Are you frustrated with FaceTime not working on your Mac? Well, this problem may occur for a variety of reasons on macOS Catalina or previous versions. For instance, if your Apple ID has been accidentally signed out, the video calling app may not function.
Other possible reasons include a faulty internet connection or malfunctioning camera and microphone. Further, activation errors, change in the Apple ID password, a macOS update, or even incorrect date and time may also cause FaceTime to stop working.
If this sounds like a lot, worry not. Here we have listed nine solutions to fix all the errors and problems you have with FaceTime on your Mac. Take a look.
- Check Internet Connection on your Mac
- Force Quit FaceTime on your Mac and then Launch it Again
- Check FaceTime is Activated or Not
- Restart Your Mac
- Sign Out of FaceTime and Sign Back In
- Check if Camera and Microphone Work in Another Application or Not
- Set Correct Date and Time on Your Mac
- Check Apple’s FaceTime Server Status
- Update macOS
#1. Check Internet Connection on your Mac
The first thing is to ensure that your Mac has a proper Wi-Fi or ethernet connection. For this open Safari or any other browser and try to load a webpage. If the internet connection is okay, let us move on to the next fix.
#2. Force Quit FaceTime on your Mac and then Launch it Again
- Click on the Apple logo from top left → click Force Quit.
- Now, Select FaceTime and then click on Force Quit.
Note: Here, you may also Force Quit any other app that you believe is using Mac’s camera and microphone.
#3. Check FaceTime is Activated or Not
- When you are in the FaceTime app on Mac, click on
FaceTime from top left of the menu bar. Click on
Preferences, and here see whether you are signed in with your Apple ID or not.
- If you believe it is a wrong account, you may click on
Sign Out and then sign in using your Apple ID. Also, for
‘You can be reached for FaceTime at:’ make sure you have at least one phone number or email checked.
- At the bottom for
‘Start new calls from:’ ensure your phone number or email is visible.
#4. Restart Your Mac
Restarting helps fix minor issues on Mac. To restart your Mac, click on the Apple logo () from top left → click Restart. After this, try to use FaceTime again.
#5. Sign Out of FaceTime and Sign Back In
Even after restart if your FaceTime worries are not solved, let us try to sign out of FaceTime and sign back in. For this, open FaceTime, click on FaceTime from top left of the menu bar, and click on Turn FaceTime Off. After one minute, follow the same steps and turn on FaceTime.
Alternatively, after turning FaceTime Off, you may restart the Mac and, after that, sign in to FaceTime using your Apple ID and password.
If you have recently changed your Apple ID password, or enabled 2-factor authentication, or changed lock password of one of your Apple devices, you may have to sign in again (using above steps) before you can use FaceTime.
#6. Check If Camera and Microphone Work in Another Application or Not
Let’s check if FaceTime essential hardware like camera and microphone are working on your Mac or not.
- To check camera, click on Finder → Applications →
Photo Booth.
- To check microphone, press and hold
Command (⌘) + Space Bar until Siri is launched. Now ask Siri something and see if microphone picks up your voice or not.
If camera and microphone are not working, you may connect an external webcam or earphones with mic.
Also, if you have multiple cameras and microphones attached with your Mac, make sure that you have the correct camera and microphone selected. For this click on Video from FaceTime menu bar and select the desired input device.
You might want to take a peek at these posts:
- How to Use iPhone As A Webcam on Your PC or Mac Wirelessly
- Best iPhone Apps to Use Your iPhone as a Webcam
#7. Set Correct Date and Time on Your Mac
Not only FaceTime, but multiple services may be affected if your Mac has the wrong date and time set. To correct these settings:
- Click on the Apple logo from top left → System Preferences →
Date & Time.
- Make sure Set date and time automatically is checked.
- To make changes, you may have to click on the lock icon from the bottom left.
- Now, enter your Mac’s password and Click on Unlock.
Additionally, click on Time Zone tab and make sure Set time zone automatically using current location is turned on.
#8. Check Apple’s FaceTime Server Status
We have made sure that everything on our side is working. Now, let us see if everything is okay from Apple’s end or not. Visit this page and make sure that you see a green dot before FaceTime. If not, that means FaceTime is temporarily down, and there is nothing you can do except waiting.
#9. Update macOS
Finally, before you contact Apple support, go ahead and install the latest version of macOS on your device. Software updates fix bugs and existing glitches. To update your Mac, click on the Apple logo () from top left → System Preferences → Software Update.