Group FaceTime Not Working on iPhone? Here’s How to Troubleshoot & Fix
Ever had a problem with Group FaceTime not working as expected on your iPhone or iPad? It happens, but chances are you’ll be able to resolve the issue with some troubleshooting tricks.
Apple’s Group FaceTime feature offers a fun, free, and convenient way to video call up to 32 other people who uses an iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Mac. If you’re keen on staying connected with your friends and family during time apart, you might have already tried or considered using FaceTime for group video calls.
In some cases however, you could run into a situation where you’re unable to start or join Group FaceTime calls. Or, you could get disconnected while you’re in the middle of a call. This gets even more frustrating when you’re unable to figure out the reason why you’re facing issues. There could be several potential reasons why it isn’t functioning properly, and so much like we helped troubleshoot FaceTime issues on iPhone and iPad we’re going to do the same with Group FaceTime.
If you’re facing trouble with Group FaceTime calls on your iOS or iPadOS device, don’t fret, as we’ll walk through troubleshooting tips to hopefully fix any Group FaceTime issues on your iPhone.
Troubleshooting Group FaceTime Problems on iPhone & iPad
Although we’ll be focusing primarily on the iPhone, you could use the following troubleshooting methods to try and resolve Group FaceTime issues on your iPad and iPod Touch as well.
1. Make Sure iOS is Updated
If you have no trouble making regular FaceTime calls, there’s a good chance that your software isn’t updated. Although normal FaceTime calls function properly on older software, Group FaceTime requires iOS 12.1.4 or later. Therefore, make sure you update your device to the latest version by heading over to Settings -> General -> Software Update. If your contacts are unable to join your Group FaceTime call, ask them to update their software and try again.
2. Check if Your Device is Compatible
While basically every new device will support Group FaceTime, not all iPhones and iPads are capable of handling Group FaceTime calls. There are certain hardware requirements that need to be met. Therefore, make sure your using one of the following devices before attempting to join a Group FaceTime call.
- iPhone 6S or later
- iPad Pro, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, iPad (5th generation), or later
- iPod touch (7th generation) or later
3. Check if FaceTime is Available in Your Country
FaceTime is available almost all around the world. Well, we say almost because a few Middle Eastern countries, namely, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt and Qatar do not support FaceTime. Also, if you purchased an iOS device in any of these regions, you won’t be able to use it in a country where it’s available either. Those restrictions may change over time however, so updating system software and checking local capabilities are worthwhile as rules and features may be different.
4. Check FaceTime Settings
Sometimes, you could be unable to make Group FaceTime calls due to issues with your linked Apple account.
Try signing out of FaceTime and then sign back in to see if that resolves your issue.
You can also disable FaceTime and then turn it back on to reactivate the service.
In order to sign out of FaceTime or disable it, simply head over to Settings -> FaceTime and tap on your Apple ID.
Keep in mind that your carrier may charge you for SMS messages used to activate an Apple ID on your device.
5. Make Sure You Have a Stable Internet Connection
In some cases, you might see an exclamation mark while you’re in the middle of a Group FaceTime call. This indicates that your connection is too slow or unreliable to handle a Group FaceTime call.
Switch to a different Wi-Fi network if you’re having this issue or make sure you have a strong LTE signal, if you’re using FaceTime over cellular.
6. Reboot your iPhone
The last thing you’d want to try is simply to restart your iOS device. This can be done by just turning off your device and turning it back on again.
If you’re using an iPhone or iPad without a physical home button, hold the side button and the volume up button to access the shut down menu.
However, if you’re using an iPhone or iPad with a physical home button, you just need to hold the power button. You can shut down your iPhone or iPad through Settings too.
These troubleshooting steps should help to resolve the issues you’re facing with Group FaceTime, so try them out and then try using the feature again.
By now, you should have gotten Group FaceTime to work on your iPhone or iPad. If not, it’s likely that you’re trying to contact someone who lives in a country where FaceTime is unavailable or their devices aren’t updated yet. There’s also a pretty good chance the person you’re trying to add to the Group FaceTime call has switched to a non-Apple device. If one of the participants in your Group FaceTime call is facing issues, ask them to follow these troubleshooting steps to resolve it as well.
Do you use FaceTime on a Mac? If so, you might be interested in learning how you can effortlessly start Group FaceTime video calls on your macOS device to get in touch with friends and family who use Apple devices.
Did you manage to fix the issues you were facing with Group FaceTime calls on your iPhone? Which of these troubleshooting methods we discussed here worked for you? Did you find another solution? Share your experiences in the comments section down below.
