10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac

My previous solution to auto answering FaceTime calls involved AppleScript, which required 'Access to assistive devices' to be enabled. I thought this method , while it worked, was too cumbersome, so I began to dig into FaceTime to find a way around the whole AppleScript approach. I fired up the Terminal to start hacking away at FaceTime.

I ran the command:

strings /Applications/FaceTime.app/Contents/MacOS/FaceTime

and, to my surprise I found two little preference strings of text called AutoAcceptInvites and AutoAcceptInvitesFrom.

It turns out that Apple has included the ability to auto answer FaceTime calls, and not only that, but AutoAnswer calls only from callers you specify. I wish I would have checked for these strings a month ago.

Open up the Terminal.app located in your /Applications/Utilities folder.

Type in the following command to allow a specified caller for auto accept incoming calls (substituting the appropriate value for indentifier):

defaults write com.apple.FaceTime AutoAcceptInvitesFrom -array-add <identifier>

A phone number example:

defaults write com.apple.FaceTime AutoAcceptInvitesFrom -array-add +15205551212

An Apple ID (email) example:

defaults write com.apple.FaceTime AutoAcceptInvitesFrom -array-add stevejobs@apple.com

To remove all people from the auto accept:

defaults delete com.apple.FaceTime AutoAcceptInvitesFrom

[crarko adds: I haven't tested this one.]

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10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: hydramus on Feb 25, '11 05:13:45PM

I just tried this and it does indeed auto-answer FaceTime calls. I called my email address from my phone and it rung a few times then connected.

There is one problem though. Even though the call is answered, the Mac continued to ring! I couldn't find a way to stop it, although I am still using the beta version. Perhaps this is fixed in the new release?

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: hookoa on Mar 07, '11 12:03:42PM

I must be missing something. My only phone is my iPhone 4, to the best of my knowledge you can't "call" an email address. I tried that, and got the ATT message that no such number exists.

So� how do I call my Mac and say hello to my dog? <GRIN> (and drive him nuts?)

---
"It's common knowledge among the clergy that God invented beef briskets for
Texans".
........Cactus Pryor

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: hydramus on Mar 07, '11 03:21:41PM

To call a FaceTime email from your iPhone, go to the contacts page in either Phone or Contacts and then at the bottom there should be a button called FaceTime. You can select the email address there and it should start ringing :).

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: johnathon03 on Mar 19, '11 11:50:46PM

I found a way to disable the sound for all situations.
go to the folder
/Applications/Facetime.app/Contents/Resources
find the file "vc~ringing.aif" and rename it
This literally deletes the file as far as the app is concerned then there is no sound to play.
This prevents the constant ringing, unfortunately it also prevents all ringing for other sounds as well.

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: MurphyM on Feb 25, '11 07:10:48PM

I'll be using this one, thanks. Great hint. I used to do something similar with Skype for impromptu surveillance.

Edited on Feb 25, '11 07:11:57PM by MurphyM

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: dboone21 on Mar 29, '11 04:08:28AM

Awesome. Now I no longer have to remote to my computer, and call myself on my phone to check in on the puppy!

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: MurphyM on Aug 28, '12 02:01:24PM

This was working great for me. It's not working since Mountain Lion. I'm on 10.8.1. Anyone else?

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: scheeko on Dec 04, '12 08:12:29AM

Same here. In Mountain Lion, it's not possible to auto accept by email/number. If one sets AutoAcceptInvites to TRUE, it will accept all calls. AutoAcceptInvitesFrom seems to be ignored.

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: francoborgo on Jul 16, '13 10:15:26PM

in 10.8.4, in the terminal, I wrote


defaults write com.apple.FaceTime AutoAcceptInvites -bool true

if I look at the plist file named com.apple.FaceTime.plist I can see under root


AutoAcceptInvites Boolean YES

but it does not seems to work. Can anybody tell me what I did wrong :-)
Should I removed the -bool and go with string instead ?

Thank you

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: Wiredhead1 on Jan 24, '13 03:38:37PM

Is there a way to set up an iPad at home so it auto answers on FaceTime when I call it from my iPhone to check on my doggie?

10.6: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: LilMamaEnnis on Feb 26, '13 08:14:20PM

Amazing It Worked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you Thank You Thank you Soooo Much!!

10.9.2: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: LouieNet on Mar 21, '14 10:57:26PM

In 10.9.2 (Mavericks), I had better luck adding the name listed for the contact that the FaceTime caller ID is mapped to. For instance, if my FaceTime caller ID is mapped to "callerID@icloud.com" and I have that address in the Contacts entry for "My Card" in My Card, then the command in Terminal should be:

defaults write com.apple.FaceTime AutoAcceptInvitesFrom -array-add "My Card"

---
G4 cube, 17" Powerbook G4, iMac 20", Mac mini, PowerMac 7500 (w/ G4 upgrade card)

10.9.2: Enable AutoAnswer in FaceTime for the Mac
Authored by: scheeko on May 02, '14 08:47:14AM

This works perfectly in Mavericks. However, only for FaceTime Video, not FaceTime Audio.
Any ideas on how to get that to work?

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