When your iPhone rings, your Mac can ring too, so you can answer without reaching for your phone, and dial any number straight from Contacts, Calendar, or a web page. Apple calls this iPhone Cellular Calls, part of Continuity. It uses your iPhone plan and number, and it takes about two minutes to set up. Here is every step, plus what to do when your Mac stays silent.
What you need first
- An iPhone with an activated carrier plan (iOS 8.1 or later, but you will want the current iOS).
- Your iPhone and Mac signed in to the same Apple Account for both FaceTime and iCloud.
- Both devices on the same Wi-Fi network, with your iPhone nearby. (Wi-Fi Calling, below, removes the nearby requirement.)
Step 1: Turn it on on your iPhone
- Open Settings > Apps > FaceTime and make sure FaceTime is on. Under You can be reached by FaceTime at, confirm your phone number is selected for Caller ID.
- Open Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls on Other Devices.
- Turn on Allow Calls on Other Devices, then turn on your Mac in the list underneath.
Step 2: Turn it on on your Mac
- Open the FaceTime app.
- In the menu bar choose FaceTime > Settings (called Preferences on older macOS).
- Turn on Calls from iPhone.
That is it. The next time your iPhone rings, a notification appears in the top-right corner of your Mac.
How to answer a call on your Mac
When a call comes in, a banner shows the caller and two buttons. Click Accept to answer through your Mac speakers and microphone, or Decline to send it to voicemail. You can keep working in other apps during the call, and click the notification again to bring the call controls back.
How to make a call from your Mac
- macOS Tahoe 26 or later: there is now a dedicated Phone app, just like on iPhone, with your recents, favorites, and a keypad.
- Any supported macOS: click or Control-click a phone number wherever it appears, in Contacts, Calendar, Messages, Spotlight, or Safari, and choose to call it. Safari even detects phone numbers on web pages and makes them clickable.
Wi-Fi Calling: ring your Mac even when your iPhone is in another room
The basic setup needs your iPhone nearby. Wi-Fi Calling lets your Mac make and take calls even when the iPhone is off, asleep, or in another room, as long as your carrier supports it.
- On your iPhone: Settings > Cellular (tap your line if you have more than one SIM) > Wi-Fi Calling, and turn on Wi-Fi Calling on This iPhone.
- Go back and open Calls on Other Devices again, confirm Allow Calls on Other Devices is on, and turn on your Mac under Allow Calls On.
- On your Mac, make sure Calls from iPhone is still on in FaceTime settings.
Note: Wi-Fi Calling on other devices depends on your carrier, and normal cellular charges may apply. If you sign out of iCloud or FaceTime on the iPhone, Wi-Fi Calling switches off.
My Mac will not ring: fixes in order
- Same Apple Account? Confirm the iPhone and Mac use the same Apple Account for both FaceTime and iCloud. This is the number-one cause.
- Same Wi-Fi? Without Wi-Fi Calling, both devices must be on the same network and the iPhone must be nearby.
- Toggle it off and back on. On the iPhone, turn Allow Calls on Other Devices off, wait a few seconds, turn it back on, and re-check your Mac in the list.
- Check the Mac side. Reopen FaceTime > Settings and confirm Calls from iPhone is enabled.
- Focus / Do Not Disturb. A Focus mode on the Mac can silence call banners. Check Control Center.
- Restart both devices and make sure each is on the latest software. Continuity features are picky about mismatched versions.
- Carrier Wi-Fi Calling. If only the away-from-phone case fails, confirm your carrier actually offers Wi-Fi Calling.
Keep going with Continuity
Once calls work, the rest of Apple’s Continuity features are worth turning on too:
- Use Handoff to resume any app between iPhone and Mac, plus Universal Clipboard.
- Use your iPhone as a Mac webcam with Continuity Camera.
- Connect your Mac to your iPhone hotspot instantly.
- Video calls acting up? Fix FaceTime not working on Mac.
Continuity works best on a Mac running current macOS. If yours is aging out of updates, a certified refurbished Mac from our Apple clearance lineup gets you back on the latest features for far less than new.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Wi-Fi Calling to answer calls on my Mac?
No. With the basic setup, your Mac rings whenever your iPhone is nearby on the same Wi-Fi network. Wi-Fi Calling is only needed if you want your Mac to work when the iPhone is away or off.
Does this use my iPhone plan minutes?
Yes. These are real cellular calls placed through your iPhone and carrier plan, using your existing phone number. Your Mac is just the speaker and microphone.
Why does my Mac say my iPhone is not configured to allow calls?
Turn on Settings > Apps > Phone > Calls on Other Devices > Allow Calls on Other Devices on the iPhone, then enable your Mac in the list. Make sure both devices use the same Apple Account.
Can I make a call without opening FaceTime?
Yes. On macOS Tahoe 26 there is a dedicated Phone app. On any supported macOS you can click a phone number in Contacts, Calendar, Messages, or Safari to place the call.