Use FaceTime on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later)
On Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later), you can make FaceTime calls, answer incoming audio or video calls, or hand off a call in progress from your iPhone or iPad.
To get started using FaceTime, you need to set up an iPhone or iPad to use as a Continuity Camera.
Set up Continuity Camera on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later)
Before you begin, make sure your iPhone or iPad is set up to use FaceTime. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad, tap FaceTime, then turn on FaceTime. Sign in to FaceTime with your Apple ID, if you haven’t already.
Open the FaceTime app
on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later).On the Continuity Camera screen, do either of the following:
If you already appear in the list of users: Select your profile, then confirm on your iPhone or iPad.
If you don’t appear in the list of users: Select Other to reveal a QR code, then open the Camera app on your iPhone or iPad, scan the QR code, then tap Connect to Apple TV and confirm on your iPhone or iPad.
Note: If you’re signed in to Apple TV, your profile appears in the list of users after initial setup. To add a user, follow the instructions in Set up multiple users on Apple TV.
Position your iPhone or iPad near the TV in landscape orientation so that the rear camera (iPhone) or front camera (iPad) faces you and you’re satisfied with the way you appear in the preview on your TV screen.
You can also press the Play/Pause button
on the Siri Remote to skip this step.After a short countdown, your iPhone or iPad camera is ready to use with FaceTime on Apple TV.
To pause or disconnect your iPhone or iPad’s camera, tap Pause or Disconnect on your iPhone or iPad’s lock screen.
Make a FaceTime call on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later)
Open the FaceTime app
on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later) and follow the instructions above in Set up Continuity Camera on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later).Recent calls and contacts from the iPhone or iPad you connected appear in the FaceTime app on Apple TV.
To start a call, do either of the following:
Select a recipient from the list of recent FaceTime calls.
Select
, select a contact (or more than one contact for a group call), then select FaceTime.Tip: To make an audio-only call, press and hold the clickpad center (Siri Remote 2nd generation or later) or touch surface (Siri Remote 1st generation) when selecting FaceTime, then select FaceTime Audio.
Answer an incoming video or audio FaceTime call on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later)
Note: Before you can answer FaceTime calls on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later), you must set up Continuity Camera.
When an incoming FaceTime video or audio call notification appears in Control Center, press the TV button
on the Siri Remote, then select Accept or Decline.
Tip: To prevent unwanted FaceTime calls associated with your mobile phone number, open Settings > FaceTime on your iPhone, then deselect your phone number in the “You Can Be Reached By FaceTime At” section. You can still receive FaceTime calls associated with your Apple ID.
Use FaceTime controls during a call on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later)
Before and during the call, you can adjust any of the following controls that appear onscreen:
Center Stage: Select
to turn on Center Stage, which keeps everyone in the room perfectly framed, even as they move around.Portrait: Select
to turn on Portrait mode, which focuses on the subject and blurs the background image.Reactions: Select
to recognize hand gestures that generate onscreen effects, such as hearts or fireworks. See Add Reactions with hand gestures.
During the call, you can show controls to do any of the following:
Add additional people to the call: Select People
, select Add People, select one or more contacts from your contacts list, then select “Add people.”Start SharePlay: Select SharePlay
. See Watch together using SharePlay on Apple TV.Mute the microphone: Select Mute
.Turn the camera on or off: Select Camera
.End the call: Select End
.
Hand off a FaceTime call between an iPhone or iPad and Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later)
You can start a FaceTime call on your iPhone or iPad, then hand it off to the larger screen on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later) when you’re signed in with the same Apple ID. You can also switch the call back to your iPhone or iPad from Apple TV.
Start a FaceTime call on an iPhone or iPad.
Apple TV detects when a FaceTime call is in progress and a notification may appear with the suggestion “Use [device name] to move to TV.”
Do any of the following:
On iPhone or iPad, tap Move (next to the Move to Apple TV notification that appears).
On iPhone or iPad, tap the Speaker button
, then choose the Apple TV from the list.Press and hold the TV button
on the Siri Remote, select the FaceTime tab 
in the Control Center, then select your iPhone or iPad.Open the FaceTime app
on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later), then select your profile on the Continuity Camera screen.
Position your iPhone or iPad near the TV in landscape orientation so that the rear camera (iPhone) or front camera (iPad) faces you and you’re satisfied with the way you appear in the preview on your TV screen.
A short countdown begins automatically when the iPhone or iPad is in landscape orientation and still. When the countdown ends, the call moves to the Apple TV.
You can also press the Play/Pause button
on the Siri Remote to skip this step.On the iPhone or iPad, a banner appears confirming that the Apple TV is using the device as a Continuity Camera.
Do any of the following:
Pause the call: Tap Pause.
Switch the call back to iPhone or iPad: Tap Switch to iPhone or Switch to iPad.
End the call: Tap End Call and Disconnect.
Use Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later) while on a FaceTime call
You can continue to navigate and watch Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later) while on a FaceTime call. For example, you can go back to the Home Screen, then start watching sports, a movie, or a TV show and adjust the layout to see both the FaceTime call and what you’re watching.
Start a FaceTime call or answer an incoming FaceTime call on Apple TV 4K (2nd generation or later).
During the call, press the Back button
(Siri Remote 2nd generation or later) or 
button (Siri Remote 1st generation) to exit to the Home Screen.The FaceTime call appears in a smaller window while you navigate the Home Screen or other apps on Apple TV.
To see more viewing options, press the TV button
on the Siri Remote, then do any of the following:Change the layout: Select the Layout button
, then choose Picture in Picture, Split View, Full Screen, or Move.Hide the FaceTime call: Select the Hide button
. To show the FaceTime call again, press the TV button on the Siri Remote.End the call: Select the End button
.
Add Reactions with hand gestures
During a FaceTime call, you can add Reactions—visual effects you use during a video call to express how you feel.
Choose any of the following Reactions:
Reaction | Gesture | Icon |
|---|---|---|
Hearts |  |  |
Thumbs-up |  |  |
Thumbs-down |  |  |
Balloons |  |  |
Rain |  |  |
Confetti |  |  |
Laser burst |  |  |
Fireworks |  |  |