Steve Paris
Level 1 (0 points)

Q: Can't Activate FaceTime :(

Here's an odd one:

I'm trying to connect to FaceTime for the first time, but am failing miserably.

All I get is this message each and every time:

*FaceTime Activation*
+Could not sign in. Please check your network connection and try again.+

Thing is, my network's fine: I can jump to Safari on my iPod touch and I can browse the web, etc., but when I switch back to FaceTime, I get the same puzzling error message.

I check, double-checked and triple checked my username and password (it's my regular iTunes ID which is in fact my personal email address)

iChat or Skype work fine on my Mac on my network too. Why would FaceTime think there's a network error? My wi-fi network is powered by an AirPort Extreme base station.

I'm stumped.

Does anyone have any ideas?

iPod Touch 4G 32G, iOS 4

Posted on Oct 9, 2010 4:46 AM

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Steve Paris

Q: Can't Activate FaceTime :(

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  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Nov 9, 2010 5:01 PM in response to Choonwah Dang
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Nov 9, 2010 5:01 PM in response to Choonwah Dang
    Choonwah Dang wrote:
    I am able to receive calls, however, I can't place the call to the same people. I also downloaded the mac version and face the same issue. I went to Apple Genius bar, yet I have no problem calling from my ipod touch . Once I got home and try it again I face the same issue. It's always so and so is not available for FaceTime. What gives?


    Everything gives.

    If FaceTime always fails at your home wi-fi but can work at other wi-fi locations, your home wireless LAN needs troubleshooting.

    Start here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4319

    If configuring your wireless router to use UPnP does not resolve your problem, and if you do not want to try a different wireless router, you may need to manually configure your router using the suggestions in

      http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4245

    Some users report that that changing the wi-fi DNS Setting to Google's 8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4 improves wi-fi performance for FaceTime. If your problem perists, you can try using the Google DNS numbers in your iPod's wi-fi network DNS settings.

    If you need more Wi-Fi help, read this article:



      http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2031





    Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.4); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.4)
    LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod touch 4.1

  • by SJCCraig95,

    SJCCraig95 SJCCraig95 Nov 10, 2010 12:46 PM in response to Steve Paris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 10, 2010 12:46 PM in response to Steve Paris
    that happened with me at first either keep trying that same email or try a different email

  • by ashama,

    ashama ashama Nov 28, 2010 10:33 AM in response to Steve Paris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 28, 2010 10:33 AM in response to Steve Paris
    I had this problem, and none of the previous answers worked for me. After testing several different approaches, I finally discovered what the problem was:

    * Your password must have at least 1 uppercase letter and 1 numeral in it. *

    The reason that new accounts work is because the process Apple set up for creating new accounts requires that you have at least 1 uppercase letter in your password. Older accounts, on the other hand, don't require having an uppercase letter.

    Try these steps:

    1. Go to: http://appleid.apple.com/
    2. Click on *Manage your account* and login.
    3. Click on *Password and Security*.
    4. Click on *Change Password*.
    5. Change your password. *Make sure your password has at least 1 uppercase letter and 1 numeral in it!*
    6. Click on the *Save Changes* button.
    7. Finally, go back to your iPhone or iPod Touch and try your new password in FaceTime, and voilà!

    Please let me know if this works for any of you. I am curious to know if this helps people out.

    Good luck!

  • by qmwneb,

    qmwneb qmwneb Dec 2, 2010 11:06 AM in response to ashama
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 2, 2010 11:06 AM in response to ashama
    I have tried resetting the DNS, I have a working e-mail which I use to sign in to itunes and works as my Apple ID. The password has an uppercase letter and a number. I typed it correctly and still no facetime.

    At wits end. Has anyone had any kind of response from Apple on this?? They seem to be very quiet considering there are so many threads and requests for help.

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Dec 2, 2010 1:20 PM in response to qmwneb
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Dec 2, 2010 1:20 PM in response to qmwneb
    qmwneb wrote:
    I have tried resetting the DNS, I have a working e-mail which I use to sign in to itunes and works as my Apple ID. The password has an uppercase letter and a number. I typed it correctly and still no facetime.


    Welcome to Discussions, qmwneb

    With all you have tried, there may be something wrong with your particular iPod. The retailer who sold it to you should be able to help you or perhaps exchange your iPod for one that works.


    At wits end. Has anyone had any kind of response from Apple on this?? They seem to be very quiet considering there are so many threads and requests for help.


    As explained in Discussions Help http://discussions.apple.com/help.jspa
    Discussions is a *user-to-user support forum*.

    However, you're retailer or his Apple Authorized Service Provider may have more information than is available here.

    If you would rather, you can send suggestions directly to Apple from:



      http://www.apple.com/feedback/ipodtouch.html

    You will not get a response, but you can be certain that the responsible

    Apple people will see your input for consideration in future products.


    For interactive web-based help, try http://expresslane.apple.com/



    I have also offered other comments at your other post on this subject:

      http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=12693585#12693585


    Message was edited by: EZ Jim


    Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.5)
    MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.5)
    LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11)
    iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

  • by Network Connection,

    Network Connection Network Connection Jan 1, 2011 4:39 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 1, 2011 4:39 AM in response to EZ Jim
    i just cant thank you..i was waiting for facetime to come in pakistan...but then u helped me....THANK YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR

  • by Aromagician,

    Aromagician Aromagician Jan 21, 2011 5:27 PM in response to ftp795
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 21, 2011 5:27 PM in response to ftp795
    Thanks steve, for some reason my daughters ipod touch keeps resetting the date to 1970???
    I changed the date and time back and it works.

  • by BennyCoiso,

    BennyCoiso BennyCoiso Mar 6, 2011 11:27 AM in response to EZ Jim
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 6, 2011 11:27 AM in response to EZ Jim
    I tried everything that was posted here. I'm with the correct date. I just can't get FaceTime to work on this iPod Touch 4G. It is running iOS 4.2, and App Store works fine. Date is also correct.

    "FaceTime Activation"

    "Couldn't sign in. Please check your network connection and try again."

    I really tried everything, I just don't know what to do more. Can you help me please?

    Thanks.

  • by EZ Jim,

    EZ Jim EZ Jim Mar 7, 2011 7:46 AM in response to BennyCoiso
    Level 7 (22,547 points)
    Mar 7, 2011 7:46 AM in response to BennyCoiso
    BennyCoiso wrote:
    I tried everything that was posted here. I'm with the correct date. I just can't get FaceTime to work on this iPod Touch 4G. It is running iOS 4.2, and App Store works fine. Date is also correct.

    "FaceTime Activation"

    "Couldn't sign in. Please check your network connection and try again."

    I really tried everything, I just don't know what to do more. Can you help me please?

    Thanks.


    http://www.apple.com/support/ipodtouch/contact/

    EZ Jim


    Mac Pro Quad Core (Early 2009) 2.93Ghz Mac OS X (10.6.6); MacBook Pro (13 inch, Mid 2009) 2.26GHz (10.6.6)
    LED Cinema Display; G4 PowerBook 1.67GHz (10.4.11); iBookSE 366MHz (10.3.9); External iSight; iPod4touch4.2.1

  • by Kurt Weber,

    Kurt Weber Kurt Weber Mar 7, 2011 4:27 PM in response to Steve Paris
    Level 6 (13,964 points)
    iWork
    Mar 7, 2011 4:27 PM in response to Steve Paris
    I used my mobile me sign in and it worked. It would not take my Apple Discussion ID or iTunes ID.

    Kurt

  • by Rocketman_FL,

    Rocketman_FL Rocketman_FL Mar 11, 2011 7:06 PM in response to Steve Paris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 11, 2011 7:06 PM in response to Steve Paris
    This worked for me, I was creating account's etc. but changing the DNS did it. I'm on my home Linksys router with WEP on and figured something was wrong. My Ipod touch was connecting to facetime, but my son's wasn't. I think I set my Facetime account on an open network if I'm not mistaken. But hear at home we had a problem so it might be a DNS router issue. But not sure all I know is that it's working.

  • by briscofan,

    briscofan briscofan Oct 7, 2011 5:02 PM in response to Steve Paris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 7, 2011 5:02 PM in response to Steve Paris

    Changing to Google DNS solved the issue on my Mac as well.

  • by scopic,

    scopic scopic Nov 30, 2011 1:25 AM in response to Steve Paris
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Nov 30, 2011 1:25 AM in response to Steve Paris

    This issue also affects Messaging on Ipad2

     

    I fixed it for my Mum with the 8.8.8.8 dns - and it works nicely - BUUUUT

     

    then the appstore stops working

     

    soooooo

     

    my solution -

     

    set the DNS to the default one and 8.8.8.8 as secondary -

     

    i.e 10.1.1.1,8.8.8.8

     

    and it worked -

  • by ikodak,

    ikodak ikodak Dec 25, 2011 9:18 PM in response to Steve Paris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 25, 2011 9:18 PM in response to Steve Paris

    OK so after trying everything on this helpful subject, the date advice finally did it AFTER i set it to "set automatically" and then facetime and Imessage started working . Thank you, thank you

    I had also set the dns in WIfi section to 8.8.8.8,8.8.4.4

  • by Harnicles,

    Harnicles Harnicles Dec 27, 2011 3:40 AM in response to Steve Paris
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Dec 27, 2011 3:40 AM in response to Steve Paris

    This worked for me too, thanks a million!

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