How to Invite Someone to a Facebook Video Call

Facebook video calls run through Messenger, either in the Messenger app or in the chat area of Facebook on a computer. You can invite someone in two ways: start a call from a conversation and add people, or share a call link if your version of the app offers one. This guide covers both and explains how to check that your camera and microphone are ready before anyone joins.

Before you start

• A Facebook account signed in to Messenger on a phone, tablet or computer, using an up-to-date app or a current browser.
• A working internet connection. The call runs on Meta's service, not locally on your device, so audio and video pass through their servers.
• Camera permission and microphone permission granted to the Messenger app or to your browser for Facebook. Without them, the call may connect with a black video tile or no sound.
• A way to reach the person you want to invite: an existing Messenger conversation, or another private channel for sending a link.
• Awareness that a call link can work as an open door. Depending on the link's settings, anyone who receives it may be able to request to join or join directly. Check what your app shows about who can use the link rather than assuming it is restricted.

Features and button labels differ between the mobile app, the desktop app and the browser version, and they change over time. Older guides may describe features that are no longer available. If an option mentioned here does not appear, use what your current app shows and check Meta's own help pages for your version.

Step-by-step instructions

Option 1: invite someone from a conversation. This is the most reliable method because it does not depend on link features.

• Open Messenger and go to the conversation with the person you want to call. For several people, open an existing group chat or create a new one with everyone you want to include.
• Tap or click the video camera icon at the top of the conversation to start the video call. Everyone in that chat is notified.
• If you need to add someone after the call has started, look for an option to add people in the call controls. If your version offers it, choose the person from your contacts.
• Wait for the other person to accept. If they miss the call, they can usually call back from the same conversation.

Option 2: share a Facebook video call link. Some versions of Messenger let you create a link that others can open to join a call. Availability depends on your app version and account, so treat this as optional.

• Look in the calls area of Messenger, or in the call controls during an active call, for an option to create or share a link.
• Copy the link and send it only to the people you want to invite, using a private message or another trusted channel. Avoid posting it in public groups or comments.
• Open the call yourself first so you are there when guests arrive, and watch for any join requests you need to approve.
• When the call is over, end it. If your app lets you remove or reset the link, do so when you no longer need it, so an old invitation cannot be reused.

Both methods are easy to undo: you can leave or end a call at any time, and turning your camera or microphone off in the call controls does not disconnect you. Before inviting others, check which camera and microphone are selected, especially on a computer with a built-in webcam and an external one. In a browser, the camera and microphone choice is usually controlled through the site permission settings; in the desktop app, through its audio and video settings if present.

Check the output

• Confirm the invite arrived. Ask the person whether they received the call notification or the link, and whether it opened Messenger or a browser page.
• Check your own preview. Your video tile should show the selected camera, not a black frame or a different device. If you have more than one camera, switch between them in the call settings to confirm the right one is active.
• Check sound in both directions. Ask the other person to speak and confirm you hear them, then confirm they hear you without echo.
• Look at picture quality. Messenger adjusts video quality automatically based on your connection and device, so you generally cannot set resolution, frame rate or bitrate yourself. A soft or choppy picture usually points to bandwidth, a busy device, or poor lighting rather than a setting you missed.
• Improve what you can control. Face a window or lamp instead of sitting with a bright light behind you, close apps that upload or stream in the background, and move closer to your router or use a wired connection on a computer.

If you plan to record a call, first check whether your current version of Messenger offers recording at all; do not assume it does. If you use a separate screen recorder, choose the correct capture source (the call window, not the whole screen, if you want to avoid capturing other content) and a recording format your editing or sharing tools support. Tell everyone on the call before recording and follow the consent rules that apply where you and they are located. Where the recording file is stored, and who can access it, depends on the tool you use, so check that before sharing it.

Common problems and next steps

• No option to create a call link: the feature may not be available in your app version, platform or account. Update the app, try the other platform (mobile versus computer), or use Option 1 and invite people from a conversation instead.
• The invited person cannot open the link: ask them to sign in to Facebook or Messenger, update the app, or try a different current browser. A link that was reset, removed or tied to an ended call may no longer work, so send a fresh one.
• The person never got the call notification: check that you started the call from the right conversation, and ask them to check their notification settings and whether they are signed in on the device they are watching.
• Black video or camera not detected: make sure camera permission is allowed for the app or browser, close other apps that may be using the camera, and confirm the selected camera in the call settings. On a computer, also check the operating system's privacy settings for camera access.
• Others cannot hear you, or you hear echo: confirm the correct microphone is selected and not muted, lower speaker volume, or use headphones.
• Frozen or blurry video: this is usually caused by the connection. Pause downloads and uploads, move closer to the router, or turn off your video briefly so audio can stay stable.
• Someone unexpected joined via a shared link: remove them if your app allows it, or end the call. Stop using that link and send a new invitation privately.

If calls still fail after these checks, test your camera and microphone outside Messenger to see whether the problem is the device or the call service. If the hardware works elsewhere, the issue is most likely in the app, browser permissions or account, and Meta's help pages for your platform are the next place to look.