You can send a FaceTime voicemail to someone if they don’t answer when you need to video chat. It’s better than leaving a regular voicemail because it’s video — you can relay a message quickly or show something off on camera.
For instance, if your dog or your human child is doing something cute, or if you want to get a second opinion on an outfit, you might want to show someone. If they don’t answer your FaceTime call, you can record a video to send them to watch later.
Here’s how FaceTime voicemail works.
FaceTime voicemail: How to leave a video message
FaceTime was introduced in 2010 as a feature of the iPhone 4, the first model to feature a front-facing camera. It brought in video calling that was just as easy as a regular phone call. FaceTime is an incredibly popular feature, allowing people to stay connected remotely. It’s a much more personable way to communicate, for better or worse — as described in the Bo Burnham song, FaceTime with My Mom (Tonight).
If you aren’t able to reach someone when you need to show them something, though, there’s a solution. You can record a quick video message for them to watch later. Here’s how it works.
Table of contents: How to leave a FaceTime voicemail
- Make a FaceTime call that doesn’t go through
- Tap “Record Video”
- Flip the camera or start recording
- Play, Retake, Save and Send the video
- More FaceTime and Phone features
1. Make a FaceTime call that doesn’t go through
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
To send a FaceTime video message, you first need to start a FaceTime call that someone doesn’t answer. You can open the Phone or FaceTime apps to call a contact. Or, directly from an iMessage conversation, you can tap the FaceTime button in the top right, then hit FaceTime Video from the popup.
2. Tap ‘Record Video’
From the call screen, tap Record Video to record a FaceTime voicemail message. You can also hit Call Again to see if they’ll pick up after a second ring. Or tap Close to give up. A five-second countdown will immediately start. If you want a moment to prepare, or you want to flip the camera, tap the Pause button.
3. Flip the camera or start recording your FaceTime voicemail
Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones/Cult of Mac
Tap the button in the bottom right to flip the camera to the rear before you start recording. You can’t switch cameras in the middle of a recording. Then tap the red button to start the video recording. Tap it again to stop.
4. Play, retake, save and send the video voicemail
After you finish recording, tap the Play button in the middle of the screen to preview your new FaceTime video voicemail. If you want a do-over, tap Retake in the bottom right. Think you’d like to save a copy in your photo library? Hit Save in the upper right. If you decide you don’t want to send a FaceTime voicemail after all, hit Cancel in the upper left. Tap the green Send arrow to send it.
Reminder: You don’t have to leave a FaceTime voicemail if you just want to send a video
If you just want to send someone a video without FaceTiming them, hit the + button in Messages and tap Camera. Then tap Video and hit the red button to start recording. If you’re not happy with the video, tap Retake to try again. Once you’re satisfied with the video, tap Done in the top corner. Then you can add text to the message if you want. When you’re finished, tap the blue send button to send it straight away.
More FaceTime and Phone features
- FaceTime by creating a link on the web to call someone with an Android phone or Windows PC, or to share a link to use for later.
- Set up your Contact Poster to make a beautiful custom call screen for your contact.
- Record a phone call and transcribe it in the Notes app.
- Live Voicemail lets you see a transcription of their voicemail message as it’s being recorded — and you can pick up at any point, if the call turns out to be important.
We originally published this post on how to leave a FaceTime voicemail on January 3, 2024. We updated it with the latest information on June 27, 2024 and December 8, 2025.
D. Griffin Jones is a writer, podcaster and video producer for Cult of Mac. Griffin has been a passionate computer enthusiast since 2002, when he got his first PC — but since getting a Mac in 2008, he hasn’t turned back. His skills in graphic and web design, along with video and podcast editing, are self-taught over 20+ years. Griffin has a bachelor’s degree in computer science and has written several (unpublished) apps for Mac and iOS. His collection of old computers is made up of 40+ desktops, laptops, PDAs and devices, dating back to the early ’80s. He brings all of these creative and technical skills, along with a deep knowledge of Apple history, into his work for Cult of Mac.
