How to Fix a Black Screen on FaceTime

Losing the video on FaceTime defeats its purpose. While audio works, nothing beats seeing someone's face. Wondering why your FaceTime calls end up as just a black screen? Here's why it happens and how to fix it.

Causes of a Black Screen on FaceTime

There are several possible reasons why FaceTime is showing a black screen. From software to hardware issues, here are some potential causes:

• The camera is off or disabled.
• The camera is in use by another app.
• Something is obstructing the camera lens.
• A poor internet connection.
• The camera isn't working.

How to Fix FaceTime Black Screen Issues

Most fixes for a black screen on FaceTime are things you can do at home. With a bit of time and patience, you should be able to get your calls up and running again. Here are some fixes that have worked for us:

1. Check to see which camera is selected. You might have the rear camera enabled instead of the selfie camera.

2. Check that another app isn't using your device's camera. If one is, close that app to remove the black screen on FaceTime.

3. Make sure the camera lens isn't blocked. Check that neither you nor your caller are accidentally covering the camera lens with a finger or thumb. Sometimes, a simple misplaced digit can put the device's camera out of action, leaving you with a black screen.

4. Is this an audio-only call? Check that you haven't accidentally chosen FaceTime Audio. When you call using just audio, you see a FaceTime button in the middle of the screen when speaking. Select this button to switch to a video call.

5. Restart your iPhone or restart your iPad. Yes, this is another simple option, but it sometimes works, given that rebooting closes all open apps. It might be what's needed to get FaceTime working correctly again.

6. Check your internet connection. One possible reason your FaceTime video isn't working is that your internet is experiencing a problem or isn't particularly strong. If you use a Wi-Fi network, ensure you're as close to the Wi-Fi router as possible.

7. Check your Screen Time settings to make sure FaceTime isn't being restricted. Both you and the caller should confirm this via Settings > Screen Time (iOS 12 or later) or Settings > General > Restrictions (iOS 11 or older).

8. Update your device. Updates can resolve underlying software issues that may cause a FaceTime black screen.

   This works differently across platforms: macOS [Update a MacBook] or iOS [Update an iPhone].

9. If you still experience issues, factory reset your device. This will restore the whole OS to the way it was when you first purchased the device, deleting all your apps and files along the way.

   Resetting has the same effect on every platform, but the steps to do it differ slightly: iPhone [Reset an iPhone], iPad [Reset an iPad], and Mac [Reset a MacBook].

10. Make an Apple Store appointment or go to an authorized repair shop. You should only need to do this if all your video apps display a black screen because that could indicate a hardware problem.