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iOS 6 Users on Devices Able to Run iOS 7 Must Upgrade to Fix FaceTime

Thursday April 24, 2014 12:56 pm PDT by Juli Clover
facetime_ios_iconApple today released a new support document, detailing the issue behind the recent problems some iOS 6 users have been experiencing with FaceTime. According to Apple, a bug resulting from an expired device certificate has rendered FaceTime unusable on older versions of iOS and the only solution to the problem is to update to the latest version of the operating system.

Devices capable of running iOS 7 must be upgraded to iOS 7.0.4 or later, while devices unable to run iOS 7, such as the fourth-generation iPod touch, must upgrade to iOS 6.1.6.
If you started to have issues making or receiving FaceTime calls after April 16, 2014, your device or your friend's device may have encountered a bug resulting from a device certificate that expired on that date. Updating both devices to the latest software will resolve this issue.

If you're using iOS 7.0.4 or later or iOS 6.1.6, this issue doesn't affect you.

If you're using these versions of OS X or FaceTime for Mac, this issue doesn't affect you:

- OS X Mavericks v10.9.2 or later
- OS X Mountain Lion v10.8 with the latest security updates
- OS X Lion v10.7 with the latest security updates
- FaceTime for Mac version 1.0.5 or later for Mac OS X v10.6
While FaceTime does work with iOS 6.1.6, that particular update is not available to recent devices that are able to run iOS 7, which means iOS 6 users with newer devices who wish to access FaceTime must upgrade to iOS 7.

There's a sizable contingent of iOS users who opted to stick with iOS 6 over iOS 7 due to the drastic visual changes introduced with the operating system update, so Apple's upgrade suggestion is likely to be unpopular with those users.

Apple's FaceTime issues first began on April 16, with many iOS 6 users reporting an inability to use the service. At that time, it was unclear whether Apple would implement a fix, but customer service representatives have been presenting iOS 7 updates as a solution since the problem was first uncovered, and it appears that Apple does not plan to offer another solution. The company did, however, release a FaceTime update for OS X users to fix the issue earlier this week.

[ 927 comments ]


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moeafg
62 months ago
Tim cook at WWDC: "We've had an 100% adoption rate of iOS 7" :rolleyes:
Rating: 109 Votes
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576316
62 months ago
Haha, good move to get those last stubborn people to update to iOS 7. Bravo Apple, I approve. ;)
Rating: 63 Votes
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Nunyabinez
62 months ago
I must be naive. Why can't Apple just update the certificate?
Rating: 62 Votes
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redscull
62 months ago
Can't create free software that's actually good enough to compel people to voluntarily upgrade to? Solution: Break the version they stayed with.

A big F U right from Apple's own mouth. When was the last time that Apple so directly disrespected its customers? I'm struggling to recall their service ever being so poor. Just offer the fix you created to iOS 6!
Rating: 51 Votes
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YanniDepp
62 months ago
iOS 1 was the best ANYTHING NEWER IS FUGLY :mad: The App Store is just bloated crap you don't need.

If I could install iOS 1 on my iPad Air, I would.

;)
Rating: 34 Votes
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MagicBoy
62 months ago
Bad form Apple. Using a screw up to force iOS upgrades on older devices is ... lame.

Fix iOS 6.
Rating: 28 Votes
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TNSF
62 months ago

There's a sizable contingent of iOS users who opted to stick with iOS 6 over iOS 7 due to the drastic visual changes introduced with the operating system update...


No, not really.

iOS 7 adoption is at >80% of compatible devices. Of those remaining I doubt many are consciously choosing to avoid iOS 7. Most are probably just lazy and haven't bothered to do the upgrade. That leaves just a small fraction of users who are clinging to iOS 6 on purpose, and only a subset of them might be using FaceTime. So in all, this impacts a small small number of users and the fix is easy. So deal with it.
Rating: 27 Votes
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deluxeshredder
62 months ago
Microsoft didn't force ME and Vista with such tricks.
Rating: 26 Votes
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iBlazed
62 months ago
If your devices can't be upgraded to iOS 7, chances are it doesn't support FaceTime anyway because there's no front facing cam, or at least this is true for the 3GS. So Apple is pretty much just telling you to update to iOS 7.

On one hand, people should just upgrade. On the other hand, Apple actually killed a functionality that your phone originally came with and you paid for. There could be a class action lawsuit here.
Rating: 24 Votes
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tbrand7
62 months ago
This whole stubbornness of refusing to upgrade iOS 7 because of its new look is ridiculas and has gone on for too long. I got news for you, they're not changing the look anytime soon and if you want to buy an iPhone 6 this fall, your gonna have to get over it.
Rating: 23 Votes

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