Calling Without Clive? How to FaceTime on iPad Without a Phone Number (Because Numbers Are So 2008)
Let's face it (pun intended!), sometimes you just don't have someone's phone number. Maybe they're a secret internet crush you met on a particularly niche pickle appreciation forum (weirder things have happened). Perhaps it's your grandma who keeps forgetting how to save contacts on her flip phone (bless her heart). Whatever the reason, fear not, fellow iPad aficionados! There are ways to initiate a FaceTime call without resorting to that dusty old phone number rolodex in your desk drawer.
Embrace the Power of Email: It's Not Dead Yet!
This might sound crazy in our age of instant messaging, but yes, Virginia, email still exists! And guess what? You can actually use it to FaceTime. Here's the 411:
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The Setup: Make sure you and your friend are both signed in to FaceTime with your Apple IDs. You can check this in Settings > FaceTime. Bonus points if you have a ridiculously embarrassing email address from your high school days – it's sure to be a conversation starter!
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Initiate Takeoff: Open the FaceTime app and tap on "New FaceTime". Here's the magic – instead of a phone number field, you can simply type in their email address.
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Hit Send (and Pray They Check Their Inbox): Now, all you have to do is tap that glorious "FaceTime" button and hope they accept your call. Be prepared for some serious confusion if they haven't gotten the memo about email FaceTiming yet.
Pro Tip: If you're feeling fancy, you can also start a FaceTime call from within your email app! Just find their email, tap on their contact info, and voila! The option to FaceTime should be there.
Let's Get Linking: Enter the FaceTime Force
This one's a bit more futuristic. Apple, in its infinite wisdom, has blessed us with the ability to create FaceTime links. Here's the deal:
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The Link Master: Open the FaceTime app and tap on "New FaceTime". This time, however, tap on "Create Link".
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Spreading the Love (Link): Voila! A magical FaceTime link appears. You can share this link however your heart desires: text message, carrier pigeon, smoke signals – the possibilities are endless (although carrier pigeon might be a bit slow).
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Beam Me Up, Scotty (or Should We Say FaceTime?): When your friend clicks on the link, they'll be prompted to join the FaceTime call. Easy as pie (or perhaps, easy as pickle – for our forum friend).
Caution: FaceTime Links are like fine wine – best enjoyed fresh! They expire after a short while, so don't create one and then forget about it for a month (unless you're trying to recreate that awkward moment in middle school when you asked someone out a year too late).
So there you have it! The next time you need to FaceTime someone on your iPad and their phone number is a mystery, channel your inner email warrior or embrace the power of the link. Now go forth and conquer the world of video calls, minus the phone number hassle!
