How do you video call on Facebook on a Mac?

Video calling on Facebook is a great way to connect face-to-face with friends and family. If you use Facebook on a Mac, you have a couple different options for making video calls.

Using the Facebook Website

The easiest way to video call someone on Facebook is directly through the Facebook website. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Facebook website in your browser of choice (Safari, Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
2. Find the friend you want to call in your Friends list or by searching.
3. Click on your friend’s name to open up their profile.
4. In the upper right corner of your friend’s profile, click the camera icon.
5. This will open up a video calling window. If your friend is available, it will start ringing on their end and connect the video call.

Video calls made on the Facebook website only work if both people are logged into Facebook at the same time. It functions similar to FaceTime – as long as you both have an internet connection and are logged into Facebook, you can make video calls for free.

Using Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is Facebook’s instant messaging app. It allows you to send messages, photos, videos and also make voice and video calls.

Here’s how to make a video call using Facebook Messenger on a Mac:

1. Download the Facebook Messenger app from the Mac App Store and install it.
2. Open the Facebook Messenger app.
3. Log into your Facebook account.
4. Find the friend you want to call in your Friends list.
5. Click on your friend’s name to open up your message thread.
6. At the top of the message thread, click the video camera icon.
7. This will start a video call. Your friend will get notified that you are trying to video call them.

The advantage of using Messenger for video calls is that it works even when the recipient isn’t currently using the app. It will send them a notification that you are trying to reach them. This makes it easier to connect with people spontaneously.

Making Group Video Calls

Both the Facebook website and Messenger apps allow you to make group video calls with multiple participants. Here’s how:

On the Facebook Website

1. Start a video call with one person using the steps above.
2. Once you are connected, click the + icon in the bottom right corner.
3. Search for the names of other friends you want to add and click the “Invite” button.
4. Your video call will now add additional participants as they accept the invite and join the call.

On Facebook Messenger

1. Open a group text message thread with the people you want to video chat with.
2. Click the video camera icon at the top.
3. Everyone in the group message will get an invite to join the video call.
4. As participants accept the invite, they will be added to the group video call.

Facebook supports up to 50 participants on a group video call, so it’s great for talking with larger groups of people at the same time.

Video Call Quality and Settings

The video quality you get on Facebook calls depends on a few factors:

• Your internet connection speed – Faster internet means higher quality video. For the best experience, use a wired ethernet connection or connect to 5Ghz WiFi.
• Your webcam – The quality of your camera plays a big role. MacBooks and iMacs have decent built-in webcams.
• Lighting – Make sure you are in a well-lit area so the person on the other end can see you clearly.
• Video settings – Facebook allows you to change some settings that affect video quality:

On the Facebook Website

1. Click on the settings gear in the upper right corner of an in-progress call.
2. You can toggle HD video on or off and select different bandwidth modes to save data.

In Facebook Messenger

1. In your message thread, tap your profile picture.
2. Go to Preferences > Video Calling.
3. Here you can set HD video calling and change other preferences.

Experiment with these settings to find the right balance between video quality and internet data usage that works for you.

Troubleshooting Facebook Video Calls on a Mac

If you are having issues making or receiving video calls using Facebook on your Mac, here are some things you can try:

• Make sure you have the latest version of Facebook, Messenger and your browser software installed.
• Allow Facebook access to your camera in the Mac privacy settings.
• Check your internet connection speed and switch networks if needed.
• Restart your Mac and router if you suspect an issue.
• Log out and back into Facebook to reset things.
• Clear the browser cookies and cache if using the website.
• Uninstall and reinstall the Messenger app if needed.

You can also visit Facebook’s Help Center for more video calling troubleshooting tips. They have articles that can walk you through resolving common problems.

Conclusion

Video calling right from Facebook is a convenient way to see the faces of your friends and family. On a Mac, you can video chat using either the Facebook website or Messenger app.

To recap, here are some key tips to get started video calling on Facebook from a Mac:

• Use the website for quick video calls when both people are on Facebook
• Try Messenger for more flexibility to call people even when they aren’t active
• Add multiple people for group video calls
• Adjust video settings for optimal quality
• Troubleshoot issues with connection, software updates, privacy settings

With these tips, you’ll be video chatting on Facebook like a pro in no time! It’s a fun way to visually connect with the important people in your life right from your Mac.