Big Sur: Facetime does not use existing bluetooth connection when answering

I know this is a little late but after the update 11.1 this was still happening to me. So I started messing around with everything I think I found a fix.

Have your BT headphones on and connected to the computer. Open FaceTime. Click Video in the upper left hand corner next to edit. Select the appropriate BT device for both mic and output.

I tested it by turning off my BT devices restarting the computer etc and it seems to save the setting so far.

I hope this helps!

i had the same issue and this fixed it

in facetime go to "video" on the menu bar at the top. Select "use system setting" instead of "macbook pro speakers" for both microphone and output.

I too experienced this annoying behavior. FaceTime does not play well with Bluetooth devices. Both answering a call and initiating a call, causes the OS to switch the mic and speakers to the iMac internal devices. after answering a call (or initiating a call) pressing the speaker icon on the top right of the screen shows that the bluetooth device is the active/current device, however in actuality it is the iMac speaker and mic that are active. One way to resume audio to the bluetooth is to select Internal Speaker then select the bluetooth device.

Apple, please fix this.

Tnx

Same issue, 2017 iMac and 2016 MBP. All audio going through Bluetooth.

• Incoming call rings through BT, but as soon as it's answered it reverts to internal.

• Outgoing call plays ringing sound through BT until answered, then reverts to internal as soon as they pick up.

Audio settings still show BT as selected input/output. Explicitly changing it to internal for a few seconds after the call has started, and then back to BT fixes it, but it's a royal pain.

Good news, the update solved the problem for me, audio is now working fine on correct sources for phone/FaceTime calls.

Has anyone had an issue after installing the update with their iPhone calls? I have had issues with my iPhone making outgoing calls, I can hear the person but cannot hear me. I tried multiple reboots and installed the newest iOS update but same issue and it is random, sometimes call are fine, other times they are not.

I have the same issue and am beyond frustrated by it especially considering I just bought a new 2020 MBP (intel). I am going to describe two situations involving Facetime, both of which are unacceptable. Apple, do something about this.

Situation 1: AirPods connected to MBP, iPhone BT turned on but not connected to AirPods, Spotify playing via AirPods:

• When the FT is incoming, the rings plays through my AirPods.
• After answering the call on my MBP, my AirPods automatically connect to my iPhone.
• Whatever the person on the other end of the call is saying then comes through the MBP speakers, but they can't hear me unless I toggle the sound input on my MBP.
• The rest of my computer audio plays through the MBP speakers (ie Spotify once I resume playing because it pauses when answering a call).
• And when the call ends, the hang up sound comes through the MBP speakers and my AirPods stay connected to my iPhone...

Going into this situation^, my AirPods are connected to my MBP, I am listening to music on my MBP, I want to answer a FT on my MBP. SO PLEASE TELL ME WHY ON EARTH MY IPHONE IS EVEN PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.

Situation 2: AirPods connected to MBP, iPhone BT turned off, Spotify playing via AirPods:

• When the FT is incoming, the rings plays through my AirPods.
• After answering the call, whatever the person on the other end of the call is saying comes through the MBP speakers, but the rest of my computer audio plays through my AirPods (ie Spotify once I resume playing because it pauses when answering a call).
• Whatever I am saying goes through my AirPods mic, NOT my MBP mic.
• And when the call ends, the hang up sound comes through my AirPods.
• Once the call ends, the music that resumes through my Airpods is muffled (similar to when you are on FT and listening to music/watching Netflix and both are playing to the same speakers). I have to toggle the sound output to normalize the music sound.

Even when my iPhone's BT is turned off (which btw should not even be part of a conversation about answering a Facetime call on a laptop), I still cannot answer a FT on my MBP without toggling audio settings.

@Apple, the Big Sur update feels like 20 steps backwards. Please fix this bluetooth issue so the last hour of my life typing this is not a complete waste.

I'm having this same issue as well on my Macbook pro 2020 13 inch, 16gb intel. Not sure why it even does this, but it's becoming a problem when I need to switch between that and Google Meet during the work day. Had no such issue with Catalina.

Yes I'm having the same issue on my Mid-2014 MacBook Pro. Whenever I call or answer via Facetime I have to toggle between internal speakers/microphone and my bluetooth headset to get them to word. It's very disruptive.

I too have this issue on my MacBook Air 2018.

However for me, the Audio output on the shows connected to my Bluetooth headset but the sound comes out of the MacBook Air speakers. I tried switching the output to the MacBook Air speakers and back to the headset, but it still won't route the call to my headset.

I am also having this problem on a 2019 MBP 16" but it is even worse when answering a audio non FaceTime call. Using BT headphones it switches the audio the MBP speakers and uses the MBP mic but there looks to be no menu to change the source. So I have to hand up and call the person back on the phone. I checked the audio menu and my BT headphones are selected but it is still playing the call through the MBP speakers.

I have a MacBook Pro 13 inch M1 ( Big Sur). Anytime I am using headphones, whether my AirPods (bluetooth) or the headphone Jack ( earplugs with cord), and a FaceTime call comes or I make a call the audio switches to internal speaker. interestingly, on the menu bar shows still shows" external Headphone" but the audio comes out of internal speakers. I have to click on "MacBook Pro speakers" then click on "external headphone" again ignorer for the audio to be switched to the headphones. I have seen people have had the same issue on the net but I want to know the solution if anyone knows.

Thank you!

I’m having the same issues on a 2020 MacBook pro. I answer the incoming call on my MacBook while wearing Bluetooth speakers and it uses my MacBook speakers.

Same issue on my mid-2015 MacBook Pro, AirPods Pro, and iPhone 11.

I saw the update notification this morning, and I was hoping that would be the case. I'll give it a try!

The update didn't fix the issue for me. Very annoyed!