iPhone 4 facetime not working

I too am using iOS 6.1.3 (Finally updated a few weeks ago, and shortly got the problem after updating). Haven't downloaded any NEW apps, just updates of ones that I have. I also have AT&T (like seemingly everyone else who is having this problem).

Hi Gail,

Thank you for the reply.

Before I initially fixed my massive amount of other data by erasing and restoring from my iCloud backup, I actually did remove all of my iMessage, MMS, and SMS messages in addition to removing all of my mail accounts, notes, voicemails, voice memos. Even after removing all of these items, there was still a massive amount of "other" data unaccounted for. But thankfully, erasing and restoring did fix the unaccounted data and things are good now (not counting FaceTime). 🙂

But what you mentioned, I am game for trying and troubleshooting. I may not be able to do this for a few days or a bit longer though, but when I am able to try, I'll be sure to come back and update my findings unless someone else does some experimenting in the meantime or finds a solution.

I figure I'll do things one step at a time and then test FaceTime.

In no particular order, I'll remove all of the following from my phone, then reboot the phone (for good measure), then try FaceTime calling someone again. If FaceTime doesn't work, then I will move on to the next item in my list, remove all of the contents, reboot and try FaceTime again.

If I remove all of the items and FaceTime still doesn't work, I will just restore from my most recent iCloud backup. Or if I find the culprit later on down the list, I'll restore from my backup, and then remove only what I believe to be the culprit to test once more and verify if it is indeed the root cause.

The items I'm thining of manually removing completely from my phone include:

• All messages (iMessage, SMS, MMS)
• Camera Roll and Photo Stream
• Voice Memos (there currently are none as they have since been removed previously)
• Voicemails
• Notes
• I currenlty have no Music or Videos on my phone but I do have 2 custom created Ringtones on my phone

If none of those seem to work, I can then really drill down and start removing each app one by one which in turn should remove the documents and data for each app. The only thing with this is, I personally don't feel like removing each app one by one and then having to call someone to test FaceTime. But I know this would be the optimal way, as removing all installed Apps and Data and then testing FaceTime and finding it to be working would not determine which app & or data is causing the issue.

Thanks again for the reply. If I find anything in the meantime, I'll be sure to post it here.

After checking with a friend of mine who is running iOS 6.1.2 on a AT&T iPhone 4 16 GB (from July 2010), he is not having issues with FaceTime.

While I want to say it has something to do with going to iOS 6.1.3 on an AT&T iPhone 4, I don't know if it is for certain. Especially since when I erased all content and settings from my phone that FaceTime worked even on 6.1.3.

If my friend upgrades his to 6.1.3, I'll have him test FaceTime to see if it still works correctly or if indeed upgrading to 6.1.3 did something to "break" FaceTime.

Gail,

Your assumption regarding AT&T is not accurate. There is at least one person who mentioned they are in the UK. Moreover, I am in Canada and my carrier is Telus. However, my phone was initially AT&T's (I got it on the day the 4's were launched back in 2010), and was then unlocked by them when I moved to Canada. I use 6.1.3.

Looks like it still may be related only to iPhone 4 models. Perhaps the models that use GSM (SIM Cards) and not the CDMA type are the ones that are affected.

Hello everyone. I also have a iPhone 4, JB'ed, and am having the same FT problem. My nephew reported it to me yesterday. Prior to that, I had not used FT in over a month. Same connect/immediate failed message.

The ONLY thing I have done to my phone since FT last worked was to upgrade iTunes on my Windows 8 PC, and to backup the phone and sync my phone to the desktop/Outlook. Based on reading thru this thread, this must be something that Apple did on their software/system/network and not something wrong with our phones. Hopefully, they will acknowledge this problem and again resolve it quickly.

hey guys

I'm from france and I've the same problem. I did a restore with the last firmware. Facetime was working. Then when I did a restore of my backup, Facetime is not working after that...

I've no idea why.

if I do a fresh restore again, how can I get my data backup without my last backup?

Reposting from another tread here ( https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5141248?answerId=22571750022#22571750022&ac_cid=tw123456#22571750 )

I am having this exact same issue except it's with everyone, calling or receiving calls. Facetime stopped working about a week ago on my iPhone 4, iOS 6.1.3 on T-Mobile. I get the "connection lost" message systematically. I am in the US. Strangely, it coincides with a recent carrier update issued by T-Mobile very recently. It shouldn't have anything to do with it but that's the only new thing I can think of. I've restarted the phone, turned off and on again Facetime, even reset my wifi router, made sure everything mentioned in the link above is ok but no luck. Facetime on my Mac works great. Very strange!

And then:

Just came back from Genius Bar. The "genius" was no help at all. After acknowledging the problem, all he could come up with is complete restore or exchange the phone. I did the restore, refrained from installing the carrier update and no luck. Facetime still gives me the connection lost error. I refuse to believe this would be a hardware issue! I'm gonna try and get to the bottom of it.

I forgot to mention that video calls with Skype with my phone work flawlessly.

So as mentioned, I'm on T-Mobile. However, my iPhone 4 32GB is first gen, bought july 2010, and was originally on AT&T. I've been on T-Mobile for about 9 months now after a succesful unlock.

Here is a list of my currently installed apps (apps that re-downloaded automatically with my iCloud backup). Figured I'd share to see if anyone has any similar apps installed. I would guess most users have Facebook and/or Twitter installed. I know they both integrate quite a bit with iOS so I'm not sure if they have anything to do with the FaceTime issues.

YouTube

I spoke with one of the techs at the local Apple store today. They were not aware of any large scale problem. Said I should backup the phone, restore the software, then resync. Seems to me if a software bug, it would be reinstalled.

Just wanted to add my voice to the growing chorus. Exactly the same problem began some time in the last 2-3 weeks (don't use FT that much). iPhone 4, iOS 6.1.3, AT&T. Can't make or receive calls ('Connection lost' message when phone tries to connect). Hopefully apple recognizes this is a problem and issues an update.

My girlfriend's iPhone 4s (Verizon) works just fine on the same wifi network.

Not sure it's the iPhone 4. I have 2. One for myself and one for the wife. I can Facetime her and vice versa. I can Facetime my brother's iPhone 5 but Nobody can Facetime my wife's mother who is on a 2007 iMac. This started 3 days ago. My iMac Facetime was turned off for some reason, but turning it on didn't change anything. I'll add more if I can get my problem fixed.

UPDATE: I fixed my problem by getting my mother in law to toggle her iMac Facetime off and then back on. Even though she was showing on to begin with. So try turning yours off and on and have the person you're trying to reach do the same.

Gozen: thanks for listing your apps. If one of them happens to be the common factor for us, if figured I'd let you know the ones we have in common (no FB or Twitter for me!) Here are the ones we apparently share: candy crush saga, ebay, gas buddy, flixter, google, google maps, scramble, songpop, twc, and words. So, wouldn't it be nice if the cause of the FT connection issue is as simple as an app update?!? Process of deduction at work!

I have the same exact problem too: iPhone 4, iOS 6.1.3, AT&T. FT used to work no problem but it stopped a few weeks ago. No clear reasons... just like everyone else. I did a factory restore and was able to use FT without a problem. I then did a restore from my last backup and FT would not work. Since no one seems to have the answer, I just went back to the factory restore and then added apps, songs, etc. to get almost what I had before. Of course, if you really need your SMS, MMS messages, and camera roll that was not in iphoto, then there are third party programs you can use to retrieve the data:

If your backup is NOT encrypted, there is a free program:

http://www.imactools.com/iphonebackupviewer/

If your backup is encrypted, then you need to pay, and you could try this one: $30

http://www.myphonedata.com/iphone

I did not use either program, but read a lot about them and they sound good if you really need to get at your backup data (mac only I think)

Hi spideymd,

So, you started from a Factory Restore, and then added back your apps, songs, etc. At the point where you had added back all of your apps and songs and etc., was FT still working? Short of your messages and photos, was anything else still not retored to the phone?

hoagie was looking to do the same thing, only from the opposite direction (i.e., removing things one by one). But if you started from scratch and added back things one by one, and FT is still working, then if we know exactly what you didn't add back is, we might be able to have hoagie remove those first from his device to see if removing them fixes his problem...

Any info you have will be valuable at this point!

Thanks,

GB