HT202078: If you use FaceTime and iMessage behind a firewall

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Q: can't use facetime with 5.1.1

Has anyone had any issues with using FaceTime and the old 5.1 operating system?

I cant seem to use it on my devices anymore and dont want to update due to the software issues and lack of space on my phone.

I have an Iphone 4 with 5.1.1 and my wife has the same.

Facetime stopped working and Im wondering if it coulld be anything other then the software update.

Has anyone else had this issue?

iPhone 4, iOS 5.1.1, FaceTime

Posted on Apr 16, 2014 6:43 PM

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Q: can't use facetime with 5.1.1

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Apr 16, 2014 6:47 PM in response to Apple SG
    Level 9 (79,451 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 16, 2014 6:47 PM in response to Apple SG

    Apple SG wrote:

    dont want to update due to the software issues

    What issues?

     

    and lack of space on my phone.

    You are syncing it & copying photos to your computer once in a while, correct?

    Then deleting the photos on the iPhone?

  • by Apple SG,

    Apple SG Apple SG Apr 16, 2014 6:55 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 16, 2014 6:55 PM in response to Chris CA

    With no photo's on my phone I have less than 1 gb.  In order to upgrade it requires you have 3.5.

    Regardless of space, the OS upgrade issues are well documented and I know people that swiched to a Samsung because of the new OS.  My one friend had 4 Iphone 4s and 3 of them lost several functions due to upgrading.

  • by Chris CA,

    Chris CA Chris CA Apr 16, 2014 7:11 PM in response to Apple SG
    Level 9 (79,451 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 16, 2014 7:11 PM in response to Apple SG

    So what exactly happens when you try to use FaceTime?

    Can you call anyone?

    Can anyone call you?

     

    Apple SG wrote:

     

    With no photo's on my phone I have less than 1 gb.

    Then you should delete some apps.

     

    In order to upgrade it requires you have 3.5.

    You can do it with iTunes on your computer.

     

    Regardless of space, the OS upgrade issues are well documented

    I seemed to have missed those well documented issues, but okay.

    My 4S didn't lose any functions.

     

    Good luck!

  • by Apple SG,

    Apple SG Apple SG Apr 16, 2014 7:31 PM in response to Chris CA
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 16, 2014 7:31 PM in response to Chris CA

    Great question.

    When I call an Iphone 4 with 5.1.1 it says Facetime failed.  If an Iphone 4 calls me with 5.1.1 it will give the same, Facetime failed.  Ive tried it on different phones with different networks, same in all cases.

    Here is the stange part.  If I attempt to call any Iphone with an upgraded OS, it works perfectly.

    And if anyone tries to call me with an upgraded OS, it works.   It simply dosent work with 5.1 to 5.1.

    I called apple and they said it should and upgrading should not be nessessary.  

    After reading more posts Im going to have to except its the OS.

  • by marinecastle,Helpful

    marinecastle marinecastle Apr 18, 2014 2:06 PM in response to Apple SG
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 2:06 PM in response to Apple SG

    I and my wife have had exactly the same problem after the 16 th April 2014.

     

    Before that, both our iPads and her iPhone 4 worked flawlessly with FaceTime , all running I0S 5.1.1 which we had decided to stick to.

     

    Now the connections we try to make or receive, show "connecting" then failed.

     

    At first I thought that it might be a problem with our ISP, which is Orange France. Once before we had to change the default DNS Server to the google 8.8.8.8 to resolve a connection issue.

     

    However, my iPhone 4s which runs IOS 7 goes thru every time, but now won't connect to the IOS 5 devices.

     

    I can only conclude that the part of FaceTime connections that Apple runs, has had an inadequatly tested software update in the last few days.

     

    So Apple, please fix ASAP

     

    PS Since starting this, I have just received a call, tried to answer on the iPad , call failed! Was called again within a minute, this time answered it on the iPhone 4S, call went thru and talked for over half an hour.

    It has to be Apple

  • by Apple SG,

    Apple SG Apple SG Apr 18, 2014 3:06 PM in response to marinecastle
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 3:06 PM in response to marinecastle

    Thanks marinecastle.

    I guess you cant blame a company for trying to get you to buy a new product.

    I just hope if I upgrade to the iphone 5 they will keep things working for a while.

    By the way, my ipad 4 with 5.1.1, same facetime problem.

  • by TJBUSMC1973,

    TJBUSMC1973 TJBUSMC1973 Apr 18, 2014 3:09 PM in response to Apple SG
    Level 5 (7,626 points)
    Apr 18, 2014 3:09 PM in response to Apple SG

    Facetime is being affected on multiple devices, not just older ones.  It's not a ploy by Apple to get you to buy a new iPhone.

  • by marinecastle,

    marinecastle marinecastle Apr 27, 2014 12:42 AM in response to Apple SG
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 27, 2014 12:42 AM in response to Apple SG

    Just an update to my original post.

     

    Currently on a trip to the UK and have got the use of a BtConnect ISP for a couple of days.

     

    No difference with the problems we are experiencing with devices on IOS 5.1.1, so that rules out Orange/France Telecom as being the problem.

     

    So, going into the nearest Apple Store to see if they know what the problem is and when it is going to be resolved.

  • by Rojmer,

    Rojmer Rojmer Apr 27, 2014 1:20 AM in response to marinecastle
    Level 4 (1,524 points)
    iPhone
    Apr 27, 2014 1:20 AM in response to marinecastle

    Read this

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ts5419?viewlocale=en_US

     

    You all need to upgrade to latest iOS if you want to use FaceTime.   It is up to you.

  • by marinecastle,

    marinecastle marinecastle Apr 27, 2014 1:22 AM in response to Apple SG
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apr 27, 2014 1:22 AM in response to Apple SG

    Just managed to read some more information regarding the problem, it seems that it relates to older IOS releases having expired Device Certificates and since 16 April, a bug in the FaceTime Server process results in a failure to connect. At this time, their only solution is to advise updating to IOS 7.

     

    Not much consolation to those of us needing to stay on earlier versions in order to use legacy apps that run fine but won't run on later IOS's.

     

    Glad my car ECU doesn't run on the same principles, features controlled by software stop working because it is now too old.

  • by tvmaster,

    tvmaster tvmaster Apr 27, 2014 1:13 PM in response to marinecastle
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apr 27, 2014 1:13 PM in response to marinecastle

    Hehe...nice one.  Good analogy.  Agreed