The short answer
To video chat between Android and iPhone, you either both use an app that runs on both systems (WhatsApp, Google Meet, Telegram, Zoom), or the iPhone user sends a FaceTime link that the Android user opens in a browser. Phones don't have a built-in video call that works across the two systems: texting between them improved with RCS in iOS 18, but video calls still go through an app.
Which way fits you
| Way | Who can start the call | What the Android user needs | Group calls | Account |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FaceTime link | Only the iPhone user | Chrome or Edge, nothing to install | Yes | Apple Account on the iPhone only |
| Either person | WhatsApp app | Yes | Phone number on both sides | |
| Google Meet | Either person | Meet app (already on many Android phones) | Yes, with a time limit on free group calls | Google account |
| Telegram | Either person | Telegram app | Yes, in group chats | Phone number on both sides |
| Zoom | Either person | Zoom app | Yes, free meetings stop after 40 minutes | Zoom account for whoever hosts |
If you talk often, use whichever app you both already have. For a one-off call with someone who has nothing installed, the FaceTime link is the quickest from the iPhone side.
iPhone to Android: send a FaceTime link
This is the only way to bring an Android phone into FaceTime. The iPhone needs iOS 15 or later.
- On the iPhone, open FaceTime and tap Create Link, then share it in Messages, WhatsApp or email.
- On the Android phone, tap the link. If it opens inside another app, choose Open in browser, then make sure it is the latest Chrome or Edge.
- Type a name, tap Continue, allow the camera and microphone, and tap Join.
- On the iPhone, open the call from the notification or the FaceTime list and tap the check mark next to the person's name to let them in.
The Android user can't create a FaceTime link or call an iPhone first, so if the call drops, the iPhone user has to share the link again or let them back in.
Android to iPhone: use an app you both have
From an Android phone, the call has to go through an app that is on both phones. The steps are almost the same in all of them:
- Install the same app on both phones and sign in (WhatsApp and Telegram use your phone number).
- Open the chat with the other person and tap the video camera icon at the top.
- The first time, both phones ask for camera and microphone access: tap Allow on each, or one of you won't be seen or heard.
WhatsApp is the most common choice because many people already have it. Google Meet comes installed on many Android phones, so the iPhone user is usually the one who installs it; you call the other person from Meet or share a meeting link. Telegram, Signal, Facebook Messenger and Zoom work across both systems too. Zoom is handy when you want a meeting link several people can join.
When the call doesn't work
Most problems on a call between the two systems come from one phone's settings, not from mixing iPhone and Android:
- The other person sees black. The app doesn't have camera access. On iPhone open Settings → Apps, pick the app and turn on Camera and Microphone; on Android open Settings → Apps, pick the app and allow them under Permissions. More in camera not working.
- They can't hear you. Check the mute button, then check whether your earbuds are connected to another device. See microphone not working and the headset mic test.
- The FaceTime link won't open on Android. It opened inside another app, or the browser is out of date. Open it in Chrome or Edge and update the browser.
- The call freezes or drops. Switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data mid-call often cuts it off. Stay on one connection, or move closer to the router.
- Your picture looks dark or blurry. Face a light and wipe the lens. See why your camera looks blurry, dark or grainy.
The test at the top of this page runs in your phone's browser, so it tells you quickly whether the camera and microphone themselves work. If they work here but not in the app, the problem is that app's permission. Separate checks are on the camera test, mic test and speaker test pages.