How to fix FaceTime that is not working on an Apple iPhone XR

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When it comes to audio and video calling functions, Apple has its very own popular service called FaceTime. It works by allowing Apple device users to call other people using those devices via Wi-Fi or cellular data connection instead of the traditional phone lines. Every Apple device has a built-in FaceTime app that is used for placing FaceTime video or audio calls. FaceTime is also integrated into the Phone app on the iPhone. For as long as your device has Wi-Fi or cellular data connection, you can use FaceTime anytime. But just like any other Apple services, FaceTime also succumbs to random errors inflicted by network downtimes, firmware glitches, bad updates, and other factors.

Before performing any of the following workarounds, try to check and ensure that FaceTime is enabled on your phone. To do this, navigate to Settings-> FaceTime menu, then tap the switch next to FaceTime to activate the service. If it’s already turned ON, toggle the switch to turn FaceTime off and then tap to turn it ON again. This somehow gives FaceTime a quick refresh and eliminates minor glitches on the FaceTime application. If that doesn’t work, then you may go ahead and carry out the following procedures.

First solution: Restart/soft reset.

Performing a soft reset or device restart can do a lot of good things. It effectively clears out random glitches from minor app errors, data corruption, network connection errors and more. An iPhone can be restarted in two ways — the standard restart (soft reset) and force restart. The latter method is used when the device screen is stuck or unresponsive. Both methods work the same when it comes to rectifying minor errors on apps and software glitches. To soft reset an iPhone XR, just follow these steps:

  1. Press and hold the Side/Power button and either Volume buttons simultaneously for a few seconds.
  2. Release the buttons when the Slide to Power Off command appears and then drag the power off slider to the right.
  3. After 30 seconds, press and hold the Power/Side button again until the phone reboots.

Alternatively, you can force restart your iPhone XR to clear out all suspended apps and corrupted services that might have caused FaceTime to act up. To force restart an iPhone XR, just follow these steps:

  1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
  2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
  3. Then, press and hold the Power button on the side of the phone and then release when the phone restarts.

Wait until the phone boots up completely and then try using FaceTime again to see if the problem is fixed.

Second solution: Refresh your Internet connection.

The latest iOS update brings in more enhanced FaceTime features like Group FaceTime, Animoji or Memoji that somehow require more Internet bandwidth. Thus if your iPhone is having slow Internet, intermittent or poor Internet connection, FaceTime will likewise be unable to send and receive data fast enough to keep up with the phone’s demand. As a result, lags and choppy FaceTime videos are likely to occur. In this case, you can temporarily remove any effects like Animoji and Memoji, stickers, shapes, text, and filters when using FaceTime. Or try to fix your phone’s Internet problems with these subsequent methods.

  1. Turn Wi-Fi off and then on again. This method refreshes your iPhone’s wireless Internet connection. To do this, go to Settings-> Wi-Fi menu, then tap the switch to turn Wi-Fi off and then back on again.
  2. Toggle Airplane Mode on and off. This method gives a quick restart on the phone’s wireless radios and clears out random problems affecting wireless functions of the phone. To do so, head over to Settings-> Airplane Mode menu, then toggle the switch to turn Airplane Mode ON and then tap to turn it OFF again.
  3. Reset network settings. Network problems particularly those attributed to invalid network configurations are generally rectified by this reset. To do this, head over to Settings-> General-> Reset menu, then choose the option to Reset network settings. Your iPhone will reboot automatically when the reset is finished and then loads the default network options. To reconnect to Wi-Fi internet, turn Wi-Fi on and connect to your Wi-Fi network.

After performing all these tweaks, restart your iPhone then try to place video or audio calls through FaceTime and see if the problem is gone.

Third solution: Sign out of FaceTime then sign in again.

Some iPhone users who encountered FaceTime problems after installing new firmware update were able to obtain a resolution by logging out of and back into their FaceTime account. If you wish to give it a shot, then here’s what you can do next:

  1. Tap Settings from your Home screen.
  2. Tap FaceTime.
  3. Tap on your Apple ID then select the option to Sign Out.
  4. After logging out, restart/soft reset your iPhone.

As soon as your phone restarts, head back to FaceTime and sign into your account with your Apple ID and password.

Fourth solution: Remove or turn off Restrictions for FaceTime.

FaceTime may also not be able to work as intended if it’s restricted. This can be considered the cause of the problem if it occurs after customizing settings or installing new updates on your phone. To rule this out, check your iPhone settings and make sure restrictions are turned off for the FaceTime app. Here’s how:

  1. From the Home screen, tap on Settings.
  2. Tap on Screen Time.
  3. Tap Content & Privacy.
  4. Select Allowed Apps to view all apps with restrictions.

Make sure FaceTime isn’t restricted, otherwise, toggle the switch to turn off restriction for FaceTime.

Fifth solution: Reset all settings.

Invalid settings that caused FaceTime errors can also be ruled out by performing this reset. It erases all your customized settings and restores the original values. Any errors triggered by incorrect settings or invalid options will therefore by eliminated. Here’s how it’s done:

  1. From your Home screen, tap on Settings.
  2. Select General.
  3. Scroll down to and then tap on Reset.
  4. Select the option to Reset all settings.
  5. If prompted, enter your passcode to proceed then tap the option to confirm settings reset.

After the reset, the phone restarts automatically. Wait until it’s finished booting up and then start enabling individual features that you want to use on your phone including Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Other options

  • Install new iOS update. FaceTime errors can also be resolved by installing the latest iOS version rolled out by Apple. Many iPhone users who  have had trouble using FaceTime after the major iOS 12 revamp were in fact able to obtain ultimate solutions from updating. You can check for new iOS update by heading to your iPhone Settings-> General-> Software Update menu. A stable Wi-Fi access would be necessary though.
  • Factory reset/master reset. To rule out major system errors, performing a factory reset or master reset can also be considered an option. Complex system problems are often remedied by this method. But before you do so, be sure to back up all your important files so as not to lose them permanently. You can carry out a master reset through your iPhone settings or using iTunes on a computer.
  • Escalate the problem. You can also report the problem to Apple Support for more advanced solutions and official recommendations. There may be some other iPhone settings that need to be configured for FaceTime to work as intended.

I hope that this how-to post has helped you one way or another. Please help us spread the word by sharing this post to your friends or people who may also have similar problems. Thanks for reading!

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