My iPhone 11 disconnects from WiFi while using FaceTime (video)

I have found another workaround for this issue, at least it worked on my wife’s XR, sorry if it has already been mentioned before.

I know people with this issue have discovered that if you turn off Cellular Data before making/answering a FaceTime video call it won’t disconnect from wi-fi, but if you just to go Settings->Cellular and under Cellular Data turn off FaceTime, this will prevent it from ever using cellular data and will stop the wifi disconnects/auto-switch to cellular data during a video call.

I found this to be easier than turning off/on Cellular Data every time, it works for her because she is mostly using it over wifi anyways. When needed while not on wifi she can just turn it back on Settings.

This is clearly an iOS bug, my iPhone 11 does not have this issue but her XR does, interesting enough it does not occur when she FaceTimes me but it does when she FaceTime others.

Hope this helps.

I have tried the workaround/troubleshooting method of switching mobile/cellular data off during a FaceTime video call however I have found the Wi-Fi still disconnects, even though there is no secondary data network (i.e. 4G/LTE).

iPhone X on iOS 13.5.1

That’s a shame. It worked on the XR with iOS 13.5.1. She was having this issue every single time she called her mom on her iPad, now with the cellular data switched off for FaceTime it does not happen anymore.

Apple Support (via Twitter DM) advised I test this with a FaceTime Audio call. The issue occurred, instantly – Wi-Fi disconnected and fell back to 4G/LTE which cut the audio and made the call impossible. This is really frustrating!

I have just used the chat function in the Apple Support app (on iPhone) to get some advice. They advised I toggle (off and back on again) the ‘Set Automatically’ switch in Settings > General > Date & Time. I have since tested with six FaceTime video calls (incoming and outgoing) and the Wi-Fi has been rock solid! Success!! I hope this fix persists, and works for others too.

I too was sceptical however I was desperate and willing to try anything, and can’t argue with the results. For me, at least, it’s worked a treat! More FaceTime calls today and Wi-Fi has not dropped once.

This solution looked like it had a fix but maybe for one call, it’s back.

again there is a huge lag in answering and also answering mode it seems. For me I need to swipe to answer the other call that will go to LTE.

when I call to my other phone the display looks different and it’s a red / green button only. Maybe because it was on. But my call to the impacted device stays on Wi-Fi, but in reverse after doing the time zone flip on/off it’s still reverts to LTE

My WiFi also disconnects when I’m on a FaceTime call And then rejoins when I end the FaceTime call. It doesn’t happen 100% of the time but it does about 50% of the time. It’s absolutely infuriating because it’s impossible to have a call when it happens. It’s possibly the worst time for this to happen and it feels like my phone is trolling me. I have changed phones, carriers, and iOS multiple times and it still continually happens. It’s been a problem for years. Apple needs to get its act together and fix this bug.

After a week of testing, this really seems to work!

I can not believe how.

How can a change of setting date and time be of any influence on the way facetime works?

Thanks a lot for sharing @hegguardo!

Coincidentally this bug has again reared its ugly head over the last few days, so for me it worked for about one week. I’ll try the same 'fix' (toggling Auto Date & Time) again and see what happens 🤞

This is still a problem and the only solution is to turn off cellular data while using FaceTime if you are also connected to WiFi. You have to force the phone to not switch to cellular by removing it as an option.

I have the Same issue with my iPhone X, I broke the back of the device pretty bad so I just assumed I ruined the Wifi card but just got my Apple Care replacement and having the same issue on the brand new device

The apparent lack of care from Apple regarding this quite fundamental issue with a key iOS feature is disgusting.

The last exchange I had with one of their support representatives, I was told:

”With IOS 13, there have been some instances when you are on a FaceTime call via wifi, that the wifi icon goes away but it is still using the wifi connection.”

I am astonished they are peddling such utter rubbish. When the icon switches from Wi-Fi to 4G/LTE, the connection is immediately impaired which is no coincidence.

I guess our only hope is iOS 14 however the chances may be slim as they seemingly have no clue what is going on here.

Just purchased a brand new iPhone 11 Pro and this is an issue on every one of my calls. I know I'm actually on LTE instead of Wifi because the connection is terrible when I'm on Facetime (meanwhile my Wifi is operating perfectly on my laptop) - it is not a visual display issue. It is ridiculous that the most data consuming feature of this phone wouldn't use Wifi...and it's even more insane that this thread started almost a year ago and it's still unresolved (?!!!).

@APPLE, what are you doing to fix this?

Its 9/9/2020 i have a iphone 11 for some reason my WIFI disconnects when i’m on FaceTime at home & my connection is strong and as soon as i end the FaceTime my phone connects back to WIFI. Why am I having this issue? I checked my settings and i have WIFI on for Facetime. Please help!