FaceTime is the undisputed favorite for video-calling friends, but issues like dropped calls, frozen screens, distorted audio, or unexpected app crashes can make it highly annoying. Fortunately, you can use quick troubleshooting techniques to resolve FaceTime not working on Mac problems.
- Sign in with the correct Apple ID on Mac
- Set the correct date and time on Mac
- Check internet connection
- Force Quit and reopen FaceTime
- Close other video-calling apps
- Check Apple’s System Status
- Update FaceTime app on Mac
- Update macOS
- Perform mic, camera, and speaker tests
- Sign out of FaceTime and log in again
- Sign out of Apple ID and sign in again
- Wrong DNS configuration
- Check if FaceTime is disabled via Parental Controls
- FaceTime geolocation restrictions
- Check your firewall settings on Mac
- Reset your Mac
- Contact Apple Support
1. Sign in with the correct Apple ID on Mac
When you encounter problems with FaceTime, double-check that you have logged in with the correct account on your iPhone and Mac. Sometimes, I unintentionally log in with an incorrect Apple ID or iCloud account, leading to difficulties initiating or receiving FaceTime calls.
- Launch Spotlight (Command ⌘ + Space Bar) → Search and open FaceTime.
- Click FaceTime on the menu bar → Select Settings.
- Select the FaceTime IDs beneath You can be reached for FaceTime at.
Ensure the email address and phone number are correct.
Tip: Untick the Enable this account checkbox under your Apple ID, restart your Mac, and enable it again following the same steps to reset your FaceTime account.
2. Set the correct date and time on Mac
If FaceTime not functioning on your Mac but working on your iPhone, check if your system is showing the correct date and time. Incorrect system date and time information interfere with establishing an internet connection, which creates potential conflicts.
- Go to System Settings → Select General → Date & Time.
- Toggle on Set time and date automatically.
Also, ensure Set time zone automatically using your current location is enabled.
3. Check internet connection
As FaceTime relies on a stable internet connection for proper functionality, verifying that your Ethernet or Wi-Fi connection is active and reliable to ensure connectivity on your Mac.
However, you can read our article if you’re having trouble connecting to the Wi-Fi on a Mac.
4. Force Quit and reopen FaceTime
Force quitting FaceTime is a simple yet powerful fix that provides a quick and easy solution for addressing common FaceTime video problems and ensuring a smoother user experience. This step removes the app from running in the background, clearing potential glitches.
Additionally, terminating the app and reopening it establish a fresh connection to the internet, resolving connectivity issues that could hinder its functionality.
5. Close other video-calling apps
FaceTime may not function properly on your macOS due to conflicts caused by running multiple video calling apps concurrently and taxing the resources of your device. So, you must force quit all other active apps to free up system resources and improve FaceTime’s performance.
6. Check Apple’s System Status
Before trying any complex troubleshooting steps, ensure Apple servers are up. From the Apple System Status page, you can quickly see if FaceTime is experiencing any outages or disruptions. If there is a yellow diamond shape next to FaceTime, you can be sure that Apple is already working on fixing it. So, just wait until the server gets fine!
7. Update FaceTime app on Mac
The FaceTime app may keep crashing due to its outdated version. The new app updates address several key issues, bugs, and glitches and also feature optimized video and audio quality. You can manually update FaceTime by following the steps below.
- Launch the Mac’s App Store.
- Head to the Updates tab in the left pane.
- Click the Update button next to FaceTime.
8. Update macOS
It can be annoying to experience FaceTime problems like dropped calls, poor audio or video quality, or connectivity issues. However, being an essential component of the Apple ecosystem, the software gets frequent updates. I suggest updating your macOS regularly to receive the same.
9. Perform mic, camera, and speaker tests
Performing mic, camera, and speaker tests can be helpful if your Mac’s FaceTime app video or audio is not functioning as expected. You may record a voice memo to ensure that the microphone of your Mac is functioning right. Next, head to the Photo Booth app to test the camera and verify if it captures clear photos or videos.
Lastly, by playing music or making a call on the speaker, you can ensure the audio output is clear and audible. These tests enable you to identify any specific hardware or software issues. You can now take the necessary steps to resolve them.
10. Sign out of FaceTime and log in again
Whether you’re encountering call quality issues, connection failures, or other technical difficulties on FaceTime, signing out and back in is a troubleshooting step worth considering. It refreshes the connection between your device and the FaceTime servers, fixing any temporary glitches or connectivity problems.
11. Sign out of Apple ID and sign in again
Sometimes, conflicts in Apple ID can hamper your FaceTime experience. So, try disconnecting your Mac from your Apple ID account and reconnecting it to give your device a clean slate and bid farewell to any persistent issues. Also, it will initiate an automatic logout and login process within the FaceTime app.
- Go to the Apple logo () → Choose System Settings.
- Click [your name] on the left pane → Scroll down and pick Sign Out.
- Follow the onscreen instructions for copying and downloading your data stored in iCloud.
Now you’ve successfully logged out from your Apple ID on your Mac. Proceed with the steps outlined below to log back in.
- Enter your Apple ID and Password → Click Next on the screen.
- Type the code sent to your other device.
If you have two-factor authentication enabled. - Enter your Mac’s password → Press Continue.
12. Wrong DNS configuration
Network-related issues like incorrect DNS settings are to blame for the frustrating disconnections from your loved ones when none of the methods mentioned above fixes FaceTime on your Mac. To resolve the issue, you can fix the self-assigned IP address or flush the DNS on your Mac.
13. Check if FaceTime is disabled via Parental Controls
Parental Controls give parents and guardians the ability to control and impose limitations on particular features and applications on a child’s device. Follow the steps shown below to determine if FaceTime is disabled.
- In the parent’s Mac, navigate to System Settings.
- Select Family → Pick the minor ID.
- Head to Screen Time → Click on Open (minor ID name) Screen Time.
- Toggle on Screen Time → Enable Content & Privacy → Choose App Restrictions.
- Ensure that Allow FaceTime is toggled on → Select Done.
14. FaceTime geolocation restrictions
There are few carriers and regions that don’t support FaceTime services due to local laws. These geolocation limitations can make FaceTime unusable on your Mac.
If you find yourself in one of these areas, you can change the device’s geolocation settings by using a VPN to mask your proper location and set it to an area where FaceTime usually functions.
15. Check your firewall settings on Mac
Firewalls are security features that monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic. Sometimes, these settings can inadvertently block FaceTime from functioning correctly. However, you can check and control your firewall settings using the below steps.
- Launch the System Settings → Head to Network → Choose Firewall.
- Toggle on Firewall → Click Options.
- Select the plus (+) icon.
- Locate and pick FaceTime → Choose Open.
- Set the dropdown to Allow incoming connections → Select OK.
16. Reset your Mac
If you have come this far and nothing helped you to fix FaceTime problems, your last resort is resetting your Mac. Your system settings and configurations are refreshed when you perform a reset, which can resolve any corrupted data affecting FaceTime.
However, I advise you to back up your important files and data to prevent potential data losses, as a factory reset deletes everything from your Mac.
17. Contact Apple Support
The Apple support team can provide specialized guidance and help locate any hardware or software issues that might cause the problem of FaceTime not working on Mac. So, contact Apple Support and get customized solutions based on your unique situation.
FAQs
If you have accidentally blocked the user, you won’t receive calls from them or ring them on FaceTime. Go to FaceTime Settings → Shift to the Blocked tab → Select the number you want to unblock → Click the minus sign at the bottom.
Ensure you have allowed your Mac to receive calls on FaceTime, or else the calls won’t go through. Go to FaceTime Settings → Enable Calls from iPhone.
Is your FaceTime up and running?
FaceTime’s continuous updates and improvements ensure it remains up and running, providing users with reliable and convenient communication. I hope that with the fixes mentioned above, you will have resolved the FaceTime not working on Mac issue. Please let me know in the feedback section which fixes helped resolve the issue or if there were any other fixes that I did not mention.
Read more:
- How to Make a FaceTime Audio Call on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
- How to Make Group FaceTime Calls on Mac
- How to fix group FaceTime not working?
- How to fix FaceTime waiting for activation error on iPhone
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