Video Call Basics for Grandparents and Families

Summary: Video calling is one of the most rewarding ways to use a phone or tablet. This guide walks through the basics: how to join a call, control your camera and microphone, and handle a few common situations safely and without stress.

Video Call Basics for Grandparents and Families

There is something special about seeing the face of someone you love, even from across the country. Video calling makes that possible, and once you have done it a few times, it becomes one of the most natural and comforting ways to stay connected.

If video calls feel a little uncertain right now, that is completely understandable. Every new technology feels that way at first. This guide walks through the basics in plain, simple steps so you can feel comfortable before your next call.

What You Need to Get Started

To make a video call, you need three things:

1. A device with a front-facing camera, such as a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
2. An internet connection, either Wi-Fi at home or mobile data.
3. An app that both you and the person you are calling are using. Common options include FaceTime (for Apple devices), Google Meet, Zoom, and WhatsApp.

Your family member will usually take the lead on setting up the first call and walking you through joining. You do not need to have everything figured out on your own.

How to Join a Video Call

If someone sends you a link to join a call:

1. Tap the link in the message or email.
2. The app or your browser will open and ask if you want to join the call.
3. Tap "Join" or "Allow" when prompted.
4. If it asks to access your camera and microphone, tap "Allow." This is necessary for the call to work.
5. You should see yourself in a small box and the other person in a larger one.

If you are calling someone directly through an app like FaceTime or WhatsApp, find their name in your contacts, tap the video camera icon, and wait for them to answer.

Adjusting Your Camera and Sound

A few simple adjustments can make your call much more comfortable:

• Camera angle. Prop your device up so the camera is roughly at eye level. You can use a stand, a stack of books, or just lean it against something stable. Looking at the camera rather than the screen helps others feel like you are making eye contact.
• Lighting. Try to have a light source in front of you rather than behind you. Sitting near a window that faces you works well during daytime calls.
• Sound. Speak in a normal voice. You do not need to shout. If others say they cannot hear you, look for the microphone icon on the screen and make sure it is not muted.

Muting and Unmuting Yourself

When you are on a call with more than two people, you may want to mute yourself when you are not speaking. This cuts down on background noise for everyone.

• Look for a microphone icon at the bottom of the screen.
• If it has a line through it or is red, you are muted. Tap it to unmute.
• If it looks normal with no line, you are unmuted and others can hear you.

It is very common to forget you are muted and start talking. If someone on the call says "you are on mute," simply tap the microphone icon and repeat what you were saying. It happens to everyone.

Privacy and Safety During Video Calls

Video calls are generally very safe, but a few habits help protect your privacy:

• Only join calls from people you know and trust. If you receive a link from an unknown number or email address, do not click it. Verify with the person who supposedly sent it first.
• Be mindful of what is behind you. You do not need to tidy everything, but make sure nothing sensitive is visible in the background, such as documents with personal information.
• Do not share your screen unless you know what you are doing. Sharing your screen gives others a view of everything on your device. Only do this if a trusted family member explicitly asks and walks you through it.

What Not to Do

• Do not panic if the call disconnects. It happens regularly and is usually just an internet hiccup. Wait a moment and rejoin using the same link or call back through the app.
• Do not feel rushed. If you need a moment to find the mute button or adjust your camera, take it. No one minds a brief pause.
• Do not click on links that appear in the chat window of a video call from someone you do not recognize.