How to Make and Receive Phone Calls on iPad or Mac

Staying connected has never been easier. With Apple’s Continuity feature, your iPad and Mac can act as extensions of your iPhone, allowing you to make and receive calls without having to pick up your phone. This is especially beneficial for those who work on multiple Apple devices and prefer a seamless communication experience.

Making and Receiving Phone Calls on Your iPad or Mac

No longer do you have to be tied to your iPhone for calls. As long as your iPad or Mac is on the same Wi-Fi network and signed in to the same iCloud account as your iPhone, you can effortlessly make and receive phone calls on those devices.

Setting Up for Calls

1. Ensure your devices are compatible: This feature works with iPads running iPadOS 8.1 or later and Macs running OS X Yosemite or later.
2. Enable Wi-Fi Calling: On your iPhone, go to Settings > Phone > Wi-Fi Calling and toggle it on.
3. Enable Calls on Other Devices:
   • On iPhone: Go to Settings > Phone > Calls on Other Devices and enable “Allow Calls on Other Devices.”
   • On iPad: Go to Settings > FaceTime and turn on “Calls from iPhone.”
   • On Mac: Open the FaceTime app, go to FaceTime > Preferences, and check “Calls from iPhone.”

Making a Call

• On iPad:
  • Using FaceTime: Open the FaceTime app, enter the contact’s name or number, and tap the phone icon.
  • Using Contacts: Open the Contacts app, select a contact, and tap the phone icon.
  • Using Safari: If you see a phone number on a webpage, you can tap it to initiate a call.
  • Using Siri: Ask Siri to “call [contact name]” or “dial [phone number].”
• On Mac:
  • Using FaceTime: Open the FaceTime app, enter the contact’s name or number, and click the phone icon.
  • Using Contacts: Open the Contacts app, select a contact, and click the phone icon.
  • Using Safari: If you see a phone number on a webpage, you can click it to initiate a call.
  • Using Spotlight: Press Command + Space to open Spotlight, type the contact’s name or number, and press Enter. Then, click the phone icon.
  • Using Siri: Ask Siri to “call [contact name]” or “dial [phone number].”

Receiving a Call

When you receive a call on your iPhone, a notification will appear on your iPad and Mac. You can answer the call directly on either device.

• On iPad: Tap the notification to answer the call.
• On Mac: Click the notification to answer the call.

During a Call

You can use the standard call controls (mute, speakerphone, keypad) on your iPad or Mac just like you would on your iPhone. You can also transfer the call back to your iPhone if needed.

Making Calls on Apple Devices

Apple’s ecosystem allows users to make and receive phone calls on various devices. iPads and Macs can handle calls when paired with an iPhone on the same Wi-Fi network. The FaceTime app enables audio calls on these devices. Users can dial numbers directly or select contacts to initiate calls. On Macs, the Contacts app provides quick access to phone numbers. iPads running iOS 8 or later and Macs with OS X Yosemite or newer support this feature. For setup, users must enable the “Calls on Other Devices” option in their iPhone settings. This integration streamlines communication across Apple products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can iPads make calls without an iPhone?

iPads cannot make cellular calls without an iPhone. They rely on Wi-Fi calling or cellular data connection to an iPhone. Some iPads with cellular capabilities can send SMS messages and make FaceTime audio calls using their own data plan.

Using a SIM card for iPad calls

Most iPads don’t have SIM card slots for making traditional phone calls. iPad Pro models with cellular support have SIM slots, but these are for data connectivity only. They can’t make regular phone calls using a SIM card.

Fixing call issues on Apple devices

Try these steps to resolve call problems:

1. Check Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections
2. Restart all devices
3. Sign out and back into iCloud
4. Update iOS/macOS to the latest version
5. Reset network settings

If issues persist, contact Apple Support for further assistance.

Making calls from Mac without iPhone

Macs can’t make cellular calls without an iPhone. They can make internet-based calls using:

• FaceTime Audio
• Skype
• Google Voice
• Other VoIP services

These require an internet connection and the appropriate app or service.

Managing iPhone calls on iPad

iPhone calls may route to your iPad if you’ve enabled call forwarding in your settings. To manage this:

1. Open Settings on your iPhone
2. Tap Phone > Calls on Other Devices
3. Toggle off “Allow Calls on Other Devices” or selectively disable for specific devices

This prevents your iPad from receiving iPhone calls.

Switching calls between iPhone and iPad

To transfer an active call:

1. Ensure both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network
2. On the receiving device, tap the green bar at the top of the screen
3. Select “Handoff” to transfer the call

The call will seamlessly switch to the new device without interruption.