While FaceTime is generally reliable on Mac, you might run into problems from time to time. If you’re currently facing a situation where FaceTime is not connecting no matter how many times you attempt to launch the app, fear not — there are fixes available.
These tips should help you troubleshoot common issues such as FaceTime audio not working, camera not working, poor connection, login problems, activation problems, and the inability to receive calls.
Let's start with the basics: If you can't sign in to your iMessage account or FaceTime on your Mac Check your Date & Time settings Choose Apple menu () System Preferences, then click Date & Time. Make sure that the date, time, and time zone are correct. Double-tap home button or swipe up. This will open up the multitasking tray. Press and hold the icon of the FaceTime app. You will see a red badge and the FaceTime icon will start dancing or jiggling. To have a FaceTime call with one other person, you need a Mac with OS X Lion 10.7 or later, a broadband Internet connection, and a built-in or connected microphone or camera. Or use your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. To call a group of people, follow the steps in Use Group FaceTime on Mac. One of these solutions might help: Quit FaceTime, then open FaceTime again. Restart your Mac (Apple menu Restart). Make sure that FaceTime isn't open, then see if your camera works in another application, such as Photo Booth.
1. Check your internet connection
The most common reason why FaceTime is unavailable is due to internet connectivity issues. Amazon seller software mac. If you attempt to launch the app and it isn’t connecting, the first thing you should do is check your network connection.
You can instantly check your Wi-Fi connection by looking at the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. If the icon is showing no bars, then your Wi-Fi might be turned off. You can fix this by clicking on the icon and selecting Turn Wi-Fi On.
If you don’t have the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar, you can go to System Preferences > Networkand check your internet connection there. If you are connected but the internet isn’t working, you might need to restart your router.
Turn off your router and unplug it from the mains. Wait 30 seconds and plug it back in. Switch the router back on and wait for your Mac to reconnect. You’d be surprised at just how many internet connectivity issues are fixed with a simple off-and-on.
2. Check Apple’s servers
If the issue is with Apple’s FaceTime server, then it’s both good news and bad news.
Good news that the problem isn’t with the app at your end. Bad news that there isn’t anything you can do but wait until Apple fixes the problem.
To check the FaceTime server status, go to Apple’s System Status page and look for FaceTime in the list. If the circle next to it is green, the server is working fine. If not, it’s down and Apple will be working on restoring connectivity.
If the FaceTime status is green but the app still isn’t working for you, it could be that the issue is only affecting your area. In this instance, Apple might not know about the problem so it’s worth getting a second server status reading from a website like Down Detector or Outage.Report. Both of these tools shows maps so that you can easily identify if your area is affected.
3. Check that FaceTime is switched on
Sometimes the biggest problems can be resolved in the simplest ways. Is FaceTime switched on? It’s worth a look.
Launch the app and go to FaceTime > Turn FaceTime On. Wait for the activation to confirm that it’s switched on.
4. Reset the app
If your FaceTime app is stuck in perpetual “Waiting for Activation” use the tried-and-trusted method of switching it off and back on again.
You can reset FaceTime by launching the app and going to FaceTime > Preferences. Move the slider to the off position and then switch it back on. This little prod might be all the app needs to kick it back into life.
5. Check for software updates
The best way to keep your system running smoothly is to make sure all software is kept up-to-date.
To check for (and install) updates, open up the App Store and click on Updates in the toolbar. Click on the Update button next to any of the available updates to download and install them.
6. Check the Date & Time
Make sure your Mac is operating in the correct timezone. Go to System Preferences > Date & Time to bring up the date and time settings.
In the Date & Time tab, check the box next to Set date and time automatically and from the drop-down menu choose the correct server (Apple America/U.S. if you’re in the United States, Apple Europe if you’re in Europe, etc.).
In the Time Zone tab, select Set time zone automatically using your current location.
7. Check your emails
To use FaceTime you firstly need to verify your email. Apple sends out a verification email the moment you sign up which includes a link to verify your email address.
Go to FaceTime > Preferences and look to see if the status says “verifying…” If it does, head over to your inbox and hunt down Apple’s verification email. Don’t forget to check your spam folder too!
8. Check your Apple ID
Are you signed in to FaceTime using the same Apple ID used on your other Apple devices? Go to FaceTime > Preferences to check. If your Mac doesn’t match your other devices, click on Sign Out and sign back in using an Apple ID that matches the one used on your iPhone or iPad.
9. Does it work where you are?
FaceTime is not currently available in Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, or the United Arab Emirates, which if you are visiting or living in those countries, might explain why FaceTime is unavailable.
10. Change DNS Settings
If you're still struggling to get FaceTime working, try changing the DNS settings from Mac’s settings to Google’s.
1. Go to System Preferences > Network > Select Network (WiFi) > Advanced and click on the DNS tab.
Group Facetime On Macbook Air
2. Click on the + button to add Google’s open DNS and type in 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
3. Hit OK and then Apply to confirm the settings.
11. Flush the DNS cache
A lot of network and connectivity problems can be fixed by flushing the DNS cache. How you do this depends on what version of MacOS or OS X you’re currently running (Apple likes to change the command line with each OS release). We’ve written a guide that shows you how to flush the DNS cache manually for different Mac operating systems that you can read here. However, a much simpler option that will work regardless of what version of the macOS you have installed is to use CleanMyMac X's Maintenance feature.
CleanMyMac X is a fantastic tool designed to clean, optimize, and maintain your Mac — basically getting rid of all the things you don’t need to help keep your system running smoothly. And using it couldn’t be simpler.
- Download CleanMyMac X.
- Launch the app and click on the Maintenance tab.
- Select Flush DNS cache.
- Click Run and wait for the app to do its thing.
Like we said at the top of the article, FaceTime is typically reliable. It’s a built-in Mac app and you rarely encounter problems with those. However, if you are trying to make or receive a call and you find that FaceTime is not connecting, run through these troubleshooting tips. There’s a good chance one will provide the solution you need. And remember to download CleanMyMac X if you want to flush the DNS cache.
These might also interest you:
Facetime On A Macbook
If you can't sign in to FaceTime
- Make sure that you can sign in at appleid.apple.com. Learn what to do if you forgot your Apple ID or forgot your Apple ID password.
- Choose Apple () menu > System Preferences, then click Date & Time and select “Set date and time automatically”. Click Time Zone and make sure that the settings are correct.
- Make sure that you've installed the latest software updates.
If your camera or microphone doesn’t work
One of these solutions might help:
- Quit FaceTime, then open FaceTime again.
- Restart your Mac (Apple menu > Restart).
- Make sure that FaceTime isn't open, then see if your camera works in another application, such as Photo Booth. If it doesn't, you know that the issue isn't related to FaceTime.
- If you have multiple cameras or microphones connected to your Mac, check the Video menu in the FaceTime menu bar to make sure that you have the correct camera and microphone selected.
If you need help with your connection or call quality
A slow or busy Wi-Fi network might cause issues with your FaceTime call. If you experience connection alerts or low-quality audio or video:
- Make sure that you and your recipient have a fast Wi-Fi or cellular connection. FaceTime calls over Wi-Fi require a broadband connection.
- Check for issues that might be slowing down your connection, such as someone streaming content over your network.
- If you have questions about your Internet speed, contact your Internet service provider.
FaceTime is not available in all countries or regions.