Make Calls on Your Mac or iPad Using Your iPhone: A Comprehensive Guide
The Apple ecosystem boasts seamless integration between its devices, allowing you to leverage your iPhone's cellular connection for calls directly from your Mac or iPad. This eliminates the need to constantly pick up your phone, especially when it's charging nearby.
While there are minimal hardware requirements, some software stipulations exist. Here's a breakdown of what you'll need and a step-by-step guide to set up and use this nifty feature.
What You'll Need:
- Compatible Devices:
- iPhone with iOS 8.1 or later
- Mac with OS X Yosemite or later
- iPad with iPadOS 8 or later
- Same Wi-Fi Network: All devices must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Same Apple ID: All devices must be signed in to the same Apple ID.
- Wi-Fi Calling Enabled: Your cellular carrier must support Wi-Fi calling, and the feature needs to be enabled on your iPhone.
- Proximity: Although you won't be actively using your iPhone, it still needs to be within range of your Mac or iPad.
Setting Up Calls on Your Mac or iPad:
-
Configure iPhone Settings:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Navigate to "Phone" or "Cellular" (depending on your iOS version).
- Select "Calls on Other Devices."
- Toggle on "Allow Calls on Other Devices."
- Choose the Mac or iPad you want to enable calls on from the list.
-
Enable Calls on Your Mac:
- Open the FaceTime app on your Mac.
- Click on "FaceTime" from the menu bar, then select "Settings."
- Under "General," ensure "Calls from iPhone" is checked.
-
Enable Calls on Your iPad:
- On your iPad, open the Settings app.
- Tap on "FaceTime."
- Toggle on "Calls from iPhone."
Making Calls:
There are two primary ways to initiate calls using your iPhone's connection on your Mac or iPad:
-
Using FaceTime App:
- Open the FaceTime app.
- Click on "New FaceTime."
- Select a contact or enter a phone number.
- Choose "FaceTime" for a video call or the downward arrow for "FaceTime Audio" for a regular call.
-
Using Contacts App:
- Open the Contacts app.
- Select the desired contact.
- On their contact card, you'll see icons for "message," "mobile," "video," and "mail."
- Click on either "mobile" or "video" to initiate a call.
Beyond FaceTime and Contacts:
The convenience of using your iPhone's cellular connection for calls extends beyond the FaceTime and Contacts app. Here are some additional scenarios:
- Web Browsing: Encounter a phone number while browsing the web on your Mac or iPad? Simply click on it to initiate a call using your iPhone's number.
- Calendar, Mail, Maps, Reminders: Similar functionality applies within these native Apple apps. Click on phone numbers to initiate calls.
- Spotlight Search: No need to open the Contacts app. Use Spotlight search to find a contact and initiate a call directly from the search results.
With this feature enabled, making calls becomes seamlessly integrated into your Mac or iPad experience. Simply click on a phone number and initiate the call using your iPhone's cellular connection.