How to Video Call on Android, iPhone, or iPad: A Senior-Friendly Step-by-Step Guide

Your parent got a new phone or tablet, and now someone — a doctor, a grandchild, you — wants to video call them. They've never done it before. Or they did it once during the pandemic and have forgotten everything.

This guide walks through how to make and receive video calls on the most common devices and apps. It's written for people who don't use tech jargon and don't want to read 20 pages to do something that should take five minutes.

If you're the adult child helping set this up, read through the relevant section first, then walk your parent through it in person. Better yet, print the steps for the app they'll use and tape it near their device.

FaceTime (iPhone and iPad)

FaceTime comes preinstalled on every Apple device. If your parent has an iPhone or iPad, this is the simplest option — nothing to download.

To make a video call:

1. Open the FaceTime app (green icon with a white video camera)
2. Tap the "New FaceTime" button at the top
3. Type the name or phone number of the person you want to call
4. Tap the green video button

To answer a video call:

1. When someone FaceTimes them, a notification will appear on screen
2. Tap the green "Accept" button
3. The call starts immediately — their face will appear in a small box, and the caller's face fills the screen

Things to tell your parent:

• The front camera is the tiny circle at the top of the screen. That's what the other person sees
• To switch between front and back camera, tap the camera flip icon (two arrows in a circle)
• To hang up, tap the red button
• If they accidentally minimize the call, they can tap the green bar at the top of the screen to get back

Limitation: FaceTime only works between Apple devices. If your parent has an iPhone but their doctor uses an Android phone, FaceTime won't work for that connection. Use Zoom or Google Meet instead.

WhatsApp (any phone)

WhatsApp is the easiest option for cross-platform video calls — it works on both iPhone and Android, and many seniors already have it installed for family group chats.

Setup (if not already installed):

1. Download WhatsApp from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android)
2. Open the app and follow the prompts to verify your parent's phone number
3. The app will automatically find contacts who also use WhatsApp

To make a video call:

1. Open WhatsApp
2. Go to the Calls tab (phone icon at the bottom)
3. Tap the phone icon with a "+" in the top corner
4. Find the contact they want to call
5. Tap the video camera icon next to the person's name

To answer a video call:

1. When someone calls, a screen pops up showing "WhatsApp Video Call" and the caller's name
2. Swipe or tap the green accept button
3. The call connects

Tips for seniors:

• WhatsApp video calls work on Wi-Fi and cellular data. If your parent has limited mobile data, make sure they're on Wi-Fi before calling
• Video quality depends on internet speed. If the picture is blurry or freezing, it's usually a Wi-Fi issue, not a phone problem
• The volume buttons on the side of the phone control call volume

Zoom (for doctor visits and family calls)

Zoom is the app most doctors' offices use for telehealth appointments. It's also popular for family calls with multiple people.

Setup:

1. Download "Zoom - One Platform to Connect" from the App Store or Google Play Store
2. They don't need to create an account to join a meeting — only to host one
3. When a doctor's office or family member sends a meeting link, they just tap it

To join a Zoom call (the most common scenario):

1. Tap the link they received via email, text, or the patient portal
2. The app opens automatically
3. When asked "Join with Video?" tap "Join with Video"
4. When asked about audio, tap "Call using Internet Audio" (not "Dial in" — that's phone audio only)
5. They're in the call

Common Zoom problems for seniors:

• "I can see them but they can't see me." The camera is probably off. Tap the camera icon at the bottom of the screen to turn it on
• "I can't hear anything." Tap the speaker icon in the top left and make sure it's set to "Speaker" not "Off." Also check that the phone's volume is turned up
• "The screen went black." They probably hit the power button by accident. Press it again to wake the screen — the call is still running

For a deeper dive into audio issues during video visits, see our telehealth audio troubleshooting guide.

Google Meet (for Gmail users)

If your parent uses Gmail, Google Meet is already available through their Google account. No extra app needed, though the standalone Meet app is simpler.

To join a Google Meet call:

1. Tap the meeting link someone sent (via email, text, or calendar invite)
2. The Google Meet screen opens
3. Tap "Ask to join" or "Join now"
4. Grant camera and microphone permissions when prompted

To start a Google Meet call:

1. Open the Google Meet app (or go to meet.google.com)
2. Tap "New meeting" then "Start an instant meeting"
3. Share the link with the person they want to call

Why Google Meet can be confusing for seniors: The "Ask to join" button implies they need permission, which can make some seniors anxious ("Am I allowed? Did I do it right?"). Reassure them that everyone sees this — it just means the host needs to click "Admit."

Which app should your parent use?

The golden rule: fewer apps is better. If your parent can do everything with one app, don't install three. Every additional app is another icon they don't recognize, another set of permissions to grant, and another thing that can send confusing notifications.

Making it stick: the cheat sheet approach

The biggest barrier for seniors isn't the initial setup — it's remembering the steps three days later when they need to make a call on their own.

Create a simple cheat sheet:

• Use large print (at least 16pt font)
• Include only the steps for their specific app on their specific device
• Use their actual contact names ("To call Sarah" not "To call a contact")
• Tape it to the wall next to where they keep their device, or slip it into their phone case

Example cheat sheet for FaceTime on iPad:

TO VIDEO CALL SARAH:
1. Tap the green FaceTime icon
2. Tap Sarah's name
3. Tap the green video button
4. When done, tap the red button to hang up

That's it. Four steps. No jargon. No "navigate to" or "select from dropdown." Just tap this, then tap that.

Practice before it matters

Don't let the first real video call be a doctor's appointment or an emotional family event. Schedule a practice call.

• Call your parent from another room in the same house first
• Then call from your car in their driveway
• Then call from your home

Each call builds confidence and surfaces problems in a low-stakes environment. Did the audio cut out? Did they accidentally mute themselves? Did they hold the phone upside down? Better to discover these things during a practice call than during a medical consultation.

For a complete guide to setting up and managing your parent's telehealth visits — including device selection, portal access, and troubleshooting — the Telehealth Parent Guide covers everything in one printable toolkit for $14.