Apple Fixes FaceTime on Older Versions of OS X, iOS 6 Still Not Working - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Fixes FaceTime on Older Versions of OS X, iOS 6 Still Not Working

facetime_ios_iconApple tonight released an update for FaceTime on OS X [Direct Link], which resolves connections issues and is recommended for all FaceTime users currently running OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. The connection issues are presumably related to the problems reported last week which affected both older versions of OS X and iOS 6 versions of FaceTime.

Apple, however, has not yet addressed the problems with FaceTime that are in iOS 6. While it is encouraging that Apple released an update for FaceTime for OS X 10.6, Apple support's recommendations for iOS 6 users has been to upgrade to iOS 7. One user has quoted Apple support as saying that the only fix for iOS 6 is to upgrade to the latest version of iOS 7, with no current plans to release a fix on iOS 6 or iOS 5.

According to Apple's updated FaceTime troubleshooting page, users who are still having trouble with the application are recommended to update to the latest version of iOS or OS X.

Popular Stories

iPhone Duo Display Cracking

Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue

Friday October 30, 2026 3:20 pm PDT by
In a memo shared with Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers this week, and later obtained by MacRumors, Apple provided technicians with guidance on how to diagnose and address the iPhone Duo's inner display cracking issue. If a customer reports the issue, Apple advised technicians to inspect the iPhone Duo and repair or replace it in accordance with their standard procedures....
Everything New Your iPhone Can Do on iOS 27

14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2

Friday October 30, 2026 12:42 pm PDT by
Apple released iOS 27.2 on October 26, bringing enhancements to Siri AI, adding Suggestions in Messages, and sneaking in a string of smaller additions across Photos, Podcasts, Games, Apple TV, and FaceTime. iOS 27.2 is available to download to your device now via Settings ➝ General ➝ Software Update. Note that some features may not be available in all regions or on all iPhone models....
Pinched iPad Mini

Apple Avoids Showing Pinched Fingers on iPad Mini Page in South Korea

Thursday October 29, 2026 11:52 am PDT by
In the U.S. and most other countries, Apple's website shows the new iPad mini being held by pinched fingers, but this is not the case in South Korea. The new iPad mini shown with pinched fingers on Apple's website in the U.S. On its South Korean website, Apple simply shows an image of the iPad mini on its own. The new iPad mini shown without pinched fingers on Apple's website in South Korea ...

Top Rated Comments

mw360 Avatar
164 months ago
Welp I guess no more FaceTime for me. It was fun while it lasted guys ✌

In the UK at least, you can still connect and use a 100 year old pulse dialling telephone.

With Apple we're supposed to grateful if something still works after 3 years. Progress :rolleyes:
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
spyguy10709 Avatar
164 months ago
As an iPod Touch 4 owner, this really sucks. The iPT4 never got an upgrade to iOS 7, and was heavily marketed as an inexpensive way to FaceTime. Thanks, Apple! :mad:
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
164 months ago
In terms of iOS devices, the earliest devices to support FaceTime are the iPhone 4, iPod touch 4th generation, and the iPad 2.

The iPhone 4 and iPad 2 can be updated to iOS 7.x, and that's a solution. The iPod touch 4th generation cannot, at least not unless Apple changes its mind and gets an iOS 7.x out the door for that device. It appears to be the only FaceTime-capable device unable to upgrade to iOS 7.x.

As I write this, Apple is still selling refurbished 4th generation iPod touch devices in many of Apple's online stores around the world. These devices are prominently advertised as supporting FaceTime. In many countries Apple's failure to fix FaceTime would be illegal especially given these continuing sales direct from Apple.

I think Apple is going to fix FaceTime on the 4th generation iPod touch and rather quickly. I don't think Apple wants the lawsuits they'd probably lose. It'd also be at least the polite thing to do to add FaceTime Audio to the 4th generation iPod touch to set a common, baseline service level. Or at least figure out how to produce a more sensible error message ("You are trying to contact a person with a device that does not support FaceTime Audio. Would you like to try FaceTime Video instead?") on iOS 7+ devices attempting to contact 4th generation iPod touch users via FaceTime Audio.

Live by the cloud, die by the cloud. If you go into the utility business, Apple, you better act like a (premium) utility. And it's not as if there aren't competitors on Apple's own platforms. Microsoft with Skype, notably -- and Microsoft would be delighted to welcome FaceTime refugees.

Steve Jobs himself did not tolerate this sort of fumbling with MobileMe, and I'm sure he wouldn't tolerate these FaceTime failures either.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ouimetnick Avatar
164 months ago
It got an update to iOS 6 (and bug fixes through February 2014). A lot of people didn't think it would make it that far. It only has 256MB RAM, and no device supported by iOS 7 has less than 512MB of RAM.

The original iPad has similar hardware and runs quite a bit faster, but was dropped at iOS 5.1.1.

Thats also not a valid excuse. Who was cheap and put only 256MB of RAM in the iPad and 4th gen iPod touch? Yup, Apple did!:rolleyes:

Those devices even when they ran iOS 4 (not even the max OS allowed) still sucked when using tabs in Safari. Constantly reloading, some sites wouldn't load with out Safari crashing thanks to the lack of RAM.

Apple could have doubled it to 512MB like the iPhone 4 for pretty much nothing.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Dave.UK Avatar
164 months ago
So does this apply to devices that cannot upgrade to iOS 7 or is it just those devices that can run iOS 7 but users have chosen not to upgrade? If it's the former they for sure need to fix it. If it's the latter you're probably screwed. But staying on iOS 6 indefinitely is pointless IMO because the ship has sailed and you're not getting an iOS 6 style UI back. So if iOS 7 bothers you that much then I guess it's off to Android or Windows Phone for you. Or you keep the phone you have and don't upgrade.

If someone wants to stay on ios6, then good for them. A software upgrade dosent automatically mean better to everyone. Its the magical word "choice".
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
164 months ago
Hahaha, so Apple makes the software itself, makes the hardware itself, and it still breaks.
Have the ios team all fallen apart without Forstall?

As its Apple we will never know.

----------

It's really time users running iOS 6, update to iOS 7.
Yes, yes that's right, its time all those people threw their iPod Touches in the bin and upgraded :rolleyes: how dare they keep them and complain about something that worked perfectly fine last week is broken this week.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
Apple Launching Five New Products This Friday
30 minutes ago
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
Nearly Every M5 MacBook Air Now $200 Off on Amazon
16 hours ago
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
Apple's HomeView Ships With Six-Month-Old Software
18 hours ago
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
Three New iPads Rumored to Launch in First Half of 2027
18 hours ago
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
Apple Offers Steps to Fix Daylight Saving Time Bug on Apple Watch
22 hours ago
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Hits All-Time Low Price With Amazon's $99 Discount
2 days ago
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
Reminder: Apple's Big Discount on Beats 360 Ear Cushions Ends Today
2 days ago
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
Here's a New Tour of Apple's HomeView Software
2 days ago
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
Apple Reveals New iPad Mini's Battery Capacity
2 days ago
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
Top Stories: Apple's Big MacBook Pro, iPad mini and iMac Updates
2 days ago
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
'Pluribus' Season 2 Reportedly Starts Production Today
2 days ago
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
iPhone 18 Pro Sales Surge in China, Offsetting Decline in U.S. and Japan
2 days ago
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
HomeView Software 27.2: Wallpapers, Control Center, and More
2 days ago
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
Apple Alerts Stores to iPhone Duo's Display Cracking Issue
2 days ago
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
iOS 27.3 Will Enable These Apple Intelligence Features in China
2 days ago
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
Apple Says iOS 27.3 Beta Coming Next Week
2 days ago
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
Apple's Flash Storage Suppliers Are Finally 'Getting Their Revenge'
3 days ago
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
14 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 27.2
3 days ago
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
iPhone Duo Review: One Week Later
3 days ago
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
Samsung Mocks iPhone Duo Display Cracks in New Ad Campaign
3 days ago
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
The MacRumors Show: OLED MacBook Pro, iPad Mini 8, and More
3 days ago
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
MacBook Pro With Touch Display: 15 More Details Revealed
3 days ago
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
Russia Places Apple on State Surveillance Registry
3 days ago
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
Halloween Weekend Brings Discounts on Apple Accessories and Pre-Orders
3 days ago
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
Apple Has Released More Than 25 New Products in the Past Two Months
3 days ago
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac
3 days ago
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
Apple Acquires Ascend.io
3 days ago
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
HomePod Mini 2 Launches Today: All the New Features
3 days ago
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
AirTag 2 4-Pack Drops to New Low Price of $69.99
3 days ago
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
Rian Johnson's iPhone Camera App Goes Viral
3 days ago