How to Make and Receive Phone Calls on Your iPad or Mac

If you need to make a phone call and your iPhone isn't nearby, you can use your iPad or Mac instead thanks to a feature known as iPhone Cellular Calls. It's part of Apple's Continuity system, which is designed to sync and share certain capabilities across iOS, Apple Watch, and Mac, and also includes Handoff and Universal Clipboard.

As long as your iPhone isn't too far away, and you set up both your phone and your tablet with the right options, your iPad can fill in for phone calls. And if your iPad isn't nearby but you're sitting in front of your Mac, you can make and take calls that way as well. Let's see how this all plays out.

System Requirements

Before you can enlist your iPad or Mac as a phone, your devices must meet certain requirements. Your iPhone must be running iOS 8.1 or later and be activated with a carrier, while your iPad must have iOS 8 or later. Your Mac must be on OS X Yosemite or later. A Mac mini or Mac Pro must also have an external microphone or headset.

Further, each device must be signed into iCloud and FaceTime using the same Apple ID. Each device must have Wi-Fi enabled and be connected to the same network using either Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Activate on iPhone

Now you need to allow calls to come through on different devices, so turn to your trusty iPhone first. Open Settings > Phone > Calls on Other Devices. Turn on the switch to Allow Calls on Other Devices. If you have more than one other supported Apple device, such as an iPad and a Mac, you can choose the devices on which you want to allow calls.

Activate on iPad

Next, segue to your iPad. Open Settings > FaceTime. Turn on the switch for Calls from iPhone.

Activate on Mac

On your Mac, open the FaceTime app. Go to FaceTime > Preferences. At the Settings screen, check the box for Calls From iPhone.

Take Calls on iPad

Now when a call comes into your iPhone, it will ring on your iPad as well. Tap the Accept button to pick up the call on your iPad and start talking.

Take Calls on Mac

On your Mac, a small notification pops up alerting you to the incoming call. Click the Accept button to pick up the call.

Make Calls From iPad

To make a phone call from your iPad to a specific contact, open the Contacts app. Select the contact and tap the number you wish to call. The calling screen pops up while you wait for the person to answer.

Dial a Number From iPad

To dial a number manually on your iPad, open the FaceTime app. Tap the + icon. Type the phone number. Make sure the call type is set to Audio and tap the Audio button to place the call.

Make Calls From Mac

To call a contact via your Mac, open the Contacts app. Select the contact and then hover your mouse over the number you want to call. Click the resulting phone icon to place the call.

Dial a Number From Mac

To manually dial a number on your Mac, open the FaceTime app. Type the number. Make sure the call is set to audio and then click the Audio button to make the call.

How to Record Calls on an iPhone

Apple doesn't make it easy to record phone calls, but it's not impossible. Here's how.

About Our Expert

Lance Whitney

Contributor

My Experience

I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, PC World, Time, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.

My Areas of Expertise

I've used Windows, Office, and other Microsoft products for years so I'm well versed in that world. I also know the Mac quite well. I'm always working with iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and Android on my various mobile devices. And these days, I write a lot about AI, so that's become another key area for me.

The Tech I Use

My wife always jokes about all the tech products we have around the house, but I manage to put them to good use for my articles. I like Lenovo computers, so I own a couple of Lenovo desktops and several laptops. I have three MacBooks and a Mac mini. For my mobile life and work, I use an iPhone 16 Pro, iPad Pro, and iPad mini as well as an Apple Watch. But since I write about Android, I own several Android phones and tablets. Like any tech person, I have a cabinet full of cables, wires, and assorted mysterious gadgets. And when it's time to take a break from writing, I have an old Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, both of which I use for exercise and fitness games.

Read the latest from Lance Whitney

Read full bio