How to Make a Video Call on Facebook Messenger

This page was translated using AI and machine learning.

(Pocket-lint) – Facebook lets you use its Messenger platform to make one-to-one video calls and group video calls with up to 50 people through Messenger Rooms, which is like a virtual hangout, where friends can just drop by to say hello.

Here’s everything you need to know to make video calls on Messenger.

Getting started with Facebook Messenger

Facebook Messenger is one of the most widely used messaging services, with more than 700 million people making calls to it every day. It’s free and offers several communication features, including video calling, and it’s available worldwide, on a range of devices.

You can install the Messenger app on your iPhone or Android phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play respectively. There’s also a Messenger app for macOS and Windows desktops.

You can also access Messenger from Facebook on the web or from the dedicated Messenger web application. Installing or using the latest version of Messenger guarantees you access to the latest features.

• Click here to get the latest version of the Messenger app.

If you were to deactivate your Facebook account, you can still use Messenger. In fact, you can share photos, videos, start group chats, and more – all without a Facebook account. Eventually, Facebook said it hopes to integrate all of its messaging platforms, including WhatsAapp and Instagram, so users can start a conversation and access it from any Facebook service.

The first phase of this effort comes in the form of Messenger Rooms, a video calling feature introduced in 2020, which we examine in detail below.

How do I video chat with a person or a group on Messenger?

You can video chat with a single person or with a group of people using Messenger.

Messenger mobile app for iOS and Android

In the chats area, open a conversation with the person or group you want to video chat with, then click the video call icon.

Remark : If you are not connected to Wi-Fi when making a video call with your mobile device, the feature will use your existing data plan.

You can download the Messanger mobile app for iOS from here, and for Android from here.

Facebook.com or Messenger.com

In the chats area, open a conversation with the person or group you want to video call, then click the video call icon.

Remark : calling on messenger.com or facebook.com is only available on Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Opera browsers.

Messenger desktop app for Mac and Windows

In the chats area, open a conversation with the person or group you want to video chat with, then click the video call icon (see above).

You can download the Messenger desktop app for Mac here, and for Windows here.

Facebook Portal Devices

Calls on Portal can be received on Portal devices, the Messenger app on mobile phones or tablets, messenger.com or facebook.com, or WhatsApp on mobile phones. But you can’t use Portal to call Messenger connections that don’t have a Facebook account – it’s confusing, we know.

Anyway, to make a video call on a Portal, make sure to add your Facebook Messenger account during the initial setup of the device, then you can just say to it, “Hey Portal, call [nom du contact].” Portal may ask you to confirm the contact you are trying to call.

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How do chat rooms work?

Facebook launched a video calling feature called Messenger Rooms in 2020. It lets you and up to 49 other people join a group video call, which Facebook calls a “room.” You can launch a room from Messenger, Facebook, Instagram Direct, WhatsApp, or Portal, and you can open the call to all or lock it to prevent uninvited people from joining. You can also remove participants.

When you’re in a room, you can use Facebook’s augmented reality filters and replace your background with a virtual one. Facebook offers 360-degree views of exotic locations as backgrounds, as well as beauty filters and filters designed to brighten up a dark room. Don’t forget that Zoom, a popular alternative, also lets you participate in group video calls and use virtual backgrounds.

Create a Messenger Room

Here’s how to create a room from your phone:

1. Open the Messenger mobile app.
2. Tap the People tab at the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap the first person you want to create a room with.
4. Tap on the menu icon with four circles in the lower left corner.
5. Tap Create Room.
6. You can share the piece in your News Feed, Groups, and Events.
7. To share a room with people who don’t have Facebook, you can send them a link.

Rooms are now available globally in the Messenger app. Messenger Rooms will eventually be available across all of Meta’s messaging products, starting with Messenger and Facebook, then Instagram Direct, WhatsApp and Portal.

You can join a room from your phone or computer – no need to download anything. Room calls are not end-to-end encrypted.

You want to know more ?

Check out our Messenger tips and tricks.

Written by Maggie Tillman. Edited by Luke Baker.