This article explains what to do when FaceTime Audio—the audio-only version of the app—is not working on your device and when FaceTime is having audio problems.

Causes of FaceTime Audio Not Working

FaceTime Audio might not be working for various reasons, yet the most common is that you don’t have a compatible device or operating system.

The following applies to both FaceTime and FaceTime Audio, and can resolve issues with both.

In particular, this applies to any iPhone older than the iPhone 4 (e.g., iPhone 3) and the first-generation iPad.

You need at least iOS 7 on your device to use FaceTime Audio, so if you’re not running this operating system (or a more recent one), you won’t see the option to make or receive an audio-only call using FaceTime.

Other possible reasons why you don’t have audio in FaceTime include:

  • Your microphone is muted or malfunctioningYour volume is too lowAnother app is using your microphoneYour iPhone is out of dateProblems with your internet connection

What to Do When There’s No Audio on FaceTime

Try these fixes in order until FaceTime audio is working.

  • Check that you or the person you’re speaking with haven’t muted your microphone. Ask them to check and tap their microphone icon to rectify this issue. If it’s muted, the icon will be white (rather than grey).
  • Also, if the person you’re speaking with is complaining that they can’t hear you, you should check that you haven’t muted your microphone.
  • Check your volume. Like checking that your microphone isn’t muted, you should check that your volume (or your interlocutor’s volume) isn’t turned all or most of the way down. To rectify this problem, tap the Volume Up button several times until you and your caller report that you can hear each other fine.
  • Check your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. FaceTime relies on an internet connection to transmit video and audio, so it could struggle to fulfill either function if your internet connection is weak.
  • Is the microphone “busy”? One potential cause of FaceTime audio problems is that another app is using your microphone while you’re trying to make a call. For example, specific messaging and music apps require your device’s microphone, so if you have them open while using FaceTime, you or your caller might not be able to hear anything. If this is the case, close any app that is or might be using your device’s microphone, and then try calling again.
  • Check that your microphone is working correctly. If you can’t hear your caller or they can’t hear you, both of you should check your devices’ microphones. You can do this on an iPhone (or iPad) by opening Voice Memos and recording yourself speaking into the primary (i.e., bottom) mic. Also, with iPhones, you can check the rear and front mics (both at the top of the devices) by opening the Camera app and shooting a video (in which you talk) using the rear and the front camera.
  • If you can hear and record your voice using such tests, your microphone is working fine.
  • Restart your device. By closing all of the apps you have running, a normal restart could enable you to open FaceTime again and make a call with working audio. It’s also worth getting your caller to try this, just in case.
  • Download and install new iOS updates. Often, new operating systems fix bugs or flaws affecting previous versions, which might have possibly been preventing apps like FaceTime from working correctly.
  • Factory-reset an iPhone or restore your iPad to factory settings. You can even perform a factory reset of a Mac. If you’ve tried all the methods above and FaceTime still doesn’t produce audio, it’s worth trying. Of course, before resetting your device to its default settings, it would be a good idea to back it up.
  • Book an appointment at an Apple Store or an authorized repair shop. Again, you should do this if none of the above steps have worked. The only remaining explanation is that your device suffers from a hardware issue preventing its microphone from functioning normally.

Check that you or the person you’re speaking with haven’t muted your microphone. Ask them to check and tap their microphone icon to rectify this issue. If it’s muted, the icon will be white (rather than grey).

Also, if the person you’re speaking with is complaining that they can’t hear you, you should check that you haven’t muted your microphone.

Check your volume. Like checking that your microphone isn’t muted, you should check that your volume (or your interlocutor’s volume) isn’t turned all or most of the way down. To rectify this problem, tap the Volume Up button several times until you and your caller report that you can hear each other fine.

Check your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. FaceTime relies on an internet connection to transmit video and audio, so it could struggle to fulfill either function if your internet connection is weak.

Is the microphone “busy”? One potential cause of FaceTime audio problems is that another app is using your microphone while you’re trying to make a call. For example, specific messaging and music apps require your device’s microphone, so if you have them open while using FaceTime, you or your caller might not be able to hear anything. If this is the case, close any app that is or might be using your device’s microphone, and then try calling again.

Check that your microphone is working correctly. If you can’t hear your caller or they can’t hear you, both of you should check your devices’ microphones. You can do this on an iPhone (or iPad) by opening Voice Memos and recording yourself speaking into the primary (i.e., bottom) mic. Also, with iPhones, you can check the rear and front mics (both at the top of the devices) by opening the Camera app and shooting a video (in which you talk) using the rear and the front camera.

If you can hear and record your voice using such tests, your microphone is working fine.

Restart your device. By closing all of the apps you have running, a normal restart could enable you to open FaceTime again and make a call with working audio. It’s also worth getting your caller to try this, just in case.

Download and install new iOS updates. Often, new operating systems fix bugs or flaws affecting previous versions, which might have possibly been preventing apps like FaceTime from working correctly.

Factory-reset an iPhone or restore your iPad to factory settings. You can even perform a factory reset of a Mac. If you’ve tried all the methods above and FaceTime still doesn’t produce audio, it’s worth trying. Of course, before resetting your device to its default settings, it would be a good idea to back it up.

Book an appointment at an Apple Store or an authorized repair shop. Again, you should do this if none of the above steps have worked. The only remaining explanation is that your device suffers from a hardware issue preventing its microphone from functioning normally.

  • How do I fix it when FaceTime isn’t working?
  • If FaceTime isn’t working, make sure FaceTime is turned on, confirm that your carrier supports it, and check your network connection. Also, make sure you’ve added a phone number or email address and check that the person you’re calling has FaceTime.
  • How do fix my iPhone microphone?
  • If your iPhone microphone isn’t working, restart your communication apps and make sure they have access to your mic. Unplug any accessories, clean the microphone openings, and remove the screen protector or case if necessary. If it still doesn’t work, try using a headset.
  • How do I screen record on FaceTime?
  • To screen record FaceTime calls on iPhone, open the Control Center and tap Screen Record. Then, open FaceTime and place your call. On a Mac, open FaceTime, and then open the Screenshot app. Click Record Selected Portion, resize the Screenshot tool to capture the FaceTime window, and select Record.

If FaceTime isn’t working, make sure FaceTime is turned on, confirm that your carrier supports it, and check your network connection. Also, make sure you’ve added a phone number or email address and check that the person you’re calling has FaceTime.

If your iPhone microphone isn’t working, restart your communication apps and make sure they have access to your mic. Unplug any accessories, clean the microphone openings, and remove the screen protector or case if necessary. If it still doesn’t work, try using a headset.

To screen record FaceTime calls on iPhone, open the Control Center and tap Screen Record. Then, open FaceTime and place your call. On a Mac, open FaceTime, and then open the Screenshot app. Click Record Selected Portion, resize the Screenshot tool to capture the FaceTime window, and select Record.

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