FaceTime camera not working? Top 6 solutions

Most iPhone users use FaceTime for video calls and it’s one of the most used built-in apps in the whole Apple ecosystem. The app itself is usually working great, even on slower connections, however, it seems that certain issues are bothering some users. Based on reports, the FaceTime camera is not working for some iPhone and iPad users.

Some users report that the selfie camera is just black while others say that it’s blurry and completely out of focus. If you are among them, make sure to check the steps we listed below. Hopefully, these instructions will help you resolve the problem at hand.

Table of contents:

1. Restart your device
2. Make sure that the camera is on
3. Check Content & Privacy Restrictions
4. Reinstall FaceTime
5. Update iOS
6. Reset All Settings or restore iPhone to factory settings

Why won’t my FaceTime camera work?

Firstly, make sure that you are connected to a stable network. FaceTime won’t work without a broadband network. In addition, make sure that a proper account is associated with FaceTime. You can check that in Settings > FaceTime.

If you are still having issues with FaceTime, try the troubleshooting steps we listed below.

1. Restart your device

The first thing to try is power cycling your device. A simple turn-off/turn-on sequence does miracles for minor system halts and, based on reports, it fixed the issue completely for many users. If we are not looking at a major system bug, the problem should be addressed with this simple step.

On the other hand, if the screen is black or blurry on the selfie camera, make sure to continue with the next step in the list.

2. Make sure that the camera is on

This goes without saying but make sure that your camera is turned on in FaceTime Settings. You can also try disabling/re-enabling the Camera or switching between the back and front cameras.

There might be a temporary bug and this, along with force closing FaceTime, should address the problem. Also, if you use cellular data for FaceTime, make sure to allow it in Settings.

3. Check Content & Privacy Restrictions

Unless you explicitly configured Content & Privacy Restrictions under Screen Time, you can skip this solution. On the other hand, if you are using this option to limit access (e.g. prevent your kid from using FaceTime), make sure to allow FaceTime access or disable the option completely and give FaceTime another go.

You can disable Content & Privacy Restrictions in Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.

4. Reinstall FaceTime

Probably the most common solution if any first-party or third-party app starts misbehaving. What you should do is completely remove FaceTime and then reinstall it from App Store.

Here’s how to delete and reinstall FaceTime on your iPhone or iPad:

1. Tap & hold on to the FaceTime Home Screen shortcut.
2. Tap Remove App.
3. Confirm when prompted.
4. Open App Store and look for FaceTime.
5. Install the app and run it.
6. Grant permissions when asked.

If the FaceTime camera is still not working, try updating it through iOS updates.

5. Update iOS

This especially applies to certain regions. For all FaceTime features to work as intended, make sure that your iPhone or iPad is running the latest available iteration of iOS. In addition, bug fixes for system apps usually come through system updates, so updating your firmware is paramount in this scenario.

Here’s how to check for iOS updates manually on your iPhone:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap Software Updates.
4. Download and install firmware updates on your device.

6. Reset All Settings or restore iPhone to factory settings

Finally, if none of the previous steps helped, you can either try resetting All Settings or go a step further and completely restore your device to factory settings.

To Reset All Settings, navigate to Settings > General > Reset. Once there, select Reset All Settings and confirm when prompted. On the other hand, in the same menu, you can choose Erase All Content & Settings. Don’t forget to back up everything to iCloud before going through with the reset.

That’s it. Thank you for reading, check our social media pages (Facebook and Twitter), and don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We look forward to hearing your questions or suggestions.

Editor’s note: This article was initially published in March 2021. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.