Beginning this fall with iOS 12, FaceTime will support audio and video calls with as many as 32 simultaneous participants. Members will be able to drop in and out of group call as necessary, much like an ongoing conference call.

The announcement could be a blow to dedicated conference call services like Zoom, as smaller organizations may choose to rely on the the built-in FaceTime rather than paying for a more feature-filled service.

f1528135367

On more populated video calls, the FaceTime app will automatically focus on and enlarge the "tiles" of users, and vary the size of individual tiles when someone else talks. You can also choose to lock focus on a certain user, and apply filter effects, Animoji, and the new Memoji to yourself while live on a call.

Group FaceTime will work on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and you can answer on audio using the Apple Watch.

Top Rated Comments

newyorksole Avatar
100 months ago
32 people? That almost seems excessive. It doesn’t appear to be a feature I will never find useful.
Maybe, just MAYBE there are people/companies who need to video chat with that many people... Even though YOU think it’s excessive.

Obviously the majority of people will use it with 2-4 people.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
69Mustang Avatar
100 months ago
That’s exciting but I don’t know the reason for me to have 32 people on chat like this.

Maybe someday I’ll need it.
Support for up to 32 people. Doesn't require it. While not for you, I'm sure others may have a desire to FT with 3, 4, 8, 15, or 31 others. For those people, this will be great.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Princejb134 Avatar
100 months ago
highlight of the show GROUP FACETIME!!!!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Princejb134 Avatar
100 months ago
That’s exciting but I don’t know the reason for me to have 32 people on chat like this.

Maybe someday I’ll need it.
well if they limit it to 3-4 people there will always be those complainers that will say how come i cant do 5.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
44267547 Avatar
100 months ago
Maybe, just MAYBE there are people/companies who need to video chat with that many people... Even though YOU think it’s excessive..
Good point. For example, I didn’t think about utilizing maybe a corporation that has to have some sort a type of group meeting that might have employees that are scattered about and then having them congregate through group FaceTime, probably would be beneficial.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MDF314159265 Avatar
100 months ago
Brady bunch FaceTime!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

Apple Logo Zoomed

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
wwdc sans text feature

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Finder Siri Feature

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...
iOS 26

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
iphone 17 pro dark blue 1

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by
The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...