FaceTime Not Working on Mac? Here’s How to Fix It
Is FaceTime giving you trouble on your Mac? Whether it’s crashing, showing a blank screen, failing to sign in, or just not letting you make or receive calls, it’s frustrating—especially when you rely on it to stay in touch. Here’s a full list of solutions to help you fix FaceTime issues on macOS Mojave or later.
1. Force Quit and Relaunch FaceTime
If FaceTime was working fine earlier and suddenly stopped, a quick restart of the app may help.
- Press Command + Option + Esc to open the Force Quit window.
- Select FaceTime, then click Force Quit.
- Relaunch the app from the Dock or Applications folder.
You can also restart your Mac after force quitting to clear temporary memory glitches.
2. Check Your Internet Connection
FaceTime needs a solid internet connection to work properly.
- Go to System Preferences > Network.
- Select Wi-Fi, then disconnect and reconnect to your network.
- You can also restart your router by unplugging it for 30 seconds.
To test your connection, open Safari and browse a few websites. If they’re loading slowly, your connection might be the issue.
3. Confirm Your Apple ID and FaceTime Settings
Sometimes the issue is as simple as a sign-in error or incorrect setup.
- Open FaceTime.
- Go to the FaceTime menu > Preferences.
- Make sure you’re signed in with the correct Apple ID.
- Under “Start new calls from”, check that your email or phone number is correct and selected.
Try signing out of FaceTime and signing back in.
4. Set Date & Time to Automatically
Incorrect time settings can cause verification and connection issues with Apple services.
- Go to System Preferences > Date & Time.
- Click the lock icon to make changes (enter your password if prompted).
- Enable “Set date and time automatically.”
- Make sure the correct time zone and region are selected.
Now reopen FaceTime and test it again.
5. Check for macOS Updates
An outdated macOS version can break compatibility with FaceTime.
- Go to System Preferences > Software Update.
- If an update is available, install it.
After the update, reboot your Mac and test FaceTime again.
6. Change or Reset DNS Settings
Sometimes DNS issues can prevent FaceTime from connecting properly.
- Go to System Preferences > Network.
- Select your current network (Wi-Fi or Ethernet).
- Click Advanced > DNS tab.
- Press the + icon and add:
8.8.8.88.8.4.4
(These are Google’s DNS servers.) - Click OK, then Apply.
Restart your Mac and launch FaceTime.
7. Disable Security Apps or Firewalls Temporarily
Firewalls or third-party antivirus software may block FaceTime.
- If you use apps like Little Snitch, CleanMyMac, or third-party VPNs, disable them and see if FaceTime works.
- You can also go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall and temporarily turn it off for testing.
If FaceTime works with the firewall disabled, you may need to add FaceTime as an allowed app.
8. Test FaceTime with Another User Account
Creating a new user profile can help determine if the issue is account-specific.
- Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.
- Click the lock icon, enter your password, and click the + to add a new user.
- Log in to the new account and open FaceTime.
If it works in the new profile, the issue may be tied to your original account’s settings or permissions.