FaceTime icon grayed out in messages app

Hello and welcome to Apple Support Communities, Ethannnn_25!

I see you've noticed that the FaceTime option is greyed out within Messages. I'd be happy to look further into what may be happening with you.

First, try the steps outlined in this article: If you can't make a FaceTime call on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

If that doesn't help, please respond to the following:

1. Are you able to FaceTime from the FaceTime app or Phone app?
2. Are you using the latest update on your iPhone?

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities.

Have a great day!

me too The FaceTime video chat icon is grayed out in the messages app. I did not change any of my settings and the icon is like that for all of my contacts. Even the contacts that have iPhones. Someone please help. I’ve tried everything only got my iMessage and FaceTime up and running because I had an activation problem and don’t want to turn it off Incase it doesn’t let me in again what do I do someone please help ???

I, too, am having the same problem when I use iMessage.

My iPhone 6 Plus just told me that there was an internal FaceTime error.

I am able to receive calls at any time and if I want to make calls, I have to do it through the FaceTime app.

Following this discussion.

Add me to the group. I just noticed it as well today. Ironically on my iPad it's normal the FT option is solid. On my iPhone it's greyed out. Like other I can make a FT call directly from the FT app OR if I go to info then tap the FT icon. I do notice for a millisecond it is greyed out then turns blue on the info page.

Please add me to this discussion too. I noticed this after the new update. I can still make FT calls from the app and if I click on “info” from the Message app it will allow me there, but not straight from that icon Ethannnn_25 posted in his screenshot

Add me to this growing list, Tried everything but same issue, Facetime option when you click on the contact at the top is greyed out, if you go into info you can FT from there but something as changed, and I didn't do it lol

My Son has an iPhone 7 plus 12.1.2 no greyed out FT icon perfectly normal

My wife has an iPhone XR 12.1.2 no greyed out FT icon perfectly normal

I have an iPhone 6 Plus 12.1.2 Greyed out icon not working properly

Apple hinting at upgrading perhaps?? well I'm not so.......

I too am frustrated with this issue! I was unable to change my icloud payment method (which was being requested) because i could not get to my Icloud!! Had to do it on my Ipad, TG for having an Ipad - i would been screwed! Hope engineering figures this out!

This thread has to do ONLY with the issue of FaceTime being grade out when trying to use text messaging. Please confine your posts to that thread. Obviously you do not use FaceTime to pay your iCloud Bill!

Have not done so, but please let everyone know what happens. I am expecting at some point to be told the dreaded “let’s restore your phone to factory settings… You have backed it up, haven’t you? “. this is something I would rather avoid and I am hoping that the engineers will come up with a different solution

No kidding! My point was that I was having greyed out issues with my Apple ID THEN noted the face time was also greyed out and in reading threads the 2 seemed related. I’m just trying to follow what is going on with others issues that relate to mine, I’m not a complete idiot.

So, went to Apple store yesterday to pick up the laptop repair - of course already a crowd in there - didn't need an appointment to pick it up and the wait was only about 15 minutes for that end of the store. In order for me to speak to someone about the facetime issue I had to check in for an appointment. While doing so, I explained and showed the tech what was going on, he put me in for an appointment - just to get me on the board because it was a THREE 1/2 HR wait!! - mind you, this was at 11am - he thought he would be able to fix it - of course couldn't. I told him I was on this thread and there were many people with the same issue - he said he hadn't heard anything about it! So needless to say, it's still an issue for us all. I was not going to waste over 3 hours of my Saturday waiting for something that probably no one there could fix anyway. Sorry guys :(

Any update from the rep who took your phone logs for engineering to study DavidinFlorida2?

You couldn’t give 3 1/2 hours of your time just to help your fellow man/woman? Well, thanks for trying anyway. I agree that probably the store could not of done anything anyway. My logs went in yesterday and the tech rep said it would be several days before he would get back to me. Will post as soon as I know anything

OK, as of 1/19/19 good and bad news: I contacted my tech rep and he reported back to me today. Good news: Apparently the engineers are working on it, and it is now what we lay people would call a “known problem “. Bad news: There is no timetable for a fix. A fix will either come in the form of an email to those of us who have opened tech-support cases, or a new iOS update for all devices. If I hear anything I will post it here. Meanwhile I urge everyone who has this problem to call Apple support and open a case, so they give it the proper priority in finding a resolution! If you have the problem, please open a tech-support case and explain how many people are complaining about the problem to the wrap, if the rep is unaware of it and ask them to forward it to upper levels of support .

Since updating my iPad Air to 12.1.2 in the beginning of January, I have not been able to make FaceTime video calls from the messages app as well. Like everyone else, I can make FaceTime audio calls from the messages app and the FaceTime App works just fine. I was happy when I saw the 12.1.3 update notification today. However, this update has not resolved this issue for me.