Things to Do on FaceTime: 25+ Fun Ideas

The best things to do on FaceTime go far beyond a standard catch-up call: you can watch movies together, play games, cook the same meal, work out, or even take a virtual museum tour. This guide lists concrete activities you can start today, explains how each one works on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and answers common questions about making the call feel more like hanging out in person.

Formula

This page is not a calculator in the traditional sense, but the block above gives you a rough idea of how many activity categories you can realistically fit into a call of a given length. The formula is:

ideas = floor(duration / 15) + 1

Where:

• duration = total FaceTime call length in minutes (you enter this)
• ideas = approximate number of 15-minute activity blocks you can plan for

This is a planning heuristic, not a scientific law. It assumes each activity takes about 15 minutes, which works well for games, quick chats, or a single song. For longer activities like movies or cooking, you would use one block for the whole time.

Worked Example

Enter a 60-minute call. The formula gives:

floor(60 / 15) + 1 = 4 + 1 = 5

So you could plan about 5 distinct 15-minute activities, or you could use one 60-minute activity (like a movie) and count that as 1. The calculator just helps you think about pacing.

Background: Why FaceTime Feels Different

FaceTime is Apple’s native video calling service, built into iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Unlike Zoom or Skype, it does not require a separate account – it uses your Apple ID and phone number. Because it is deeply integrated into iOS and macOS, it supports up to 32 people on a call (as of recent versions), has SharePlay for synced media, and works with effects like Animoji and Memoji.

The main reason people search for “things to do on FaceTime� is that a blank video call can feel awkward. You stare at each other, run out of small talk, and then hang up. The ideas below fix that by giving you a shared task or experience.

How to Pick the Right Activity

Choose based on three factors:

• Time – a 10-minute call is perfect for a quick game or a single question; a 2-hour call can handle a movie or a full cooking session.
• Connection quality – video-heavy activities like watching a movie together need a stable Wi-Fi connection. If someone has a weak signal, stick to turn-based games or voice-only activities.
• Interests – ask the other person what they feel like doing. Some people love competitive games, others prefer low-pressure activities like virtual tours or shared playlists.

Watch and Listen Together with SharePlay

SharePlay is Apple’s feature that lets you watch movies, TV shows, or listen to music in sync with the other person. It works with Apple TV+, Disney+, Hulu, Prime Video, and many other apps. Both people need the same app and a subscription if it requires one.

How to start:

1. Start a FaceTime call.
2. Open a supported app (like Apple TV or Disney+).
3. Play a movie or show – the other person will get a prompt to join.
4. Both of you see the same playback controls, so pause and play stay in sync.

For music, open Apple Music or Spotify and play a song. The other person can add songs to a shared queue if you enable that in the FaceTime controls.

Play Games Together

Games are the most popular way to fill time on FaceTime. You can play:

• Game Pigeon – a free iMessage app that includes 20+ games like chess, checkers, battleship, and 8-ball pool. You play inside Messages, but you can keep FaceTime open at the same time to talk trash.
• Words with Friends or Scrabble – turn-based word games that work well with a call open.
• Among Us or Minecraft – multiplayer games where you can voice chat over FaceTime while playing on your phone or console.
• Online board games – sites like Board Game Arena or Tabletopia let you play real board games in a browser. Share your screen so the other person can see the board.
• Trivia – use a trivia app or just ask each other questions. You can keep score on paper.

For screen sharing on FaceTime, tap the screen share button (the icon that looks like a person in a rectangle) during the call, then choose “Share My Screen.� The other person can then see your phone screen in real time.

Cook or Bake the Same Meal

Pick a recipe in advance, gather the ingredients, and then cook together while on FaceTime. This works best if you both have the same kitchen tools, but it is fine if you do not – you can adapt.

Tips for a smooth virtual cooking session:

• Choose a recipe with simple steps and no long inactive time (like dough rising) unless you plan to chat during that time.
• Prop your phone or iPad so you can see both the other person and your own workspace. A kitchen stand or a stack of books works.
• Agree on substitutions ahead of time. If one of you is allergic to nuts, pick a recipe without nuts.
• Share the recipe link in the chat before the call so both of you have it open.

Good beginner recipes: tacos, pasta with a simple sauce, pancakes, or a mug cake.

Work Out or Stretch Together

Exercise is a great way to fill 15-30 minutes and stay healthy. You can follow a free workout video on YouTube (like a 20-minute HIIT or yoga session) and both press play at the same time, or you can take turns leading a stretch routine.

To keep it simple:

1. Agree on a video or routine in advance.
2. Both of you start the video at the same time (count down “3, 2, 1�).
3. Keep FaceTime on so you can see each other and keep each other accountable.

If one of you is more advanced, you can modify the moves. The goal is to move your body and have fun, not to compete.

Take a Virtual Tour or Visit a Museum

Many museums, national parks, and landmarks offer free virtual tours. You can open the tour on one phone and share your screen, or both open the same tour on your own devices and navigate together.

Examples of free virtual tours:

• The Louvre in Paris – offers online tours of some galleries.
• The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History – has a 3D tour.
• NASA – offers virtual tours of facilities and the International Space Station.
• Google Arts & Culture – has thousands of high-resolution artworks and virtual museum walkthroughs.

To make it feel like a real visit, take turns “leading� the tour – one person picks the next exhibit and reads the description out loud.

Other Quick and Fun Ideas

If you have 10-30 minutes, try these low-prep activities:

• Show and tell – each person grabs an object from their home and explains why it matters to them.
• Draw together – use the Freeform app (on iOS 16 and later) or a shared drawing app to create a picture together on a shared canvas.
• Read a book or poem – take turns reading pages out loud.
• Plan a future trip – look at maps, flights, and hotels together.
• Do a puzzle – each of you has the same puzzle (print a free one or use an app) and race to finish.
• Karaoke – use a karaoke app or play a song and sing along. You can mute your mic if you are shy.
• Meditate – use a free meditation app and do a 10-minute session together.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

Sometimes FaceTime activities hit a snag. Here are the most common issues and what to do:

• SharePlay not working – both people need to be on a recent version of iOS or macOS, and both need the same app installed. Check that you are on a Wi-Fi or strong cellular connection.
• Audio echo – if you hear your own voice, ask the other person to lower their volume or wear headphones. That usually fixes it.
• Screen sharing lag – close other apps that use the internet, and move closer to your router if possible.
• Game Pigeon not showing up – make sure you have the latest version of iMessage and that Game Pigeon is installed on both devices. You may need to enable iMessage in Settings.
• Call drops – FaceTime uses a lot of data. If you have a weak signal, switch to a Wi-Fi call or turn off video (tap the video icon to turn it off) and continue with audio only.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I watch Netflix on FaceTime?

Netflix does not support SharePlay directly, but you can still watch together by pressing play at the same time. To sync, count down and both hit play. You can also share your screen and play Netflix on your phone, but the other person will see the video with lower quality and may experience lag.

Is FaceTime free?

Yes, FaceTime is free over Wi-Fi. Over cellular, it uses your data plan. If you have a limited data plan, check with your carrier – some plans include unlimited FaceTime, but most count it as regular data usage.

Can I use FaceTime on Android?

No, FaceTime is only available on Apple devices. However, you can use FaceTime on the web (beta) by sending a link from your iPhone or Mac – the Android user can join through a browser without an Apple ID. This works for one-on-one calls and group calls up to 32 people.

How do I share my screen on FaceTime?

During a call, tap the screen share icon (a rectangle with a person inside) in the control panel. Choose “Share My Screen.� The other person will see your screen in real time. To stop, tap the same icon and choose “Stop Sharing.�

What is the best game to play on FaceTime?

Game Pigeon is the most popular because it has many games and is free. For a quick laugh, try 8-ball pool or battleship. For a longer session, play chess or checkers. If you want a game that uses the camera, try a charades app or just act out words while the other person guesses.

Can I use FaceTime to watch a movie with someone far away?

Yes, with SharePlay on supported apps like Apple TV+, Disney+, and Hulu. Both of you need the same app and a subscription if required. If the app does not support SharePlay, you can still press play at the same time and chat – just expect a slight delay.

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in t | Call duration | min | 60 | 1 | 1440
out ideas | Activity ideas covered | count | floor(t / 15) + 1 | 0