You’ve probably been there. You’re trying to test out a new lighting setup for a work call, or maybe you just need to see how that new haircut looks from an angle your bathroom mirror won't allow. You grab your iPhone, open the green icon, and realize there isn't a "Call Me" button. It feels like a weird oversight by Apple, honestly.
Learning how to FaceTime yourself isn't just about vanity or boredom. It’s a genuine utility. It’s basically the digital version of talking to yourself in the mirror, except you can record it, move the camera around, and check your audio levels before a high-stakes interview. But because Apple designed FaceTime as a social platform, they didn't exactly make a "single-player mode" obvious.
If you try to call your own phone number from your own phone, you’ll usually just get a busy signal or a prompt to check your voicemail. It's frustrating. You’re sitting there with a thousand-dollar device and you can’t even use it to see your own face in real-time. But there are ways around this.
Why the Standard "Call Yourself" Method Fails
Most people think they can just go into their contacts, find their own name, and hit the FaceTime button. If you only have one device—say, an iPhone 15—and that’s it, the system gets confused. You’re essentially trying to start a transmission and receive it on the same hardware at the same time.
Apple’s ecosystem relies on unique identifiers like your Apple ID email and your phone number. When these two are tethered to the same physical handset, the handshake fails. You can’t be the caller and the receiver simultaneously on one screen. It’s a hardware limitation disguised as a software loop.
However, the "Apple Ecosystem" is exactly where the solution lives. If you have an iPad, a Mac, or even an old iPhone sitting in a drawer, you're in business. The trick is understanding how Apple routes these calls through your iCloud account versus your SIM card.
The Multi-Device Maneuver
This is the most reliable way to how to FaceTime yourself without the app crashing or giving you that annoying "User Busy" notification. You need two different devices logged into the same Apple ID.
- Grab your iPhone and your iPad (or Mac).
- Go to Settings, then FaceTime on both devices.
- Look at the section that says "You can be reached by FaceTime at."
- Ensure your phone number is checked on the iPhone, and your Apple ID email is checked on the iPad.
- On the iPhone, start a new FaceTime call and type in your email address instead of your phone number.
It’s almost like magic when it works. Your iPad will start ringing. You answer it, and suddenly you’re staring at yourself. You can now prop the iPhone up to check your posture or see how your background looks behind you. Just a heads-up: the feedback loop is going to be brutal. If both devices are in the same room, the microphones will pick up the speakers and create that high-pitched screeching sound. Mute one of them immediately. Seriously. Save your ears.
Can You FaceTime Yourself with Only One Device?
Honestly, not really—at least not in the traditional "ringing" sense. If you are holding an iPhone and want to "call" that same iPhone, the software architecture just won't allow a live duplex connection to itself.
But wait. What is your actual goal?
If you just want to see yourself to check your framing, the Camera app is better anyway. But if you specifically need the FaceTime interface—maybe to test a new Filter or a Memoji—there is a "Group FaceTime" loophole.
The Group Call Trick
Create a Group FaceTime link. You can do this by opening the FaceTime app and tapping Create Link. Send that link to yourself via iMessage or even just copy it to your clipboard.
When you click that link, you join a "room." Even if nobody else is there, the FaceTime camera and interface are active. You’re technically "calling" a space rather than a person. This lets you use the FaceTime-specific tools, like the Portrait mode blur or the studio lighting effects, without needing a second person to pick up on the other end. It’s a solid workaround for creators who want to see exactly how they’ll look on a specific app's interface before the real meeting starts.
Using a Mac as Your Mirror
If you’re a professional, you're probably using FaceTime on a MacBook or an iMac. macOS handles the "self-call" a bit differently than iOS.
On a Mac, you can open the FaceTime app and, in the "New FaceTime" field, enter your own phone number. Sometimes, depending on your macOS version, it will allow the call to go through to your iPhone. It feels redundant, but it’s the best way to test if your continuity camera is working.
The Continuity Camera feature is actually a hidden gem here. Since macOS Ventura, you can use your iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. If you set this up, you aren't exactly calling yourself, but you are using the FaceTime engine to pipe your high-quality rear iPhone camera onto your large Mac screen.
- Open FaceTime on your Mac.
- Go to the Video menu at the top of the screen.
- Select your iPhone from the list of cameras.
- Now you have a giant, high-def mirror.
Troubleshooting the "User Busy" Error
You try to call yourself and it immediately hangs up. This is the most common hurdle. Usually, it’s because "Recieve at" settings are mirrored perfectly. If both your Mac and your iPhone are set to receive calls only at your phone number, the system sees a collision.
Go into your settings and make sure your Mac is set to receive at your email and your iPhone is set to receive at your number. This differentiation is the "secret sauce" for how to FaceTime yourself successfully. If they are identical, the network thinks the line is busy because, well, you’re already using that "line" to place the call.
Why This Matters for Content Creators
I’ve seen plenty of YouTubers and TikTokers struggle with framing. They use the front-facing "selfie" camera because they want to see themselves, but the quality is significantly lower than the back camera.
By FaceTiming yourself from a Mac to an iPhone, you can use the back camera of the iPhone (the good one) while seeing the "monitor" on your Mac screen. It’s a poor man’s monitor setup that works better than some expensive third-party apps. Plus, there’s no lag if you’re on a strong Wi-Fi network.
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Privacy and Safety
Kinda weird to talk about privacy when you’re calling yourself, right? But remember that FaceTime calls are end-to-end encrypted. Even if you’re just using it as a mirror, those data packets are secure.
One thing to watch out for: if you leave a FaceTime link active (the Group FaceTime trick), anyone with that link could technically hop in. If you’re using it for something private, like checking a medical issue or just being silly, make sure you delete the link after you're done. You don't want a "ghost" in your machine.
Technical Requirements for 2026
To get the smoothest experience, make sure you’re running at least iOS 17 or later. Apple has made the "Link" system much more robust in recent updates. If you’re on an older device, like an iPhone 8 or something, the processor might struggle to handle a "self-call" because it’s trying to encode and decode two video streams simultaneously on a single chip. It gets hot. Fast.
Actionable Steps to Get Started
If you’re ready to try this right now, don't overcomplicate it.
Start with the Link method. It’s the easiest because it doesn't require a second device or messing with your iCloud "Reach Me At" settings. Just open FaceTime, hit Create Link, and join it.
If you need a more permanent solution for a home studio:
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- Set up an old iPad as your "Receiver."
- Give it a specific "alias" email in your Apple ID settings.
- Save that email as a contact named "Studio Mirror."
- Call "Studio Mirror" whenever you need to check your setup.
It’s one of those tech "hacks" that feels like you’re breaking the rules, but it’s actually just using the tools provided in a way the engineers didn't quite prioritize. It’s useful, it’s free, and it saves you from having to buy a dedicated external monitor. Just remember to mute that microphone before the feedback loop starts. Honestly, it’s the loudest sound you’ll ever hear in a small room.
Once you’ve mastered the self-call, you might find you use it more than actual calls. It’s the ultimate tool for solo-prep in a digital world. No more "Is my mic working?" or "Can you see my screen?"—you’ll already know the answer because you’ve seen it for yourself.