You can't install FaceTime on Android, but you can join a FaceTime call from an Android phone. An iPhone, iPad or Mac user creates a FaceTime link and sends it to you. Open it in the latest Chrome or Edge, type your name, allow the camera and microphone, tap Join and wait to be let in.
FaceTime is Apple-only as an app, which leaves Android users out of family calls and work catch-ups. But Apple added a back door: FaceTime links. Someone with an Apple device creates a link, and anyone with a browser can join the call. It works well, with a few limits worth knowing before you rely on it. Here's how it works from both sides.
What you need
| Person | What they need |
|---|---|
| The host | An iPhone, iPad or Mac with FaceTime |
| You, on Android | The latest Chrome or Edge, and a strong Wi-Fi or mobile connection |
| Both | The link, shared by message, email or WhatsApp |
If you're the Apple user: create the link
- Open the FaceTime app.
- Tap Create Link at the top.
- Choose how to share it, such as Messages, Mail or WhatsApp, and send it to the Android user.
- Tap the link in FaceTime yourself to start the call, then wait for them to ask to join.
On a Mac it's the same: open FaceTime, select Create Link and share it. Apple's guide confirms that people using Android or Windows join from the web.
If you're on Android: join the call
- Tap the FaceTime link you were sent. It opens in your browser.
- If it opens in a different browser, copy the link into Chrome or Edge.
- Type your name and tap Continue.
- Allow access to your microphone and camera when the browser asks.
- Tap Join.
- Wait. The host has to let you in, so you'll see a waiting screen until they do.
Once you're in, you'll see buttons to mute, switch the camera off, flip between front and back cameras and leave the call.
Let the Android user in
This is the step that most often goes wrong. When someone joins from a link, the Apple user gets a notification that a person is waiting. They need to tap the green tick to admit them. If nobody's watching the screen, the Android user waits forever, so tell the host to look out for it.
What doesn't work on Android
- No SharePlay. You can't watch shows or listen to music together.
- No screen sharing. Apple says neither is available in FaceTime on the web.
- No starting calls. Android users can only join; they can't create a FaceTime link.
- No ringing. Your phone won't ring for FaceTime; you have to open the link.
If you need to show your screen, use another app. My guide to screen sharing on Discord works across Android, iPhone and computers.
When it won't connect
- Update Chrome or Edge from the Play Store. Apple specifically asks for the latest version.
- Check camera and microphone permissions in your phone's Settings, under Apps, then Chrome, then Permissions.
- Switch from mobile data to Wi-Fi if the picture freezes, since Apple asks for a strong connection.
- Make sure the host has let you in. A waiting screen means they haven't yet.
- Ask for a new link if the old one was deleted or expired by the host.
Using a Windows laptop instead
The same link works on a Windows computer. Apple's help covers Android and Windows together: open the link in the latest Chrome or Edge, enter a name and join. A laptop is often a better choice than a phone for longer calls, because the bigger screen shows everyone more clearly and the webcam sits steady on the desk. Plug headphones in if there's an echo, which is common when a laptop's speakers and microphone sit close together.
Is a FaceTime link private?
Calls from links use the same encryption as other FaceTime calls, and nobody gets in without the host approving them. Because anyone with the link can ask to join, though, only share it with the people you mean to, and the host can delete a link they no longer want used from the FaceTime app.
Group calls with Android and Apple users
A FaceTime link can include several people, mixing iPhone and Android users. Share one link with the whole group. Apple users can join from the FaceTime app, everyone else from the browser, and the host admits each person as they arrive. It's an easy way to get the whole family on one call without anyone installing anything new.
If you're on the iPhone side and also use AI tools to plan or summarise calls, my guide to using ChatGPT on an iPhone covers the basics.
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My verdict
FaceTime on Android means joining by link, not installing an app. Ask an Apple user to tap Create Link, open it in up-to-date Chrome or Edge, and make sure the host is watching for your request to join. It's fine for family calls and quick catch-ups, and it saves anyone having to install a new app just to talk to you. If you need screen sharing or regular calls between mixed phones, pick an app that works on both natively.
Frequently asked questions
Can you FaceTime on Android?
You can't install FaceTime, but you can join a FaceTime call through a link in Chrome or Edge.
How do I join a FaceTime call on Android?
Open the link, type your name, allow the camera and microphone, tap Join and wait for the host.
Can an Android user start a FaceTime call?
No. Only someone with an iPhone, iPad or Mac can create the link.
Which browser works for FaceTime on Android?
The latest version of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Can I share my screen on FaceTime from Android?
No. Screen sharing and SharePlay don't work in FaceTime on the web.
Why am I stuck waiting to join FaceTime?
The host needs to let you in from their device.
