Can You Screen Record FaceTime on iPhone, iPad, and Mac? (Complete Guide)

FaceTime is a big part of daily life for millions of Apple users—over 100 million people use it every month to chat with friends, family, or coworkers.

If you’ve ever wondered, can you screen record FaceTime? Maybe to save a special moment or keep track of something important. A lot of people get confused about how it works, or if it’s even possible on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Don’t worry this guide has you covered.

In this guide we will discuss what you can and can’t do when it comes to recording FaceTime calls, how to do it right, and what to keep in mind when hitting that record button. Let’s get into it!

Making video call.

Part 1. How to Screen Record Facetime on iPhone/iPad

So, can you screen-record a Facetime call? Yes, screen recording a FaceTime call on your iPhone or iPad is pretty simple once you have everything set up. Apple gives you a built-in screen recording feature that’s easy to use, but there are a few things to know before jumping in.

Before getting started, make sure:

  • iOS 11 or later is installed on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Screen Recording is added to your Control Center. To do that, go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls, then tap the green + next to Screen Recording.

Here’s how to start recording your FaceTime screen:

Step 1. On more recent models, slide down from the top right to open the Control Center; on older models, swipe up from the bottom.

Step 2. Long-press the Screen Recording button.

Step 3. Tap the Microphone icon to turn it on (this records your voice and background sounds).

Step 4. Tap Start Recording—you’ll see a 3-second countdown.

Step 5. Exit Control Center, open FaceTime and start your call.

Step 6. To stop recording, tap the red timer at the top of your screen and select Stop.

Step 7. The recording will be saved automatically in your Photos app.

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Quick heads-up:
  • By default, screen recording on iPhone or iPad only captures the video and any external sound—like your voice or background noise around you. It won’t record the other person’s voice on the FaceTime call, which is a built-in privacy feature from Apple.

To make sure your own voice and other external audio are included in the recording:

Step 1. Long-press the Screen Recording icon in the Control Center.

Step 2. Tap the Microphone to turn it On.

Step 3. This way, the screen recorder picks up anything your mic hears, including your side of the conversation.

Part 2. How to Screen Record Facetime on Mac

Capturing FaceTime calls on your Mac is surprisingly easy, thanks to Apple's built-in screen recording feature. In the section below, you'll learn how to use both the built-in macOS screen recorder and QuickTime Player to screen capture your FaceTime calls.

Method 1. Using the macOS Screen Recording Tool to record

Your Mac has a useful built-in screenshot feature that you can launch from a handy keyboard shortcut. It will let you take a picture of your whole screen or just a selected area—perfect for FaceTime chats. This is how you can do it step by step:

Step 1. Start Your FaceTime Call

  • Open the FaceTime app and begin your call.
  • For the clearest video, switch the call to full screen.

Step 2. Open the Screen Recorder

  • Press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 on your keyboard.
  • A screen recording toolbar will pop up.

Step 3. Choose What to Record

  • Drag to pick only the FaceTime window, or record the entire screen.

Step 4. Turn On Microphone Audio

  • Click Options on the toolbar.
  • Under “Microphone,” choose Built-in Microphone or your preferred audio input.

👉 Important: This setup only captures your audio, not the other person’s voice—unless you use extra software like a loopback tool.

Step 5. Hit Record

  • Click the Record button and go ahead with your call.

Step 6. Stop and Save

  • Click the Stop button in the top menu bar when you’re done, or press Command (⌘) + Shift + 5 again and hit Stop Recording.
  • Your video will be saved automatically—usually to your desktop.

Method 2. Using QuickTime Player

If you’d rather use a familiar app or want a bit more control over your recording settings, QuickTime Player is another great option. It’s already installed on every Mac and offers a clean, no-fuss way to record your screen and microphone audio.

Here’s how to record FaceTime with QuickTime:

Step 1. Open QuickTime Player.

Step 2. Go to File > New Screen Recording.

Step 3. Pick the Built-in Microphone.

Step 4. Hit Record.

Step 5. Open FaceTime and make your call.

Step 6. Click the Stop button to finish.

QuickTime gives you a bit more control over the recording setup, and it’s a great alternative if you prefer not to use macOS shortcuts.

Part 3. Can You Screen Record on Someone's FaceTime without The Person Knowing

Yes, it’s possible to screen-record someone’s FaceTime activity without their knowing it, but you’ll need a monitoring tool like Msafely to do it.

Msafely is a powerful and discreet phone monitoring solution that gives you remote access to another person’s phone activities, including FaceTime usage, calls, messages, and more — all without alerting the target user.

There’s no need to install software on your own device. You simply log into your personal control panel from any browser and start monitoring instantly. Msafely works for both Android and iOS devices and uses encryption to keep your data private and secure.

Msafely homepage screenshot.

Key features of Msafely - perfect for monitoring FaceTime secretly

Msafely is packed with features that make it easy to monitor someone’s FaceTime calls and overall phone activity without detection:

This is the key feature that allows you to monitor FaceTime calls in real time. When someone is on a FaceTime video call, you can view it live and even record it silently from your dashboard without the person ever knowing.

You can use the microphone or camera on the target device to hear or see what's going on around the user during the call. This gives you a fuller picture of what’s going on, especially during private or suspicious FaceTime conversations.

Alongside FaceTime activity, you can see a full history of phone calls made and received, as well as all text messages, even deleted ones. Msafely lets you dive into the content of these messages to better understand the context of the conversations.

If the person you want to monitor is using any other messaging or video call applications like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook Messenger, you can monitor them as well. Msafely keeps an eye on chats, pictures, videos, and documents exchanged on these applications, so you won't miss anything.

If you want to know where the target device is while on a FaceTime call, Msafely updates live location on a map, allowing you to track movements in real-time. This is useful if you're suspicious of where they say they are.

You can also check what websites the user is visiting and see a log of all Wi-Fi networks they’ve connected to — providing more context around their phone behavior.

You can set up zones and receive automatic alerts whenever the person enters or leaves these areas. If someone is FaceTiming in a place they shouldn't be, you’ll know instantly.

Msafely iPhone monitoring demo.

How to use Msafely to secretly monitor FaceTime calls

Setting up Msafely is simple and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how you can start monitoring FaceTime and other activities:

Step 1. Visit Msafely website and click on “Sign Up Free.” Use your email to create a free account.

Register a free Msafely account.

Step 2. You’ll be asked whether you want to monitor an Android phone or an iPhone. Select the appropriate option.

Choose the target device.

Step 3. Pick a subscription plan and follow the connection instructions.

Step 4. Once the device is connected, log in to your secure Msafely dashboard and start viewing the target phone’s activities in real-time — including FaceTime screen activity and much more.

Msafely FaceTime monitoring demo.

Part 4. FAQs

Q1. Can you screen-record a FaceTime call on an iPhone?

Yes, you can! Just use the built-in screen recording tool from your Control Center.

Q2. Will FaceTime notify the other person if I record the screen?

No, FaceTime doesn’t alert anyone if you’re screen recording the call.

Q3. Is there a way to secretly record someone else’s FaceTime?

Yes, with tools like Msafely, but always consider legal and ethical concerns.

Q4. Do I need third-party apps to record FaceTime calls?

Not for basic screen recording, but you’ll need one if you want more audio or stealth features.

Q5. Where do FaceTime screen recordings save on iPhone?

They’re saved automatically in your Photos app—easy to find and share.

Part 5. Summary

You can screen record FaceTime calls on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, but with a few limitations. Apple lets you capture your screen easily, though privacy settings mean you won’t hear the other person’s voice unless you use extra tools. If you're just looking to save your side of a conversation or a special moment, Apple’s built-in options are enough.

But if you need full, discreet monitoring, a tool like Msafely offers more control. Whatever your reason, just be mindful of privacy laws and always respect the other person’s consent when recording.