If you're trying to activate FaceTime on your device for the first fourth dimension and it shows an mistake message that reads "FaceTime: an error occurred during activation", then that means there's an issue with ane of the elements that FaceTime uses for its activation. Until and unless these bug are sorted out, yous're going to face up issues while activating the service on your devices.

Apple tree actually officially admits the result and even offers recommendations on what you can practise to set up it on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. There are a few basic things y'all can always try and apply on your devices to see if they help successfully activate FaceTime on your iPhone or Mac.

Fix FaceTime Activation Errors

Bank check To See If The Apple Servers Are Facing a Downtime

When y'all set up a feature like FaceTime, it needs to talk to one of the servers at Apple earlier it tin actually part on your device. The activation process really takes identify with the help of an Apple server, and if that server is experiencing downtime, your activation process isn't going to get through.

And then, the question is: how in this earth can you find out if Apple's FaceTime server is down? Well, Apple has put upwards a web page to tell you most it.

Server Status page on Apple website

In that location's a server status folio on the Apple website that tells you which of its servers are up and downwardly. You lot can head over there using a web browser and find out for yourself if the FaceTime server is indeed experiencing downtime.

If that's the case, you lot'll need to look until Apple brings the server back up. In that location'south nothing you lot can do near it, unfortunately.

If you'd rather have something on your Mac desktop, StatusBuddy likewise tells y'all if an Apple tree service is experiencing downtime.

Brand Sure The Internet Works On Your Device

Since FaceTime is i of the features on your device that requires connecting to the Internet, you must make sure your telephone's Cyberspace actually works. If you're in an area where you accept spotty Internet or your WiFi router's interim up, you lot'll need to fix it first before you can activate FaceTime.

On an iOS device, though, you can reset the network settings and it might help you lot gear up your network configurations.

  • Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Tap on the choice that says General to view your general settings.
General in Settings menu
  • Scroll all the way down on the following screen and tap on the Reset option.
Reset button in General menu
  • Select Reset Network Settings on the screen that follows. It'll help you reset your network settings to the manufacturing plant defaults.
Reset Network Settings in Reset menu
  • It'll prompt you to enter your passcode. Enter information technology and continue.
Enter your passcode prompt

Enable Your Apple Account For The Messages App

If you haven't already, you may desire to enable your account in the Messages app on your Mac. It tin assistance yous fix the FaceTime activation mistake you're facing on your devices. Enabling the business relationship only takes tick-marker a box in the app on your motorcar.

  • Click on Launchpad, search for Letters, and launch the app on your Mac.
Messages app in Search Bar
  • When it opens, click on the Messages choice at the elevation and select Preferences. It opens the settings card.
Messages > Preferences selected
  • On the following screen, click on the Accounts tab at the peak to view your available accounts.
  • You lot'll at present see your account listed there. What y'all want to do is tick-mark the box that says Enable this account next to your business relationship.
Enable this account checkbox in Settings tab
  • Close the app, reboot your Mac, and see if you tin can activate FaceTime.

Ensure Your Time Zone Is Correctly Configured

An incorrectly configured timezone can ofttimes crusade many bug on your devices, every bit some apps require you to use the correct time zone that you're really in. You can fix it pretty easily, though.

Change Time Zone On iPhone/iPad:

  • Open up the Settings app on your device.
  • Tap on the General option as your time settings are located at that place.
General in Settings menu
  • Tap on Appointment & Time on the following screen.
Date & Time under General menu
  • Y'all can select a time zone from the options available on your screen.
  • If you lot don't want to manually specify a time zone, enable the Set Automatically option and it'll automatically set the correct time zone for you.
Set Automatically toggled to on

Modify Time Zone On Mac:

  • Click on the Apple logo at the pinnacle-left corner of your screen and select Arrangement Preferences.
System Preferences in Apple menu
  • Choose Date & Fourth dimension on the post-obit screen.
Date & Time in System Preferences menu
  • Click on the Time Zone tab and you tin can specify a time zone for your machine.
Time Zone tab with Closest City menu

Turn Off FaceTime & And so Turn It Back On

Apple tree recommends you to turn both Letters and FaceTime off and so plow them back on and this should likely fix the "FaceTime: an error occurred during activation" result on your devices. Sometimes, all that some features need is a reboot and they outset working normally, magically.

  • Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Scroll downward and tap on the choice that says Messages.
Messages menu in Settings
  • On the following screen, yous'll detect a toggle next to iMessage. Turn the toggle to the OFF position.
iMessage toggle in Messages menu
  • Head back to the principal settings screen and tap on the option that says FaceTime.
FaceTime option in Settings screen
  • Turn the toggle next to FaceTime to the OFF position.
FaceTime toggle in FaceTime settings
  • Restart your device.
  • Go to Settings and enable both the options that y'all turned off above.
  • Attempt activating FaceTime and run into if information technology works.

Remove FaceTime Entries From Keychain Access

Deleting the FaceTime entries from Keychain Admission on your Mac can help you gear up the FaceTime activation error, and it's fairly easy to practice.

  • Launch the Keychain Admission on your Mac.
Keychain Access in Search Bar
  • Click on login in the left sidebar and as well click on All Items in the same sidebar and so all of your Keychain saved items are displayed.
  • Employ the search box at the top to search for FaceTime.
Search box in Keychain Access
  • When the search results appear, right-click on the FaceTime entries and select Delete.
Delete in right-click menu
  • Do it for all the entries you notice in the app.

Whether you're a regular FaceTime user setting up the feature on a new device or you're completely new to this video and audio calling feature on iOS, you don't expect it to beginning showing errors shortly equally you lot open information technology on your devices.

Have you been a victim of this error on your iOS or Mac device before? What method helped you fix it? Our readers would appreciate your response in the comments below.