Unable to make outgoing calls from Yosemite

Question

Level 2

434 points

Unable to make outgoing calls from Yosemite

My MacBook Pro mid-2010 running 10.10.2 has been able to receive phone calls via Continuity and my iPhone 6 running iOS 8.1.3. Today, for the first time, I tried to make an outgoing call from my computer, but wasn't able to.

I verified that both devices met the system requirements for outgoing phone calls. I then walked through each of Apple's troubleshooting steps, verifying that, yes, all my settings were correct. The last bullet says to log out and back in to iCloud, so I did. Upon logging back in, however, FaceTime no longer shows the option to turn on iPhone Cellular Calls—that option has totally disappeared from FaceTime > Preferences. And now, not only can I not making outgoing calls from my MacBook Pro, but I can't accept incoming ones either. I rebooted, but that didn't help.

Any idea how I can get this function working? Thanks!

MacBook Pro, OS X Yosemite (10.10.2), null

Posted on Feb 25, 2015 9:57 AM

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Answer 1

John Galt

Level 10

156,314 points

Feb 25, 2015 11:02 AM in response to The Zach

Try restarting your router.

Read this other thread for additional suggestions you might find helpful: Re: iPhone calling from Mac not working

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Answer 2

The Zach Author

Level 2

434 points

Feb 25, 2015 11:27 AM in response to John Galt

Thanks John! I restarted my router, but had no luck. I also disabled the firewall, which also didn't help. Nor did getting the Client ID on the iPhone's WiFi to match what appeared on my Mac in System Preferences > Network > Status. And Caller ID on the phone is set to my phone number, as is Start New Calls on my iPhone (I've tried it with both set to email too).

Do you know if on the iPhone Settings > FaceTime should have an option for cellular calling? If so, it's disappeared on me too. Thanks again!

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Answer 3

John Galt

Level 10

156,314 points

Feb 25, 2015 11:35 AM in response to The Zach

Yes - under Settings > FaceTime, there is an option for iPhone Cellular Calls. It has to be "on".

If it is selected "off" then a Notification will appear when attempting to place a call from your Mac. The notification states "Your iPhone is not configured to allow calls using your Mac".

If the option is not appearing on your iPhone, I can't explain its absence...

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Answer 4

The Zach Author

Level 2

434 points

Feb 25, 2015 11:41 AM in response to John Galt

Thanks. Yes, that option has disappeared for me too.

Not sure if it's related but re-signing into FaceTime on my iPhone took several attempts. My iCloud password wasn't rejected, bur rather I just kept getting a message along the lines of, We're unable to sign you in now, please try again later (not an exact quote).

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Answer 5

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Feb 25, 2015 11:48 AM in response to The Zach

I have found that rebooting the iPhone (holding down the on-off and Home buttons until the Apple appears) resolves most of the issues.

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Answer 6

Eric Root

Level 10

685,293 points

Feb 25, 2015 11:56 AM in response to The Zach

If your computer is a 2010 model, it doesn't meet system requirements according the the link you posted. You need a 2012 model.

Handoff and Instant Hotspot are supported by the following Mac models, and require OS X Yosemite:

MacBook Air (Mid 2012 and later)
MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 and later)
iMac (Late 2012 and later)
Mac mini (Late 2012 and later)
Mac Pro (Late 2013)

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Answer 7

The Zach Author

Level 2

434 points

Feb 25, 2015 11:57 AM in response to Lanny

Thanks Lanny. Forgot to mention that I've restarted both the iPhone and MacBook Pro and rebooted the iPhone in the matter you mentioned with no luck.

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Answer 8

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Feb 25, 2015 12:00 PM in response to Eric Root

If your computer is a 2010 model, it doesn't meet system requirements according the the link you posted. You need a 2012 model.

Not true, I've been using it with a Late 2009 MacMini. Any Mac running Yosemite and iPhone with iOS8 can use the calling feature.

He's not talking about HandOff, the phone dialing feature is not HandOff.

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Answer 9

Feb 25, 2015 11:59 AM in response to Eric Root

Eric Root wrote:

If your computer is a 2010 model, it doesn't meet system requirements according the the link you posted. You need a 2012 model.

Handoff and Instant Hotspot are supported by the following Mac models, and require OS X Yosemite:

MacBook Air (Mid 2012 and later)

MacBook Pro (Mid 2012 and later)

iMac (Late 2012 and later)

Mac mini (Late 2012 and later)

Mac Pro (Late 2013)

No, that is only for the Handoff and Instant Hotspot Features. It does Not Apply to calls

Phone calling works with any iOS device that supports iOS 8 and any Mac that supports Yosemite.

2 different things.

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Answer 10

Lanny

Level 6

13,225 points

Feb 25, 2015 12:08 PM in response to The Zach

Initially, I discovered one other weirdness as far as dialing was concerned. I noticed that I could dial with some contacts but not others. Then I noticed that if re-entered/edited the phone number in the contact that wasn't dialing, it would then start to work.

Try dialing from more than one contact and see if there is a difference.

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Answer 11

Feb 26, 2015 10:42 AM in response to The Zach

Hi Lanny, My option for turning it on is also gone on my iPhone 5 and Macbook Pro2012. Happened in the last week or so.

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Answer 12

Feb 27, 2015 9:32 AM in response to The Zach

HHaving similar problem on iMac my FaceTime preferences shows iPhone cellular calls deselected. When I select alert says iCloud and FaceTime must be using same apple id.

Both oth are signed in using same ID.

this had worked well in past.

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Answer 13

The Zach Author

Level 2

434 points

Mar 27, 2015 2:13 PM in response to Gary Tate

Finally had time to call Apple on this issue. Spoke with three reps over 90 minutes. None were able to fix it.

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Answer 14

John Galt

Level 10

156,314 points

Mar 27, 2015 2:31 PM in response to The Zach

What is the present status of your problem? Does the checkbox to allow iPhone calls from your computer appear, and if so, can you select it? Do any dialog boxes appear? What do they say?

What did Apple have you do for that 90 minutes, and what actions do they recommend now?

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Answer 15

The Zach Author

Level 2

434 points

Mar 27, 2015 2:35 PM in response to John Galt

Same as before. Checkboxes still don't appear.

Apple reps basically brought up the same suggestions as here: log in and back out of iCloud, make sure they are on the same WiFi, reset network settings on the phone. The senior advisor I spoke with last suggested logging into my wife's iCloud accounts on the computer and iPhone to see if the problems were specific to my iCloud account or the devices. At that point it just seemed too time consuming to keep grasping.

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