Calling a TV
How do I video call a TV from my phone?
You can video call a TV from your phone when the TV has a camera on it and a calling app that can ring it, and your phone has the matching app. Put both in place once, and from then on you press a name on your phone and the TV rings in the living room.
Updated October 26, 2026
The short answer
A TV can take a video call. It just needs three things.
Most people asking this question have the same picture in mind: Mom or Dad in their own chair, the whole family on the big screen, nobody squinting at a phone held too close. That is a very reasonable thing to want, and it is possible today. It just takes the right pieces, because a TV is not a phone and does not come ready to ring.
For a TV to answer a video call it needs three things. First, a camera, because most TVs do not have one built in. Second, an app on the TV that knows how to receive a call. Third, an app on your phone (or a web page) that can call that specific TV. Miss any one of the three and the call cannot happen.
The good news is that you only set this up once. After that, calling the TV is as easy as calling anyone in your contacts.
What people try first
Ways to get a phone call onto a TV, compared
A lot of advice online mixes up "showing your phone on the TV" with "calling the TV." They are not the same thing. Here is how the common options really behave.
| Approach | What actually happens | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Screen mirroring or casting from your phone | Your phone's screen shows up on the TV, but the call still runs on the phone, using the phone's camera and microphone. Someone has to be at the TV end holding a phone. | Showing a video call bigger in your own house |
| A laptop plugged into the TV with a cable | The laptop runs the call and the TV is just a big monitor. Works, but someone has to set up and run the laptop every time. | A one-off holiday call with a helper in the room |
| A TV camera plus a calling app on the TV | The TV itself takes the call. It rings, the person in the room presses a button on the remote, and the camera on top of the TV shows the room. | Regular calls to someone who does not want to fuss with a phone |
If the person you want to call lives alone or finds phones frustrating, only the last row really solves the problem: the TV has to be the thing that rings.
Step by step
How to set up a TV so you can video call it from your phone
- 1
Check the TV
Find the model year of the TV you want to call. On most smart TVs it is in the settings menu under something like Support or About This TV. Calling apps for TVs are made for specific brands and model years, so this decides what will work.
- 2
Add a camera to the TV
Most TVs need a camera added. For Samsung smart TVs, Samsung makes the Slim Fit Camera, which sits on top of the TV and connects with a USB cable. Center it on the top edge so it looks at the room straight on.
- 3
Put a calling app on the TV
The TV needs an app that can receive calls and stays signed in. When you open it the first time, a good one shows a short code so you can link the TV to your family without typing passwords on a remote.
- 4
Put the matching app on your phone
Install the same service on your phone, or open its website in your phone browser. Sign in and add the TV using that short code. Now your phone knows exactly which TV to ring.
- 5
Make a test call together
The first time, do it while you are in the room with the TV or on a regular phone call with the person there. Call the TV, let them answer with the remote, and check that they can see and hear you clearly.
- 6
Agree on a regular time
Calls that happen at the same time every week tend to stick. Sunday after lunch, Wednesday at dinner, whatever fits. The person at the TV knows to expect you, and the grandkids start to look forward to it.
Get it right the first time
Small things that make TV calls much better
Camera at eye level
On top of the TV, centered, is usually the right spot. If the TV is mounted high on a wall, the person you are calling will look tiny. A lower TV gives a much more natural picture.
Strong Wi-Fi at the TV
Video calls need a steady connection both ways. If the TV sits far from the router, a wired cable or a Wi-Fi extender near the TV can make the picture much steadier.
Show the room, not one face
The best part of a TV call is that the whole room fits in. Sit back on the couch instead of leaning toward the screen, so everyone is in the picture.
One simple way to answer
Pick a setup where answering is one button on the remote they already use. Every extra step is a reason a call gets missed.
Only family can call
A TV in the living room should not ring for strangers. Choose a service where only the people you add can call it.
Mind the light
A bright window behind the person at the TV turns them into a silhouette. A lamp in front of them, or calling when the curtains are drawn, makes a big difference.
Where FamilyView fits
The app that makes a Samsung TV ring
FamilyView was built for exactly this. It turns a Samsung smart TV (2022 models and newer) into a family video phone using the Samsung Slim Fit Cam, which costs about $100, clips onto the top of the TV and plugs into USB. The camera belongs to you, and it works with the TV's other apps too. FamilyView is an app, not a box, so there is nothing to rent and nothing to send back.
You call the TV from the FamilyView Android app or from any web browser at familyviewtv.com. The TV rings, the person in the room presses OK on their remote, and the whole room is on the call. Nobody holds a phone. Two homes that both have FamilyView can also call TV to TV.
Between calls, photos you share from your phone land on the TV, and when nobody is calling the TV becomes a slideshow of the family. Video messages up to 2 minutes play full screen. Every family member has a tile with a Call button on the TV, so the person at home can call you too.
Only family members can call, one-to-one video calls are end-to-end encrypted, there are no ads, and nothing about your family is sold. FamilyView is coming to the Samsung TV app store. Calls to the TV are on the Family plan, $14.99 a month for the whole family, month to month with no contract. See how it works on a Samsung TV or compare plans.
Calling a TV from a phone: common questions
Can I video call a smart TV from my phone?
Yes, if the TV has a camera and a calling app that can receive calls, and your phone has the matching app. Most smart TVs need a camera added. On Samsung TVs that is the Samsung Slim Fit Cam.
Can I just mirror my phone to the TV for a video call?
Mirroring shows your phone's screen on the TV, but the call still runs on the phone and uses the phone's camera. It is fine for watching a call bigger in your own home. It does not let you call someone else's TV.
Does my TV need a camera to video call?
Yes. To be seen on a call, the TV needs a camera. Most TVs do not come with one, so you add a small camera that sits on top of the TV and plugs in with USB.
Does the person at the TV need a smartphone?
Not with a TV calling app. The TV rings and they answer with the remote. You and the rest of the family use phones or a web browser to call.
Can two TVs call each other?
Yes, when both TVs have a camera and the same calling app. With FamilyView, two homes can call TV to TV, so both living rooms are on screen.
How much does it cost to video call a TV?
Expect the cost of the camera (the Samsung Slim Fit Cam is listed at $99.99 on Samsung's US site) plus the calling service. FamilyView's Family plan is $14.99 a month for the whole family, month to month.
Sources
- Samsung US: Slim Fit Camera (VG-STCBU2K/ZA), price and product listing
- Samsung Canada: Slim Fit Cam, magnetic mount, USB 2.0 connection, 1080p at 30 fps
Keep reading
How to video call on a Samsung TV
The Samsung-specific version of this guide, with what to buy and where to plug it in.
Read itFamilyView for families
How the whole family stays in one room, even across states.
Read itFamilyView for grandparents
Written for grandma and grandpa: what they will see and press.
Read itMake the TV ring this Sunday.
Start free, pair the TV with a short code, and the next time you call, the whole room is there. Month to month, cancel anytime.