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.

#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

  1. Click on the Apple logo from top left → click Force Quit.

    Click on Apple Logo and Select Force Quite on Mac

  2. Now, Select FaceTime and then click on Force Quit.

    Force Quit FaceTime on Mac

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

  1. 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.

    Click on FaceTime Menu and Select Preferences

  2. 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.

    Check FaceTime Activated or Not on Mac

  3. At the bottom for ‘Start new calls from:’ ensure your phone number or email is visible.

    Check Phone Number to Start New Call from FaceTime on Mac

#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.

Restart your Mac

#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.

Turn Off FaceTime on Mac

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.

  1. To check camera, click on FinderApplicationsPhoto Booth.

    Click on Applications and Select Photo Booth in Mac Finder

  2. 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.

    Ask Siri to Check Micriphone in macOS

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.

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#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:

  1. Click on the Apple logo from top left → System PreferencesDate & Time.

    Click on Date and Time in Mac System Preferences

  2. Make sure Set date and time automatically is checked.

    Check Set date and time automatically is On in macOS

  3. To make changes, you may have to click on the lock icon from the bottom left.

    Double Click on Lock icon

  4. 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.

Select Time Zone Tab and Check Set time zone automatically using current location is 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.

Check FaceTime Server Status on Apple's Website

#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 PreferencesSoftware Update.