John
“Hello, I am facing an issue when calling someone on FaceTime. It shows FaceTime Unavailable. My internet connection works perfectly, and I cannot understand why I am facing the issue. Why does it say FaceTime Unavailable, and how can I fix it?”
FaceTime is the most commonly used app among iPhone users through which they make video and audio calls instantly. Naturally, it is concerning and inconvenient when an iPhone user suddenly cannot make calls through FaceTime. However, FaceTime Unavailable on iPhone issue is not uncommon. There are several causes why you may see FaceTime Unavailable on your screen while making a video or audio call.
Instead of panicking, you must try to understand why FaceTime may not work on your iPhone. Fortunately, many ways are available to fix FaceTime Unavailable issue on the iPhone. Once you perform the steps individually, you will likely fix the issue and get your FaceTime working again. We will state why it says FaceTime Unavailable and illustrate the steps to fix the issue yourself.
Part 1. What Does FaceTime Unavailable Mean?
When you FaceTime someone but you do not have an active internet connection, you will FaceTime Unavailable message. Similarly, if the person you call does not have an active internet connection, you will see the same again.
Therefore, FaceTime Unavailable means FaceTime is unable to make the call or reach out to the person you are calling. FaceTime’s unavailability could be due to any fault on your side or on the side of the person you are calling.
Part 2. Why Does It Say FaceTime Unavailable on iPhone?
Several reasons can be responsible for FaceTime calls not going through on iPhone. The following is the list of reasons why an iPhone displays the FaceTime Unavailable message. Go through them, and you may conclude which one is responsible in your case.
- FaceTime is not available in your country or region.
- You do not have an active internet connection.
- FaceTime could be restricted on your iPhone.
- Your iPhone is malfunctioning for any reason.
- FaceTime app is malfunctioning on your iPhone.
- The recipient does not have an internet connection.
- The recipient’s iPhone could be switched off.
- The recipient’s iPhone could be in Do Not Disturb mode.
- The recipient iPhone may be out of the network’s range.
- FaceTime service could be down locally or globally.
Part 3. How to Fix FaceTime Unavailable on iPhone
Now that you have understood FaceTime unavailable meaning and reasons, it is time to take steps to fix the issue on your side. You have to perform every one of the following steps because any one of them can work out for you. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact step that will work in your case, as the reason behind the issue can vary from one iPhone to another.
Check Whether FaceTime is Available in Your Country
The FaceTime feature on iPhone is not available in all countries. For example, if you have bought an iPhone from Pakistan, you won’t get the FaceTime feature. You can visit Apple’s Wireless Carrier Support page to see if the FaceTime feature is available in your country.
Check FaceTime & Restriction Settings
If the FaceTime feature is restricted on your iPhone, you will see the FaceTime unavailability issue. You can go to your iPhone’s settings to determine if FaceTime is disabled. If disabled, you can turn it on to fix the issue instantly.
Step 1. Open Settings from the Home screen or App library on your iPhone.
Step 2. Scroll down and tap on the FaceTime option from the Settings screen.
Step 3. Check the switch next to FaceTime to find out if FaceTime is enabled or disabled.
Step 4. Turn it on if switched off, and FaceTime should work perfectly on your iPhone now.
Check Your Wi-Fi or Cellular Connection
FaceTime needs an active internet connection to make calls. FaceTime service will be unavailable if you do not have a proper internet connection. Using a cellular network ensures the signal strength is good enough. Besides, ensure your data pack has not expired or reached the daily limit. If you have any issues with your cellular network, you can use the Wi-Fi network to make calls through FaceTime.
If you already use a Wi-Fi network, ensure the signal strength is good enough. You can switch to another Wi-Fi network to see if the FaceTime issue is solved. Ensure the internet speed is up to the mark by streaming a high-resolution video on your iPhone. If your internet connection is perfect, move on to the next step.
Sign Out of FaceTime & Sign Back In
When FaceTime is not working as intended, you can sign out of the FaceTime app and sign back in. This can fix any in-app issue because in-app data and settings get reloaded when you sign back in. If the FaceTime app malfunctions due to data corruption or settings mismatch, the problem will be resolved. Here are the steps to sign out of FaceTime and sign back in.
Step 1. From Settings and go to the FaceTime option.
Step 2. Tap on your Apple ID and the Sign Out option when a pop-up appears.
Step 3. After signing out of the FaceTime app, tap on the Use Apple ID for FaceTime option.
Step 4. Sign back in with your Apple account credentials. Open the FaceTime app and see if the issue is fixed.
Restart Your iPhone
Sometimes FaceTime app can malfunction, and restarting the iPhone can fix the issue. FaceTime data from RAM gets erased and reloaded when you restart your iPhone. This can fix in-app problems and connectivity issues. The steps to restart iPhone vary from one model to another.
- For iPhone X and later models: Press the side and the volume button together. Drag the slider on the screen to turn off the iPhone. After that, press and hold the side button to restart the iPhone.
- For iPhone 8 and earlier models: Press and hold the top button, and when the slider appears, drag it to turn off the device. Press and hold the top button to restart the iPhone.
Fix FaceTime Unavailable with iOS Repair Tool
If none of the above-mentioned methods solves the issue, you must use a professional iOS repair tool to fix the FaceTime issue. We recommend Tenorshare ReiBoot, which can fix over 150 common issues in iOS devices. It can solve the FaceTime unavailability issue without erasing your iPhone data. Here are the steps to fix the FaceTime Unavailable issue with ReiBoot.
Step 1. Download and install Tenorshare ReiBoot on your computer. Connect your iPhone to your computer via cable. Launch the program and click on the Start button.
Step 2. Click on the Standard Repair option to fix the FaceTime issue.
Step 3. Click on the Download button so ReiBoot can download your iPhone’s latest firmware. It will take some time to download the firmware package.
Step 4. Once the latest firmware is ready, click on the Start Standard Repair button to fix any issue on your iPhone.
After you see the “Standard Repair Completed” message on the screen, you can disconnect your iPhone from your computer. Restart your iPhone and see if the FaceTime issue is solved.
Reset All Settings
Suppose you have recently made certain changes in your iPhone’s settings and noticed the FaceTime unavailability issue. In that case, you can reset all settings and see if the problem is solved. Sometimes, changes in settings can lead to certain apps and services malfunctioning. Resetting the settings takes them back to the original settings. Here are the steps to reset all settings on your iPhone.
Step 1. Open Settings from the Home screen or App library of your iPhone.
Step 2. Tap on the General option from Settings.
Step 3. Go to the Reset option and tap on the Reset All Settings option.
Step 4. Enter the password of your Apple account to proceed successfully.
Check If Your Date & Time Are Set to Automatic
Apple recommends that users automatically set the date and time when FaceTime is not working. The date and time are set to automatic on Apple devices by default. However, when FaceTime is not working, you have to check if it is set to automatic or not. Here are the steps to check them.
Step 1. Open Settings and go to the General option.
Step 2. Go to the Date & Time option.
Step 3. Turn on the Set Automatically option if not already turned on.
Check If FaceTime is Down
Sometimes, FaceTime can be down for everyone momentarily. This can happen when there is a technical issue. In such a scenario, FaceTime service will be unavailable. You can find out if FaceTime is down from the Apple System Status page. The page also notifies if Apple plans any FaceTime maintenance in the future when FaceTime service will be down. If FaceTime is down, you have to wait for FaceTime to be back again.
Frequently Asked Questions About FaceTime on iPhone
How can I activate FaceTime on my iPhone?
FaceTime is an inbuilt feature that comes preloaded on iPhone. This means FaceTime comes activated by default. You can check if FaceTime is activated or disabled on your iPhone. Go to Settings> FaceTime and check if FaceTime is turned on. If not, you can turn it on to activate it on your iPhone.
How do I fix FaceTime on iOS 15?
First, update iOS to the latest version available on your iPhone. Remove any emoticons from the contact names. Sign out and then sign into the FaceTime app. Force restart your iPhone and, if required, reset all settings. If nothing works, simply use iOS System Recovery to fix the FaceTime issue.
Can you FaceTime on an Android?
Apple owns the FaceTime app. Therefore, FaceTime is exclusively available for Apple devices. Android users can join any FaceTime call that Apple users host through the invitation link. There is no FaceTime app available for Android users.
Why does FaceTime freeze on iPhone?
FaceTime can freeze on iPhone if the internet connection suddenly becomes unavailable. Besides, if you have an older version of iOS, it can sometimes make FaceTime freeze. In that case, you must update your iOS to the latest version. Sometimes, apps and services running in the background can make FaceTime freeze. Therefore, you should restart your iPhone to solve the freezing issue.
Conclusion
We have answered what FaceTime unavailable means and why you face FaceTime unavailability issues. After that, we mentioned all the steps to successfully fix the FaceTime unavailability issue. However, if they do not work out in your case, you need to use an iPhone repair tool. We recommend iOS System Recovery to fix FaceTime unavailable issue conveniently.
