPad, go intoSettings and thenFaceTime, and turn on bothFaceTime andCalls from iPhone. If you're also asked about enabling Wi-Fi calling, enable it.

   

5. For a Mac, open theFaceTimeapp and click theFaceTimemenu.

   

6. SelectPreferences > Settings > Calls from iPhone. As with the iPad, if you're asked to enable Wi-Fi calling, do so.

   

How Do I Make a Call From My iPad?

Once the initial setup is out of the way, making and receiving calls through your iPad is a breeze.

1. Receiving a call is fairly straightforward as call notifications should appear on your iPad much like they do on your iPhone. Just tap the notification that pops up on your iPad to take the call, or swipe the notification to ignore the call.

   

2. To make a call from your iPad, openFaceTimeand enter a contact or phone number, then tap the phone icon.

   

3. You can also make a call from your iPad by tapping on phone numbers that appear in other apps such asContacts, Messages, Calendar, or Safari.

   

How Do I Make a Call From My Mac?

Much like with the iPad, routing calls through your Mac is pretty simple once everything is properly prepared.

1. Incoming calls will produce notifications on your Mac, which you can accept to take the call or dismiss to ignore it.

   

2. To make a call from your Mac, openContactsand click the contact you want to call, then click the phone icon.

   

3. You can also manually dial a number for a call from your Mac by openingFaceTime, typing in the number (pressEnterwhen you're done), then clicking theAudiobutton.

   

• How do I call 911 on an iPad?

  Once you've set up calls on your iPad, you can dial 911 just like any other number. Just like with normal calls, you can use FaceTime, provided your iPad is on the same Wi-Fi network as your phone.

• How do I record a FaceTime call on Mac?

  The easiest way to record a FaceTime call is with your Mac's screen recording feature. Start the call, and then pressCommand+Shift+5to open the screen-recording menu. Choose whether to record the entire screen or just a selected portion, and then selectOptionsand pick an option underMicrophoneto capture audio.