Top ways to troubleshoot iPhone Facetime not working
Facetime is one of the most unique selling advantages of Apple by which you’re allowed to make free video calls with wifi. It’s such a convenience to get in touch with family, friends or anyone else without the need of using other apps but Apple. However, there are times and issues that you may experience with iPhone Facetime not working. Then how to deal with it? Follow the solutions to fix it in this article with Bonna Mobile.
Why is Video Not Working on FaceTime but on other apps?
When finding your iPhone facetime not working, one of the first things you should do is check out if the other programs or apps are utilizing your iPhone camera. Ensuring this may help you find the quickest solution before going to the other tips.
All you need to notice is if there is a green indicator in your Status Bar, next to the network signal, that means there is an app using your camera. Close any apps that may be using your camera and check if it works on your Facetime app again. These can be social media apps or other video-calling apps.
How to fix iPhone Facetime not working
1. Restart Your iPhone, iPad, or Mac
Of all the troubleshooting tips, restarting your device is the easiest for any issues, and not apart from iPhone FaceTime not working.
A restart help fix minor bugs or software issues that are occurring with the device, which refreshes the programs running on it.
- With iPhone X or newer model, restart your iPhone by pressing and holding the side button and one of the volume buttons until the “Slide to power off” slider appears > Slide it to the right > Wait for about 20-30 seconds before starting your device again.
- With iPhone 8 or older, simply press and hold the side button or the top button, then do the same thing as the guide above.
If you don’t want to use your button, just simply touch the icon on the Control Center to shut down or restart your device.
2. Check if FaceTime Works in Your Country
Though it seems that Facetime is mostly available everywhere, it isn’t available with every cell carrier worldwide. To check whether iPhone facetime is working in your country or not, navigate to Apple’s carrier support page to find out.
If FaceTime isn’t available where you live or to your cell carrier, you might need to install a VPN on your iPhone to use it.
3. Ensure your Internet Connection
The internet is an indispensable thing if you use Facetime. If FaceTime isn’t working, test your internet connection on the other apps as well.
FaceTime works best over strong Wi-Fi, but you can also use it with your cellular data when going out on an iPhone or iPad.
4. Update the Software on Your Device
FaceTime might run into issues if you haven’t installed the latest software version on your device. Update your iPhone to the latest iOS, also make sure your partner has updated their device as well.
On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Software Update.
5. Set the Date and Time Automatically
Apple suggests that you set the date and time automatically if FaceTime isn’t working on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Most of us do this anyway, but you should make sure it’s enabled in the settings on your device.
If FaceTime isn’t running on your device, Apple recommends that you should set the date and time to run automatically. Though most of us do it anyhow, so make sure it’s enabled in your device’s settings. To check it:
On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > General > Date & Time > Turn on Set Automatically.
On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Date & Time. Tick the box to Set date and time automatically and select your time zone.
6. Make sure Your FaceTime is on
Sometimes, you barely notice that the Facetime function is disabled in your Settings. To check FaceTime Settings on your iPhone:
1. Open the Settings app
2. Tap FaceTime > Make sure that FaceTime is toggled on, to green color.
3. In the FaceTime settings, make sure that you have the correct Apple ID and phone number listed.
7. Sign Out of FaceTime
If FaceTime still isn’t working on your iPhone, sign out of it and then sign in again. Make sure you use the correct Apple ID username and password when signing back in.
On an iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > FaceTime > Go to Caller ID > Tap your Apple ID > Sign Out from the popup that appears. After signing out, tap Use your Apple ID for FaceTime and sign in using your Apple ID again.
On a Mac, open the FaceTime app > Go to FaceTime > Preferences > Click Sign Out at the top of the window > Confirm to Sign Out. After signing out, enter your Apple ID details to sign in again.
8. Check if FaceTime Is Down due to the system for Everyone
Sometimes, we may experience technical issues due to the Apple services system, which means FaceTime won’t work for anyone. We won’t have any solution for this but wait for Apple to fix it. However, we can make sure if it’s the reason for iPhone Facetime not working by checking the current status of Apple service on the Apple System Status website. This page also alerts you of scheduled FaceTime downtime.
9. Check If Your Device Is Compatible with Group FaceTime
Not every Apple device is compatible with group FaceTime, check out the following list to see if your device is able to do a group Facetime.
- Apple devices running iOS 12.1.4. or later
- An iPhone 6S or newer models
- Any Mac running macOS Mojave 10.14.3 or newer
- An iPod touch (7th generation)
- An iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, iPad (5th generation), or newer models
Some devices like Apple Watches may still work with one-on-one FaceTime but not the group.
10. Make Sure You Use the Right Contact Details
Though it’s a very simple issue, the wrong contact information or limited reach may prevent us from doing a Facetime. To check your Facetime contact details:
On an iPhone: Go to Settings > FaceTime > You Can Be Reached By FaceTime At.
On a Mac, open the FaceTime app > Go to FaceTime > Preferences from the menu bar > Find your contact details in the Preferences window.
Try out our suggestion to fix your iPhone Facetime not working. Should you notice that there are more problems with your hardware or camera, contact Bonna Mobile to get it checked and repaired right away.