TL;DR
To fix FaceTime not working on Mac issue:
- Quit and relaunch FaceTime to fix minor issues.
- Restart your Mac to refresh the system.
- Check Wi-Fi or use wired internet for stability.
- Close other video apps to improve FaceTime.
- Sign out and back into FaceTime to fix account issues.
Tried and Tested ✅: The methods and steps mentioned in this article have been tried and tested firsthand by Ojash Yadav on his MacBook Pro M3 and rechecked for errors on Hashir’s MacBook Air M2.
A few weeks ago, I was trying to FaceTime my family, and it just wouldn’t connect. After some quick fixes, I got it working again. If you’re having the same issue, here are some simple solutions to help you out.
How to Fix FaceTime Not Working on Mac
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Here, I am going to share the best tips to fix FaceTime not working on Mac:
1. Quit and Restart FaceTime
Restarting FaceTime can clear minor bugs or glitches and often resolves performance issues quickly. Here’s how:
- Locate the FaceTime icon on your Mac’s Dock.
- Right-click the FaceTime icon in the Dock and select Quit from the context menu.
- If you prefer Mac keyboard shortcuts, make sure FaceTime is active and press Command ⌘ + Q.
- Wait for a few seconds to make sure the application has completely closed.
- Relaunch FaceTime by double-clicking its icon in the Applications folder or using the Spotlight Search (Command ⌘ + Space).
- Once the app is open, try calling or connecting to see if the issue has been resolved.
2. Restart Your Mac
Restarting your Mac refreshes the system and helps fix temporary problems affecting FaceTime. Here’s how to restart your Mac:
- Save any ongoing work and close all applications on Mac to ensure you don’t lose any data when your system restarts.
- Click the Apple logo at the top-left corner of your screen.
- From the dropdown menu, select Restart.
- A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm that you want to restart your computer. Click the Restart button in the dialog box to initiate the process.
- Your Mac will proceed to restart.
- After your Mac has successfully restarted and you’re back on the desktop, open FaceTime to see if the issue has been resolved.
3. Check Your Internet Connection on Mac
A strong and stable internet connection is crucial for FaceTime to function smoothly. Follow these steps:
- Close any apps or browser tabs consuming your internet bandwidth to get a more accurate reading.
- Open a web browser and go to a reliable speed test website like Speedtest.net (the one I used) or Fast.com.
- On the speed test website, locate and click the Go button.
- Make note of the download and upload speeds.
- Check your Wi-Fi signal strength by looking at the Wi-Fi icon in the top right corner of your screen. All bars should be filled for a strong connection.
- If you notice low speeds or weak signal strength, try moving closer to your Wi-Fi router, or consider using a wired Ethernet connection for a more stable link.
- After making the necessary adjustments, restart FaceTime and see if the issues have been resolved.
4. Quit Other Video Calling Apps
Closing other video calling apps can free up system resources and improve FaceTime performance. Here’s how to quit other video calling apps besides FaceTime:
- Identify any other video calling apps currently running on your Mac. This could include Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, or others.
- To quit these apps, locate their icons on your Mac’s Dock and right-click to choose the Quit option.
- If you’re unsure whether all video calling apps have been closed, open Activity Monitor by going to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Activity Monitor.
- Once all other video calling apps have been closed, restart FaceTime and check if the issues have been resolved.
- Look for any running video calling apps in the CPU or Memory tabs and quit them from there.
5. Sign Out of FaceTime and Sign In Again
Here’s how to sign out of FaceTime and sign in again:
- Open the FaceTime app and click FaceTime in the menu bar.
- From the dropdown menu, select Settings to open the FaceTime settings window.
- In the Settings window, find the Sign Out button next to your Apple ID. Click it to sign out of FaceTime.
- Wait a few seconds to ensure that you’ve been fully signed out.
- Now, sign back into your FaceTime account by entering your Apple ID and password. Click Sign In to complete the process.
- After signing back in, try making a FaceTime call to see if the issue has been resolved.
6. Check the Microphone and Camera Settings
Ensure your microphone and camera are properly configured and accessible to FaceTime. Follow these steps to check the microphone and camera settings:
- Click the Apple logo and select System Settings.
- In the System Settings window, click Sound to check your microphone settings.
- Go to the Input tab and ensure the correct microphone is selected and its input level is registering sound.
- Return to the System Settings window, click Privacy & Security, and select Microphone in the right pane.
- Toggle on FaceTime to allow it to access the microphone.
- Go back to Privacy & Security and select Camera from the right pane.
- Make sure FaceTime is checked, allowing camera access.
- Close the settings and restart FaceTime to apply any changes.
- Test your FaceTime call to see if the microphone and camera are functioning correctly.
7. Update the FaceTime App
Running an outdated version of FaceTime could lead to various issues, including connectivity problems and reduced functionality. Here is how to update the app:
- Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select App Store.
- Click the Updates tab in the App Store window.
- If an update for FaceTime is available, click the Update button next to it to begin the installation. You might need to enter your Apple ID and password to proceed.
Alternatively, you can use MacKeeper’s Update Tracker to update apps on macOS:
- Download and install MacKeeper.
- Launch MacKeeper and click the Update Tracker tab in the left sidebar.
- Click Scan for Updates.
- MacKeeper will scan your Mac for outdated apps and display a list. If an update for FaceTime is available, check the little box next to it.
- Click Update.
- Wait for the update to complete.
- You’ll get an Update Completed notification. Click Rescan if you want to update more apps.
8. Check Your Mac’s Time and Date
Incorrect time and date settings on your Mac can interfere with FaceTime’s functionality. Here’s how to check and change the date and time on your Mac:
- Navigate to the Apple Menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Settings.
- In the System Settings window, click General and select Date & Time.
- Check if the time and date are correct. If they’re not, toggle off the Set date and time automatically option, correct them manually, and then toggle it on again.
- After confirming or adjusting your time and date settings, relaunch FaceTime and test to see if the issue has been fixed.
9. Check the Apple System Status
Sometimes, FaceTime issues are caused by Apple server outages, which you can check online. Here’s how to check the Apple system status:
- Open your web browser and navigate to Apple’s official System Status page.
- Look for FaceTime in the list of services. If it’s indicated with a green dot, the service is operational. A yellow or red indicator suggests there are issues.
- If there are issues, Apple usually provides an estimate for when the service will be restored. You might need to wait until then to use FaceTime effectively.
10. Update Your macOS
Keeping your macOS up to date is essential for preventing glitches and bugs affecting apps like FaceTime. Updating to the latest version ensures optimal performance and compatibility, resolving many potential issues. To update, go to the Apple menu, select System Settings, click General, and choose Software Update to check for and install available updates.
For more detailed steps on how to update your macOS, check out my full guide [here].
Did You Know? FaceTime can automatically pause when you switch to another app during a call. This feature helps save data and can prevent performance issues on slower networks.
Start Group Calls With Your Friends on FaceTime
Now that you know how to fix FaceTime not working on Mac, you can start video calling your friends and family. Here are a few more tips to make sure your experience is smooth and flawless:
- Delete FaceTime calls on your MacBook to clear clutter and resolve potential issues.
- If your Mac camera isn’t working, it could be causing FaceTime problems.
- Low Mac volume may cause trouble hearing the other person on a FaceTime call.