Texting, image sharing, and phone calls have been one of the good things technology offered us to get in touch with our loved ones, but it makes more sense when you know how to make a video call on Android.
Video calling is a great way to connect with people in real-time - you and the person on the other side get to see yourselves. And, making a video call is easy as long as you have a phone with good cameras and a high-speed internet connection; however, you'll need an app to get you across the board. Chances are that you already have what you need on your device, but it's absolutely nothing if you don't know how to use it.
How To Make A Video Calls On Android
This article elaborates on how to make a video call on your Android phone with some popular apps your loved ones are used to already. So, even if they use iPhone, not having FaceTime on your Android won't be an excuse, as we've got good FaceTime replicas down there, including how to make a normal video call on Android.
Let’s get started!
Make Video Calls with Google Duo
If you’re looking for a direct answer to FaceTime on Android, then it’s (probably) Google Duo. Duo is pre-installed on most Android phones, and some brands have also integrated it into their custom Dialer app. So, you can just start a video call straight from your Dialer app. More so, Google Duo works cross-platform, so you can video chat with your friends using iPhones without worrying about FaceTime.
To get started on Duo, you need to link up your mobile number, and the receiver has to be on Duo to make the connection
How to make a normal video call on Android with Google Duo
- Open Google Duo on your Android phone or get it from the Play Store
- Log in with your phone number if it’s your first time using Duo.
- Select a contact you want to call on the top or dial a number. The user needs to be on Google Duo as well.
- Finally, tap the Video call icon to start the video chat.
Make Video Calls with Facebook Messenger
While Google Duo might be integrated into most Android phones, Facebook Messenger is perhaps the easiest way to make a video call on Android. Why? Facebook is the most used social media platform in the world, and almost everyone on Facebook uses Facebook Messenger to chat with their friends. With that, it's easier to convince people to make a video call with you, since it's popular and works cross-platform - be it Android, iOS, PC, and more. Its Screen Sharing feature is another great advantage it has.
How to Video Chat with Facebook Messenger
- Launch Messenger and sign in to your account if you’ve not yet done so.
- Select a chat you wish to make a video call with.
- Tap the video icon at the top right side of the chat screen.
- Your video call should start by now. You'll then see the video controls below the screen. You can even swipe up the screen for options to add people, Share your screen, and more.
Make Video Calls with WhatsApp
Since WhatsApp is one of the leading messengers right now, chances are that a sizeable chunk of your friends is already using it on their phones. Making video calls on WhatsApp is straightforward and works in all scenarios with a good network connection. You can even switch between video and audio calls like other apps. Just select a contact and start a video chat.
How to Make Video Call on WhatsApp
- Launch WhatsApp on your device.
- Select a contact you wish to video chat with.
- At the top right corner, tap the Video button to start the video call.
- If the receiver is active, you'll see "Ringing" at the top of your screen, and you'll be connected as soon as the receiver answer the call.
Make Video Calls with Telegram
Telegram has been around for a long time, but the recent changes on WhatsApp privacy made it known to more people worldwide. While its fan base is not as large as WhatsApp, Telegram boats of several useful features you may end up falling in love with. Among it, its video call capability is top-notch, though it's new. Also, it has a Clubhouse-like feature and planning on a video conferencing feature to take on Zoom. Meaning you'll have a great time being on Telegram.
How to do video call on Telegram
- Open Telegram on your phone.
- Select a chat you want to call. You may need to select the Personal tab first if you've sorted your chats.
- After opening the chat, tap the 3-dot icon in the top right corner.
- Tap Video Call from there.
Make Video Calls with Signal
If you put privacy above all other things, Signal Private Messenger should be your go-to when you need to make a video call on Android. And since it's available on Android and iOS, it adds up as one of the best alternatives for FaceTime. Like most Instant Messaging apps, you need to register with your mobile number, and you're good to go.
How to make video chat on Signal
- Open Signal on your device or download it from the Play Store
- Choose a contact to start a video chat with
- Tap the camera icon to start a video call. This shows your call screen. You should see “Ringing” if the contact is active.
Make Video Calls with Zoom
Zoom became prominent when the Coronavirus pandemic was hitting hard on people. And up till now, Zoom remains one of the most used videos conferencing apps in the world - be it for schools or business purposes.
But Zoom takes things differently from the others we've mentioned above. To start a video call on Zoom, you need to create a meeting first, then you can share the link with people you wish to see in your meeting. So, the receivers don't necessarily need a Zoom account; just install the app and get things done.
How to make video calls with Zoom
- Install Zoom on your phone from the Play Store.
- Launch it and set up your account.
- On the main screen, tap New Meeting
- On the next screen, set your video preferences and tap Start a Meeting
- Now, you need to invite people to video chat with you. Tap Participant from the icons at the bottom.
- And on the following screen, tap Invite. After that, you’ll be able to invite people from your social media apps or copy the link and send it manually.
- As soon as the meeting starts, you'll need to grant permission to people to let them in.
