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FaceTime Not Working? Try This

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Last updated:

April 28, 2025

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FaceTime is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to stay connected to loved ones near and far. However, like most technology, FaceTime is prone to the occasional hiccup. If you find that FaceTime is not working on your iPhone, we’ll provide some quick tips to get you back in the game.

These include restarting your device, checking your FaceTime settings, updating your software, and turning off content restrictions. Read on as we explain what to do if FaceTime is not working on your Apple device.

How FaceTime Works

FaceTime is Apple’s audio and video calling feature that uses your device’s Wi-Fi or cellular data to make calls to other Apple devices. You can use FaceTime on Wi-Fi, on any of the following:

iPhone 4 or later
iPad Pro (all models)
iPad 2 or later
iPad mini (all models)
iPod touch 4^th generation or later

When using cellular data, the only difference is that you need an iPhone 4s or later. As long as you have a reliable connection and a compatible device, you can easily initiate and receive FaceTime video and audio calls.

How to use FaceTime on your device

In order to use FaceTime, you need to enable it on your device. To do this on an iPhone, follow these steps:

Open the FaceTime app on your device.
Sign in with your Apple ID (you can also click Settings then Apps then FaceTime).
FaceTime automatically registers your phone number, so you are good to go.
You can also add your email address if you’d like to be contacted that way.
From your Settings, you can customize your FaceTime experience, such as turning on Live Captions, Live Photos, Eye Contact, and more.

Now that you’ve got FaceTime set up, you’re ready to make a call. Here’s how:

Open the FaceTime app.
Select New FaceTime.
Type the recipient’s phone number, email address, or name if they are saved in your Contacts.
Tap the address or phone number then click the Audio button (a phone) or the FaceTime button (a camera).

If you are already on a phone call—whether through data or Wi-Fi calling—with someone and want to switch to FaceTime, you can seamlessly start a video by clicking the FaceTime icon in the phone app.

9 Fixes for When FaceTime isn’t Working

There may be several explanations for why FaceTime isn’t working, from connectivity issues to outdated software. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy fixes you can try.

But first, let’s make sure the issue isn’t with the other person’s device, so you don’t waste your time troubleshooting yours.

If you are seeing the message, “FaceTime unavailable,” it might not necessarily be your device acting up. In some cases, the other person may be the reason your video or audio call isn’t going through. There are a number of reasons this may be happening—they could be on a FaceTime call already, they may have their phone on Do Not Disturb, they may not be signed in on their device, or something else.

To determine where the issue lies, try FaceTiming someone else. If that call fails too then the problem is likely on your end.

1. Restart your device

Sometimes the solution is as easy as restarting your iPhone. To restart your iPhone:

Hold one of the volume buttons and the side button at the same time.
Do this until a slider appears on the screen.
Drag the slider and wait about 30 seconds.
To turn it back on, press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.
For older iPhone models, you may need to press the top button instead of the side.

2. Check your FaceTime settings

To ensure FaceTime functionality, you may need to adjust your FaceTime settings. On an iPad or iPhone, follow these steps:

Click Settings.
Select FaceTime.
Make sure FaceTime is turned on.
Under the sections, YOU CAN BE REACHED BY FACETIME AT and CALLER ID, check that your phone number and email address are correct.

3. Check your internet or cellular connection

To make and receive FaceTime calls, you need to be connected to cellular data or Wi-Fi. If FaceTime isn’t working, it may be because you don’t have a reliable internet connection.

When using cellular data, check your signal. If your signal is weak or you have no service, try moving to a different location or going to your Settings, Cellular, then toggling Cellular Data off and back on. If you aren’t on an unlimited plan, make sure you have enough high-speed data left. You can do this through your carrier’s website or app. For many carriers, once you’ve run out of data, they don’t cut you off entirely but reduce your speeds to 2G, which may affect FaceTime usability or quality.

If you’re using WiFi, move closer to the router if possible. You may also want to navigate to your Settings, click WiFi, and turn it off then on. You can also try restarting your router to see if that fixes the problem.

4. Update your device to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS

FaceTime may give you some trouble if you aren’t using the latest software. On your iPhone or iPad, click Settings, General, then Software Update to check if there are any updates available. If so, click Install and try FaceTime again once your device is updated to the latest version of iOS.

5. Sign out of FaceTime and sign back in

It’s worth signing out of your FaceTime account and back in to see if that fixes the issue. Here’s how:

Tap Settings on your device.
Click Apps.
Select FaceTime.
Click your Apple ID.
Tap Sign Out.
Wait a few seconds then open FaceTime.
Sign back in with your Apple ID.

6. Check Apple servers

FaceTime still not working? It might be a system error. You can check Apple’s System Status page to see if FaceTime is down. If it is, you’ll have to wait until Apple fixes the problem.

7. Turn off content restrictions and Screen Time

You may not be able to use FaceTime if Screen Time is turned on for your camera. Check your content restrictions and Screen Time settings by:

Tapping Settings.
Click Screen Time.
Select Content & Privacy Restrictions.
If restrictions are turned on, click Allowed Apps & Features.
Make sure FaceTime and Camera are enabled.

8. Make sure FaceTime is available in your location

While FaceTime is widely available, it’s not available everywhere, such as in the United Arab Emirates. For more information, check out Apple’s full list of countries and regions and their associated carrier support and features.

9. Ensure your device’s date and time is set automatically

Chances are, you already have this setting turned on, but in case you don’t, it may be the reason for your FaceTime difficulties. Here’s how to set time and date automatically:

Select Settings.
Click General.
Tap Date & Time.
Turn on Set Automatically.

10. Check your camera and mic

Lastly, try checking your device camera and microphone to make sure they’re working properly.

For iPhones, check your camera by following these steps:

Open the Camera app.
Make sure that you can see whatever your camera is facing.
Check the front camera by clicking the camera swap button on the bottom or top righthand corner of the screen.
If the camera is working fine in the Camera app but not on FaceTime, then the issue is likely specific to FaceTime or connectivity.
Conversely, if you can’t see anything in one or more cameras, then you may be experiencing a hardware issue.

How to check your iPhone or iPad microphone:

Open the Voice Memos app.
Click the red record button and speak.
Once you are done, tap the red button again to stop recording.
Click the play button to listen to your recording.
If your voice comes through clearly here but not on FaceTime, then it’s not an issue with your mic.
On the other hand, if you can’t hear your voice, whether clearly or at all, then there could be a hardware issue.

Find the best phone plan for FaceTime

As you can see, there are plenty of reasons why FaceTime might not be working, including poor or no connection, incorrect settings, an outage, outdated software, and lack of data, just to name a few.

If the problem is your connection or not enough data, then you may want to consider switching to an unlimited data plan. That’s where Navi can help—try our free, unbiased Plan Finder to compare cell phone plans and find the one that best meets your needs.

Find Your Best Phone Deals

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you FaceTime on an Android?

Yes, you can FaceTime on an Android device, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 series, but you can only join an existing FaceTime call—you can’t initiate one. Because the FaceTime app is only available on Apple products like iPads, iPhones, and MacBooks, you will have to join a FaceTime call using your browser.

How do you reset your FaceTime?

To reset FaceTime, go to Settings, open FaceTime, toggle it off and then back on. If needed, sign out of your Apple ID in the FaceTime settings and sign back in.