Why Is FaceTime Not Ringing (Causes and How to Fix Them)

As an iPhone user, I’m sure you’ve experienced the frustration of FaceTime not ringing. I recently had this issue myself and, after doing some research and testing, I was able to get it working again. Here to share my experience and the solutions I discovered, I’m writing this blog post to explain why FaceTime may not be ringing and how to fix it.

FaceTime might not ring due to several causes, such as poor network connection or using an old iOS version.

Cause	Description	Solutions
Network Issues	FaceTime requires a strong internet connection to receive calls, and unstable connections can prevent it from ringing.	1. Update your iPhone’s software 2. Turn Airplane Mode on and off, reset network settings, and reconnect to Wi-Fi 3. Allow FaceTime to use cellular data instead of Wi-Fi by enabling it in the Cellular Data section of your Settings app
iPhone Is Set to Do Not Disturb	The Do Not Disturb mode mutes all sounds on your iPhone, which can prevent FaceTime from ringing.	1. Go to Settings > Focus 2. Check if the slider next to Do Not Disturb is green; if so, turn it off
Silent Mode Is Enabled	Accidentally muting your iPhone can prevent FaceTime from ringing.	1. Go to Settings > Sound & Haptics and adjust the volume slider 2. Unmute your iPhone by toggling the mute switch on the left side of your device
Old iOS Version	Using an outdated iOS version can cause FaceTime to malfunction and not ring.	1. Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version by going to Settings > General > Software Update
Notifications for FaceTime Are Turned Off	Turning off notifications for FaceTime will prevent you from receiving calls.	1. Go to Settings > FaceTime and enable the FaceTime slider 2. Enable FaceTime notifications in Settings > Notifications
Bluetooth Is Turned On	Having Bluetooth enabled and connected to another device can interfere with FaceTime audio by sending it to the paired device instead.	1. Go to Settings > Bluetooth 2. If the slider next to Bluetooth is green, tap it to turn Bluetooth off

Table of Contents

Causes and Fixes for FaceTime Not Ringing

FaceTime might not ring due to several reasons. Here are the most common ones:

Network Issues

FaceTime needs a strong internet connection, so the app won’t receive calls in the first place if your connection is weak or distant.

Sometimes, bugs come with some iOS versions—like iOS 16—which might lead to an unstable internet connection. Here are a couple of possible solutions:

Solution 1:

The fix for an unstable Wi-Fi connection is to update your software. Here’s how to do it:

Head to the Settings app
Select “General”

Tap on “Software Update”
A version of the latest iOS will appear
Click on “Install Now”

Once the update is done, go to Settings > Wi-Fi
Reconnect to your Wi-Fi
By now, the internet connection should be stable

Solution 2:

If updating your iPhone’s software didn’t fix the unstable internet, try the following:

Turn Airplane Mode On and Off

Go to Settings
Enable Airplane Mode

Wait for a couple of minutes
Disable Airplane Mode

Then Reset Network Settings

Go to Settings > General

Click on “Transfer or Reset iPhone”
Select “Reset Network Settings”
Wait until the iPhone restarts

And Reconnect to Wi-Fi

Go to Settings > Wi-Fi
Turn on Wi-Fi
Tap on your Wi-Fi network

Type the password and connect

Solution 3:

Some applications, like FaceTime, are set by default to work only with Wi-Fi to avoid eating up your data. However, if you want to use cellular data instead of Wi-Fi, you need to allow FaceTime to use the data.

Here’s how to do it:

Go to Settings > Cellular
Scroll to “Cellular Data Section”
Enable FaceTime from the list of apps

iPhone Is Set to Do Not Disturb

iPhones have a Do Not Disturb mode that mutes all sounds. This could prevent you from hearing FaceTime’s ringing. To check if it’s turned on, do the following:

Go to Settings > Focus

If the slider next to Do Not Disturb is green, it means it’s turned on
Tap on the slider to turn Do Not Disturb off

Silent Mode Is Enabled on Your iPhone

You’d be surprised that many times, people accidentally mute their iPhones. Here’s the fix:

Go to Settings > Sound & Haptics
Drag the slider below “Ringer and Alerts” to increase the volume

Alternatively, you can unmute your iPhone by turning the mute switch found on the left side of the iPhone towards you.

You’re Using an Old IOS Version

Having an old iOS version can make FaceTime buggy, so always try to update your iPhone to the latest version.

As mentioned earlier, just go to Settings > General. Then, select “Software Update” and install the latest update.

Notifications for FaceTime Are Turned Off

You won’t be able to receive calls from FaceTime if the notifications are turned off. Here’s how to turn FaceTime notifications on again:

Go to Settings > FaceTime
Turn on the FaceTime slider if it was disabled

Alternatively, you can turn FaceTime notifications by doing the following:

Go to Settings > Notifications
Tap on “FaceTime”
Enable “Allow Notifications”

Bluetooth Is Turned On

Having Bluetooth turned on and accidentally connected to a device will interfere with FaceTime by sending the audio to the paired device. Here’s how to turn Bluetooth back off:

Go to Settings

Click on Bluetooth
If the slider next to Bluetooth is green, tap it to turn Bluetooth off

FAQs

How can I tell if I’m muted on FaceTime?

Check the microphone button when you’re on a FaceTime call with someone. If the button is white, that means you’re muted. To turn your microphone on, just tap on its button again.

What happens if I try to FaceTime someone who blocked me?

The FaceTime call will go through like it normally would, even when you call someone who blocked you. However, the receiver won’t get any of your calls or rings.

How can I fix FaceTime activation errors?

Just go to settings > FaceTime, and repeatedly toggle the FaceTime slider. Alternatively, make sure that the Date & Time settings are set to “Automatically.” Here’s a quick guide for this.

If you still face issues, update your iOS to the latest version, and you’re good to go.

Conclusion

After trying out the mentioned solutions for FaceTime not ringing, you should be able to hear calls when someone FaceTimes you.

For instance, updating your iOS version or turning off Do Not Disturb mode are solutions that work for most people.

That’s a wrap. Enjoy your FaceTime calls!