Anyone who has ever FaceTimed and failed knows how annoying it can be. But there are several easy ways to troubleshoot and fix the problem. We've all shared big news with a loved one in a different place or in the middle of an important work call and suddenly our FaceTime screen freezes or, worse, nothing. We start frantically calling the person on the other end of the line again, but to no avail. It looks like we were unable to receive the callback request. But if you take a deep breath and try one of the methods below, your FaceTime connection can usually be restored.
Index
- Why do my FaceTime calls keep failing?
- 1. One of you doesn't have an Apple device
- 2. You're trying to FaceTime in a country that doesn't allow it
- 3. One of you has a weak connection
- 4. One of your devices may need to be reset
Why do my FaceTime calls keep failing?
Your FaceTime keeps crashing for one of the following reasons:
- One of you doesn't have an Apple device
- You're trying to FaceTime in a country that doesn't allow it
- One of you has a weak connection
- You may need to restart one of your devices
Being able to connect with others has become more and more important during the pandemic and even with so many of us working from home or still not traveling like we used to.
A reliable form of communication is essential, and FaceTime is great for that.
But when it stops working, even the calmest person can go into a tailspin. But rest assured, I have some great ways to show you where your FaceTime problem might be and what you can do to get it working again.
FaceTime has been a great tool for me and my family over the years. We've come to rely heavily on it to connect with family and friends around the world, and also to communicate when a simple phone call or text message isn't enough.
FaceTime was first introduced to the world in June 2010 by Steve Jobs, the then CEO of Apple. Since then, people around the world have come to trust it as a way to conduct business, gather and provide information, and connect and maintain contact with family and friends.
FaceTime works by connecting betweentwo devices supported. Most Apple products support FaceTime calling or video chat, and the technology has become more available and easier to use over the past 15 years.
You cannot make or receive FaceTime calls or videos from a device that is not an Apple product.
While other tech companies have tried to emulate FaceTime and release similar versions that run on their devices, no technology has been used as widely as FaceTime to allow people to connect with each other and share conversations in the way that FaceTime does.
But, as with anything technological, there have been and will continue to be problems. One of FaceTime's most frustrating problems is when it crashes.
These errors can be anything from not being able to connect a call, not being able to receive a call, or ending a call while it is in progress.
The good news is that the most problematic phone and video experiences can be explained. And many of them can be solved. Let's dive in and find out why your FaceTime calls are failing and what you can do about it.
1. One of you doesn't have an Apple device
This one I've covered a bit already and is probably the easiest place to start.
FaceTime only works on devices that are genuine Apple products. So you canfacetime with someoneas long as you both have iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, and can even listen to FaceTime on an Apple Watch.
If you're trying to FaceTime someone who has an Android phone or a Windows computer or laptop, no amount of troubleshooting will be able to solve your problem. It just doesn't work.
That said, you can FaceTime someone who has one.MacBook but not iPhone.
Maybe the person you're messaging uses a MacBook but not an iPhone. Or maybe their iPhone is charging and now you want to FaceTime.
As long as both users have devices that are Apple products, this shouldn't be why FaceTime fails. If yes, then let’s look at another possible reason for your problem.
2. You're trying to FaceTime in a country that doesn't allow it
Another basic reason why your FaceTime call or video chat might fail is that you are trying to connect with someone who lives in a country where FaceTime is not allowed.
In some countries, especially the Middle East, FaceTime is not allowed and will not work on your iPhone or any other Apple product, regardless of where you purchased it.
For example, if you try to FaceTime someone who lives in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, or the UAE (even if they have a certified Apple device), they won't be able to receive your FaceTime call.
If you're not sure if the country you're calling allows FaceTime calls, check one of the country's official websites or contact the phone companies in those areas to be sure. Meanwhile, if you try to FaceTime a country in question and your phone call or video chat keeps failing, this could be the reason.
3. One of you has a weak connection
Another possible reason your FaceTime isn't working... if you or the person you're trying to call has a slow Internet connection (or none at all), FaceTime will be difficult to use.
As you probably already know, you need the Internet for FaceTime to work. Even if the connection is slow or a little unstable, you can still make a FaceTime call. But not only will it be more challenging, but the call is likely to be too.fall, crash or give a strange signalif the internet connection is not strong.
Obviously, a clear solution to this problem is to move to a room or area where the internet works well and the signal is good. Unless it's clear who the Internet is causing the problem, you and the other party may need to experiment with moving to different places to see if you can find a better connection.
4. One of your devices may need to be reset
Finally, here's the simplest way to prevent your FaceTime calls from failing, something you may very well have control over.
Often our devices are overloaded with too many apps, open tabs and not enough updates installed. If you think your device might be the reason why FaceTime isn't working (and not an external reason), you can try this quick fix and see if it fixes itself.
To see if your device just needs to restartwork with precision, go ahead and turn it off. Then turn the device back on after a few minutes.
If a reboot was the reason for yourfacetime not working, now you can call someone without your conversation being interrupted.