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

Apple tree actually officially admits the issue and even offers recommendations on what you tin do to set up information technology on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. At that place are a few basic things you tin always try and apply on your devices to see if they help successfully activate FaceTime on your iPhone or Mac.

Check To See If The Apple Servers Are Facing a Downtime

When you lot set up a feature like FaceTime, it needs to talk to one of the servers at Apple before it can actually role on your device. The activation process actually takes place with the help of an Apple server, and if that server is facing a downtime, your activation process isn't going to get through.

So, the question is: how in this world tin y'all notice out if Apple'southward FaceTime server is down? Well, Apple has put upward a web page to tell you about it.

There'southward a server status folio on the Apple tree website that tells y'all which of its servers are up and downwardly. You can head over there using a web browser and detect out for yourself if the FaceTime server is indeed facing a downtime.

If that's the case, you lot'll demand to wait until Apple brings the server back up. There's cipher yous can do about information technology, unfortunately.

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

Make Sure The Cyberspace Works On Your Device

Since FaceTime is i of the features on your device that requires connecting to the Internet, yous must make certain your telephone's Internet actually works. If y'all're in an area where you have spotty Internet or your WiFi router's playing-up, you'll need to gear up it first before yous can activate FaceTime.

On an iOS device, though, yous can reset the network settings and it might help you prepare your network configurations.

  • Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Tap on the option that says General to view your full general settings.
  • Curlicue all the mode down on the following screen and tap on the Reset option.
  • Select Reset Network Settings on the screen that follows. It'll help you lot reset your network settings to the manufacturing plant defaults.
  • It'll prompt you to enter your passcode. Enter information technology and proceed.

Enable Your Apple Account For The Messages App

If you oasis't already, you may desire to enable your account in the Letters app on your Mac. Information technology can help you fix the FaceTime activation mistake yous're facing on your devices. Enabling the account only takes tick-mark a box in the app on your machine.

  • Click on Launchpad, search for Messages, and launch the app on your Mac.
  • When it opens, click on the Messages choice at the top and select Preferences. Information technology opens the settings menu.
  • On the following screen, click on the Accounts tab at the top to view your available accounts.
  • You'll now see your account listed at that place. What you want to exercise is tick-mark the box that says Enable this account next to your account.
  • Shut the app, reboot your Mac, and see if you tin activate FaceTime.

Ensure Your Time Zone Is Correctly Configured

An incorrectly configured timezone tin often crusade many bug on your devices, as some apps require you to utilize the correct time zone that y'all're actually in. You can gear up it pretty easily, though.

Change Fourth dimension 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.
  • Tap on Engagement & Time on the post-obit screen.
  • 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 Prepare Automatically option and it'll automatically set the correct time zone for yous.

Alter Time Zone On Mac:

  • Click on the Apple logo at the meridian-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences.
  • Cull Date & Time on the following screen.
  • Click on the Time Zone tab and y'all can specify a time zone for your machine.

Turn Off FaceTime & Then Plow It Back On

Apple tree recommends you to turn both Messages and FaceTime off and then plow them dorsum on and this should likely fix the "FaceTime: an error occurred during activation" consequence on your devices. Sometimes, all that some features need is a reboot and they commencement working ordinarily, magically.

  • Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  • Scroll down and tap on the pick that says Messages.
  • On the post-obit screen, yous'll find a toggle next to iMessage. Plow the toggle to the OFF position.
  • Head back to the main settings screen and tap on the selection that says FaceTime.
  • Plough the toggle next to FaceTime to the OFF position.
  • Restart your device.
  • Go to Settings and enable both the options that you turned off higher up.
  • Try activating FaceTime and see if it works.

Remove FaceTime Entries From Keychain Access

Deleting the FaceTime entries from Keychain Access on your Mac tin help yous prepare the FaceTime activation error, and it'south fairly easy to do.

  • Launch the Keychain Access on your Mac.
  • Click on login in the left sidebar and too click on All Items in the aforementioned sidebar and then all of your Keychain saved items are displayed.
  • Use the search box at the elevation to search for FaceTime.
  • When the search results appear, right-click on the FaceTime entries and select Delete.
  • Do it for all the entries you observe in the app.

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

Take you been a victim of this error on your iOS or Mac device earlier? What method helped y'all fix information technology? Our readers would appreciate your response in the comments below.