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ZDNET Highlights
- FaceTime video messages work like voicemail for missed video calls.
- Live Voicemail lets you leave audio messages from FaceTime Audio.
- Missed FaceTime messages appear in the recipient’s call history.
My editor told me the other day that she showed two people over the weekend how to use an apparently lesser-known FaceTime feature: video messaging. It made me wonder if my husband or my parents knew how to give up when someone doesn’t respond to a FaceTime video call. Spoiler alert: They didn’t, so I showed them how it worked.
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It’s basically voicemail, but with video and only for FaceTime users. If you use FaceTime Audio, there’s a related feature called Live Voicemail. Still confused? Don’t worry. My family was also like this earlier. Here’s how to use both.
How to Leave a FaceTime Video Message
what you need: FaceTime video messages only work with FaceTime-compatible Apple devices. Apple says they can be obtained from saved contacts, people called by the recipient, and people suggested by Siri.
Let the call ring until the other person answers. When the time is up, FaceTime shows the option to record a video message. This appears only after a FaceTime video call is unanswered, not before the call is placed.
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To view a FaceTime video message, open FaceTime and view it in your call history. Tap the video thumbnail to play it. Messages can also be found by tapping on a person’s name in FaceTime history, then checking the video or voicemail.
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Optional: Leave a FaceTime Audio Voicemail
To make a FaceTime audio call instead of a video call, first enable Live Voicemail in Settings. Go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Live Voicemail. Then make a FaceTime audio call as usual: Open FaceTime, tap New FaceTime, select a contact, and tap the phone icon. When the person doesn’t answer, FaceTime gives you the option to leave a voicemail.
Too: How to Record iPhone Calls (And Where and When It’s Legal to Do So)
On the recipient’s end, a live transcript may appear while the message is being recorded, if it is long enough. Once a FaceTime audio voicemail is saved, the complete message can be found in the Phone app under Voicemail.
Why would I leave a FaceTime voicemail?
For someone who already uses the FaceTime app to make calls, leaving a video message or audio voicemail is just as useful as leaving any other missed-call message. The Record Video option makes it feel more personal as you can film yourself speaking.
Where do FaceTime video messages appear?
FaceTime video messages appear in the recipient’s FaceTime call history and as a notification. FaceTime audio voicemails are stored in the Voicemail inbox of the Phone app.
Is this the same as sending videos in messages?
No, the FaceTime video message originates from a missed FaceTime video call and appears in the FaceTime app.
Can I leave a FaceTime voicemail from my desktop?
No, on Mac desktop, I didn’t see an option to leave a FaceTime video message or voicemail if the person didn’t answer.
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