Can you FaceTime yourself?

You read that right my gamer friends – with a simple iPhone trick, we can literally FaceTime ourselves. Now before you start questioning my sanity, hear me out!

Using two iOS devices and accounts, we can set up a FaceTime video call WITH YOURSELF. While this might sound silly at first, it actually unlocks some creative potential for multi-angle game streaming, practicing against recordings, vlogging, and more.

Let‘s break down everything you need to know to FaceTime yourself. I‘ll even share a few examples of how I‘ve been experimenting with this trick as a streamer and content creator!

Can You Actually Video Call Yourself on FaceTime?

The short answer? Yes, you absolutely can FaceTime yourself with the right setup.

It‘s not as simple as hitting your own name in the FaceTime app though. The key requirement is having TWO iOS devices, with separate phone numbers or Apple IDs configured in the FaceTime settings.

This allows FaceTime to essentially treat them as two different accounts, enabling you to connect a video call between them.

So if you have an iPhone and iPad for example, you‘re primed to get this working! Even two old iPhones can do the trick.

Step-by-Step Guide to FaceTiming Yourself

Ready to FaceTime yourself? Grab those two iOS devices and let‘s walk through it:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > FaceTime and enter a phone number or Apple ID different than your usual one. This will be the secondary account.
2. Repeat step 1 on your iPad or second iOS device, but enter your MAIN number or Apple ID instead.
3. Launch the FaceTime app on both devices.
4. Call from your main iPhone/iPad to the number or Apple ID you added in the settings of the other device.

And that‘s seriously all there is to it! With two devices and two FaceTime accounts, you can now let the video call ring on both ends.

Pro Tip: Add Multiple Numbers/Emails

You can make this even easier by adding several phone numbers or email addresses to the FaceTime settings on each device.

I like to create a few dummy Apple IDs as well. This way you can avoid changing settings each time, and call right from your usual main account.

For example, I have four emails and three phone numbers added to my iPad‘s FaceTime. So my iPhone can pick from several options to call that device specifically.

Getting the Best Quality FaceTime Video Call

Alright, but what about getting the most out of this dual FaceTime setup? Let‘s optimize…

Requirements for Devices and Internet

First, you‘ll benefit from using two newer iOS devices – ideally released in the last 3 years. The iPhone XS and newer for example, along with iPad Pro 11-inch+ models.

Why? Well along with larger, higher resolution screens, these devices pack better front-facing cameras and facial tracking abilities. Ensuring you capture smooth, crystal clear video of yourself on both ends.

Internet speed also plays a big role. For HD video quality, Apple recommends:

So connected to solid WiFi on both devices, FaceTime really shines. Keep in mind cellular data is used if you enable mobile FaceTime calling.

Streaming yourself at 1080p over LTE for example can use 150-300MB an hour. So stick to WiFi if you aren‘t on an unlimited plan!

Position Both Devices Strategically

This should go without saying, but carefully prop up both iOS devices when making a FaceTime video call with yourself.

You want the cameras centered perfectly on your face, stable, and far back enough to capture your whole upper body.

I like to use tripods, stands, and mini tabletop mounts to position my iPad and iPhone. Almost simulating multiple camera angles you‘d have on an actual video set!

Which brings me to the fun part…

Getting Creative: How I‘m Using Dual FaceTime as a Gamer

While FaceTiming yourself might sound silly or egocentric at first, I‘ve found some neat ways to utilize it as a streamer:

Practice Against Video Recordings

By calling my iPad mini from my main iPhone, I can essentially talk to and react to PREVIOUS recordings of myself. Almost like leaving messages back and forth through time!

I‘ll position my iPad to record matches of multiplayer games for example. Then watch back the footage on my iPhone later, practicing commentary and reactions.

This helps me learn from past sessions while simulating a live environment. Gotta have someone to talk to during long solo streams right?

Multi-Angle Game Streaming

More advanced, I‘ve been experimenting with livestreaming using both my front AND back iPhone cameras.

I carefully position my iPad to capture a wide shot of my gaming/work desk from the rear camera. While my iPhone sits in front of me with the selfie shooter aimed at my face through a tripod.

By streaming video from both in a FaceTime call, I essentially have a 2 camera broadcast setup!

The iPad captures my hands on the mouse/keyboard, plus the full monitor in frame. While I provide commentary and reactions through the front-facing iPhone – picture-in-picture.

This allows me to demonstrate gaming techniques up close, while also showing off gameplay. Pretty cool right?

Dual FaceTime for a custom mutli-cam stream (Credit: Reddit u/wrldruler21)

I essentially have a 2 camera broadcast setup without expensive equipment like capture cards! It isn‘t perfect, but delivers pretty impressive results for free.

Now I can stream games like MineCraft and RPGs without any face framing issues. Pair it with a high quality USB mic, and the production value rivals pre-built streaming gear costing $500+.

Split Screen YouTube Recordings

Taking this a step further, I‘ll often use my Streamlabs app to livestream both FaceTime feeds simultaneously to YouTube as a vertical split screen.

This packages things up into a nice dual perspective recording I can upload after. Almost resembling those popular reaction streams you‘ll see online!

Streamlabs even lets me customize the layout with camera feeds side-by-side, picture-in-picture, layered, and more. So I have full creative control of the end result.

Overall, not too shabby for a completely free setup with just two old iPhones!

Key FaceTime Stats and Usage

Before we wrap up, let‘s talk markets. Just how popular is FaceTime anyway? Does anyone really use iOS video calling features?

Well according to Apple, FaceTime has racked up a whopping 1 billion calls per month as of May 2022.

That‘s a 65% increase versus 2020, even with new competition like Zoom. So safe to say LOTS of people actively use FaceTime monthly across all generations.

In terms of usage, a 2021 survey by Statista helps highlight trends:

We clearly see younger demographics from Gen Z to Millennials driving that growth.

But 1 in 4 Baby Boomers actively use FaceTime as well – pretty impressive for a demographic stereotyped as "bad with technology"!

So all generations seem to be adopting video calling features. Which means most iPhone owners you know likely have experience with FaceTime.

That makes the dual account trick more accessible and fun to test out with family and friends too!

Global Reach

It‘s also worth mentioning FaceTime‘s global footprint. As of January 2023, FaceTime is available in these 21 regions according to Apple‘s activation policy:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States

So while not quite globally accessible yet, FaceTime can connect 2 billion active iOS devices across key Western markets. Giving you plenty of people to video call!

With Apple allowing FaceTime links to non-Apple devices now too, I hope to see expansion to more countries this year.

Final Thoughts on My Dual FaceTime Experiments

Well, that sums up my adventures so far in FaceTiming myself across two iOS devices!

While unconventional at first, I‘m surprised at how handy it‘s become for capturing multi-angle streams, reaction videos, and video calls with family.

It takes a little prep work with the ideal device setup and FaceTime app configuration. But once you nail that down, the creative possibilities are endless.

I hope this guide gave you some new ideas to experiment with too! Whether you want to try dabbling in streaming like myself, or just have fun with friends.

Let me know what cool ways you end up using dual FaceTime down below! I‘d love to hear what multipurpose cases you discover.

And as always, live life leveled up. Catch you next time!