Dina Bader: Your FaceTime game is on point with real-time Memoji and more!

Memoji and Animoji can spruce up your plain old FaceTime calls. Here's how!

FaceTime is Apple's video chat feature built into iPhone, iPad, Mac, and even Apple TV (using AirPlay mirroring). You can call one person or a group of people (up to 32!). It's also loads of fun. On an iPhone or iPad Pro with Face ID, you can stick an Animoji or Memoji right on top of your face and video chat with anyone in real-time. There are also filters you can use to change the way you look to others (like Comic Book or Watercolor) and stickers, including third-party stickers, that you can drop right onto your screen to make everyone laugh. Here's how to use real-time Animoji, Memoji, stickers, and filters with FaceTime.

Note: Animoji and Memoji are only available on devices with the True Depth camera system, which are iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPad Pro (2018), and iPad Pro (2020).

How to use Memoji or Animoji in real-time with FaceTime
How to use stickers in real-time with FaceTime
How to use filters in real-time with FaceTime

How to use Memoji or Animoji in real-time with FaceTime with iPhone and iPad

Animoji are standard, and already a part of iOS for iPhone X and newer and iPad Pro (2018). You can use one of 20 different animals as your replacement head. They're there, and you don't have to do anything to set them up.

If, however, you haven't already set up your Memoji, you should do so before you start your first (or next) FaceTime call so you can surprise your friends and family with an adorable cartoon version of yourself.

How to create a Memoji

Remember, Animoji and Memoji are only available on devices with the True Depth camera system, which are iPhone X, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPad Pro (2018), and iPad Pro (2020).

Launch FaceTime on an iPhone or iPad Pro with Face ID.
Tap the effects button in the lower-left corner. It looks like a star.
Tap the Animoji button. It looks like a monkey.
Select an Animoji or Memoji (you can make multiples).
Tap outside of your viewfinder to go back to your FaceTime chat view.

When you tap an Animoji or Memoji, it will appear right over your head. You can talk and move your head around, and the Animoji or Memoji will mimic nearly everything your face does (including sticking out your tongue!).

How to use stickers in real-time with FaceTime on iPhone and iPad

Did you know you can slap a sticker onto your screen while you're real-time chatting with someone in FaceTime? Pandas, robots, guitars, you name it. You can use Apple's built-in stickers or even third-party favorites. For third-parties, be sure to download the developer's app that supports stickers first. You can move stickers around and increase or decrease their size, too — all while live-chatting with friends and family.

Launch FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap the effects button in the lower-left corner. It looks like a star.
Select a sticker pack. It will look like an app icon.
Hold your finger on the sticker until it hovers.
Drag the sticker to your personal view screen (place a panda on your shoulder or a mustache on your lip).
Pinch in or out on the sticker to change the size.
Hold your finger on the sticker until it hovers and drag it to a new location if you want to move it.
Tap outside of your viewfinder to go back to your FaceTime chat view.

Decorate your screen however you want, and the person or people you're talking to will see all the fun stuff.

Presenting Memoji stickers

In iOS 13 and iPadOS 13, Apple introduced Memoji stickers. Based on your original Memoji creations, these digital stickers are usable across your iPhone and iPad apps, just like any other sticker pack that lives in your keyboard.

How to use Memoji stickers on iPhone and iPad in iOS 13

How to use filters in real-time with FaceTime

Filters change the overall look of your entire screen. It can be subtle, like adding a bit of warmth or coolness to the image, or it can be bold, like turning everything black and white. You can even give yourself a watercolor, ink, or comic book makeover, all while chatting in real-time in FaceTime.

Launch FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap the effects button in the lower-left corner. It looks like a star.
Tap the Filters button. It looks like a Venn Diagram of red, green, and blue circles.
Select a filter.
Tap outside of your viewfinder to go back to your FaceTime chat view.

Any questions?

Do you have any questions about using Animoji and Memoji, stickers, and filters in real-time in FaceTime? Put them in the comments, and we'll help you out.

Updated June 2020: Added information about more recent iPhones and iPads, tweaked some language for clarity.