Check the camera indicator light
If the camera indicator light next to the camera flashes green on your Mac notebook, contact Apple.
Update your software
One of these solutions might help: Quit FaceTime, then open FaceTime again. Restart your Mac (Apple menu Restart). Make sure that FaceTime isn't open, then see if your camera works in another application, such as Photo Booth. A FaceTime conversation with Apple devices is terrific experience, once you get it set up. However, configuring properly across multiple devices, Macs, iPads and iPhones, with different addresses.
Check Screen Time settings
If your Mac is using macOS Catalina and you use Screen Time, make sure your camera is turned on and apps that use the camera have time available.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Screen Time.
- Click Content & Privacy in the sidebar, then click Apps.
- Make sure the checkbox for Camera is selected.
- Click App Limits in the sidebar. If you need to use your camera with an app in the list, make sure the checkbox for Limits is not selected.
Give apps permission
If your Mac is using macOS Mojave or later, choose which apps can use your built-in camera:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy.
- Click the Privacy tab, then click Camera in the sidebar.
- Select the checkbox next to the apps that you want to use your camera in. You might be prompted to quit and reopen an app before it can use your camera.
Try another app
Try to use your camera in another app. For example, if you can't use your camera in FaceTime, open Photo Booth.
Reset the SMC
If you still can't use the built-in camera and you have an Intel-based Mac, resetting the SMC might help. Learn how to reset the SMC on your Mac.
Learn more
If you can't connect to FaceTime, learn what to do if FaceTime isn't working on your Mac.
While FaceTime is generally reliable on Mac, you might run into problems from time to time. If you're currently facing a situation where FaceTime is not connecting no matter how many times you attempt to launch the app, fear not — there are fixes available.
These tips should help you troubleshoot common issues such as FaceTime audio not working, camera not working, poor connection, login problems, activation problems, and the inability to receive calls.
1. Check your internet connection
The most common reason why FaceTime is unavailable is due to internet connectivity issues. If you attempt to launch the app and it isn't connecting, the first thing you should do is check your network connection.
You can instantly check your Wi-Fi connection by looking at the Wi-Fi icon in the menu bar. If the icon is showing no bars, then your Wi-Fi might be turned off. You can fix this by clicking on the icon and selecting Turn Wi-Fi On.
If you don't have the Wi-Fi icon in your menu bar, you can go to System Preferences > Networkand check your internet connection there. If you are connected but the internet isn't working, you might need to restart your router.
Turn off your router and unplug it from the mains. Wait 30 seconds and plug it back in. Switch the router back on and wait for your Mac to reconnect. You'd be surprised at just how many internet connectivity issues are fixed with a simple off-and-on.
2. Check Apple's servers
If the issue is with Apple's FaceTime server, then it's both good news and bad news.
Good news that the problem isn't with the app at your end. Bad news that there isn't anything you can do but wait until Apple fixes the problem.
To check the FaceTime server status, go to Apple's System Status page and look for FaceTime in the list. If the circle next to it is green, the server is working fine. If not, it's down and Apple will be working on restoring connectivity.
If the FaceTime status is green but the app still isn't working for you, it could be that the issue is only affecting your area. In this instance, Apple might not know about the problem so it's worth getting a second server status reading from a website like Down Detector or Outage.Report. Both of these tools shows maps so that you can easily identify if your area is affected.
3. Check that FaceTime is switched on
Sometimes the biggest problems can be resolved in the simplest ways. Is FaceTime switched on? It's worth a look.
Launch the app and go to FaceTime > Turn FaceTime On. Wait for the activation to confirm that it's switched on.
4. Reset the app
If your FaceTime app is stuck in perpetual 'Waiting for Activation' use the tried-and-trusted method of switching it off and back on again.
You can reset FaceTime by launching the app and going to FaceTime > Preferences. Move the slider to the off position and then switch it back on. This little prod might be all the app needs to kick it back into life.
5. Check for software updates
The best way to keep your system running smoothly is to make sure all software is kept up-to-date.
To check for (and install) updates, open up the App Store and click on Updates in the toolbar. Click on the Update button next to any of the available updates to download and install them.
6. Check the Date & Time
Make sure your Mac is operating in the correct timezone. Go to System Preferences > Date & Time to bring up the date and time settings.
In the Date & Time tab, check the box next to Set date and time automatically and from the drop-down menu choose the correct server (Apple America/U.S. if you're in the United States, Apple Europe if you're in Europe, etc.).
In the Time Zone tab, select Set time zone automatically using your current location.
7. Check your emails
To use FaceTime you firstly need to verify your email. Apple sends out a verification email the moment you sign up which includes a link to verify your email address.
Go to FaceTime > Preferences and look to see if the status says 'verifying…' If it does, head over to your inbox and hunt down Apple's verification email. Don't forget to check your spam folder too!
8. Check your Apple ID
Are you signed in to FaceTime using the same Apple ID used on your other Apple devices? Go to FaceTime > Preferences to check. If your Mac doesn't match your other devices, click on Sign Out and sign back in using an Apple ID that matches the one used on your iPhone or iPad.
9. Does it work where you are?
FaceTime is not currently available in Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, or the United Arab Emirates, which if you are visiting or living in those countries, might explain why FaceTime is unavailable.
Facetime On Macbook Air
10. Change DNS Settings
If you're still struggling to get FaceTime working, try changing the DNS settings from Mac's settings to Google's.
1. Go to System Preferences > Network > Select Network (WiFi) > Advanced and click on the DNS tab.
Facetime App For Macbook Air
2. Click on the + button to add Google's open DNS and type in 8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4.
3. Hit OK and then Apply to confirm the settings.
11. Flush the DNS cache
A lot of network and connectivity problems can be fixed by flushing the DNS cache. How you do this depends on what version of MacOS or OS X you're currently running (Apple likes to change the command line with each OS release). We've written a guide that shows you how to flush the DNS cache manually for different Mac operating systems that you can read here. However, a much simpler option that will work regardless of what version of the macOS you have installed is to use CleanMyMac X's Maintenance feature.
CleanMyMac X is a fantastic tool designed to clean, optimize, and maintain your Mac — basically getting rid of all the things you don't need to help keep your system running smoothly. And using it couldn't be simpler.
- Download CleanMyMac X.
- Launch the app and click on the Maintenance tab.
- Select Flush DNS cache.
- Click Run and wait for the app to do its thing.
Like we said at the top of the article, FaceTime is typically reliable. It's a built-in Mac app and you rarely encounter problems with those. However, if you are trying to make or receive a call and you find that FaceTime is not connecting, run through these troubleshooting tips. There's a good chance one will provide the solution you need. And remember to download CleanMyMac X if you want to flush the DNS cache.