New iPhone 4 - No Facetime Buttons/Options
Well, the new iPhone has offically launched with today's store release. Naturally, RustyBrick was on hand to get our brand new iPhones. However, at least 2 of us here at the office have had a serious issue when upgrading our old 3G phones to the new iPhone 4.
When you go into a contact, there should be buttons below the phone number like this.
However, when I plugged in my iPhone 4 and restored from the backup of my iPhone 3G, I did NOT get these buttons below my contact. See below!
I have just "fixed" the problem, and I did it without restoring the whole phone! Try these steps in order and hopefully it will work for you!
- Try going into SETTINGS -> PHONE -> FACETIME. Switch it to ON. If it's already ON, switch it OFF and then back to ON. Go back and see if it works.
- Still nothing? Go into SETTINGS->GENERAL->RESET->Reset All Settings. This will wipe your passwords and such. After it's done, go back and see if it works.
- Still no buttons? Go into iTunes and click Restore. Go through all the steps until it begins Downloading the iPhone software. Click the X to cancel the download. Don't worry, it's doesn't delete anything from your phone until it's all done with the iOS download which takes like 20 minutes. Then, go back to your phone and sync it. Then turn on the setting for Facetime back in Step 1.
At this point, my buttons were there and and I was able to both send and receive Facetime calls. Again, this only appears to be an issue for certain 3G/3GS with iOS 4.0 who set up their iPhone not as a new phone, but rahter restored from that 3G/3GS backup. Hopefully this helps. Please report in the comments below and we can help each other through these launch bugs!!
Published June 24, 2010 by:
Alex
Alex worked on several successful e-commerce websites before joining the RB team. He graduated from SUNY Purchase with a Bachelor's in Math & Computer Science.
This article is under Apple, Mac Operating System, iPhone
There are 100 comments for this post
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100 COMMENTS
posted by Alix on: May 16, 2013 06:52pm
wooow wonderful this worked on my iphone 4s Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaanks alooooooooooot
posted by Sulthansmh on: Oct 3, 2011 12:34pm
pls go to cydia & search middlewhat>installl
posted by Rclymer on: Jun 24, 2010 02:41pm
i have had the exact same problem i figured i would have to wait for the next update but ill try this...apple will prolly put a patch for this out quickly
posted by Regis365 on: Jul 7, 2011 07:19am
call someone with an iphone 4, buttons should appear
posted by E Brownlee on: Dec 28, 2011 12:12pm
my buttons will not move and i have no download on my iphone4 why help
posted by Rich Cattell on: Jun 25, 2010 11:43am
I have the same issue with my iPhone 4 after restoring a backup from my 3GS .. Everything works fine, except no Facetime! I dont even have the Facetime switch in my Settings-Phone menu! Have tried doing a reset all settings, and the restore/sync thing as suggested .. but still no facetime option in settings or in any screens etc... Anyone have any ideas?
posted by Alex Fierro on: Jun 25, 2010 02:18pm
Alot of the Google threads I found stated that after trying EVERYTHING else, this would work. Restore the phone. When setting it back up, choose "Set up new iPhone" instead of restore from backup. Then sync with your data and it'll put everything back. Or you could try Noah S's comment above and see if that helps. (He has a different method which helped him. Comment is at the blog at http://www.rustybrick.com/new-iphone-4-upgrades-do-not-have-facetime.html )
posted by Rich Cattell on: Jun 25, 2010 02:43pm
I've tried Noah S's idea.. but this diddnt work either .. I've noticed though that its not just facetime thats missing .. I dont have a working internet connection over 3g either, only WIFI .. and the menu options for APN settings are missing too! Think im going to have to setup as a new phone and sync everything back .. which is a real pain!
posted by Alex Fierro on: Jun 25, 2010 04:44pm
Hmmm, is your 3GS backup jailbroken? It could be that the hacks are designed for the older models and not working for your iPhone 4... "No 3G coverage" or "no connection when 3G shows as active" is a common occurrence when you're upgrading iOS versions on a jailbroken phone...
posted by Bebhin MaThew on: Mar 10, 2013 02:57pm
hey i bought my iphone 4 from dubai and its running ios 6.1.2 but there is no facetime option anywhere, not in settions nor in the phone and its not evn der in d restrictions ..plz help wat m i supposed to do ? i did nt back up frm a 3gs or smtn like that !!
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posted by samantha on: Feb 11, 2013 07:01am
thanks sooo much!!!!
posted by Kiran on: Jul 28, 2011 07:50pm
make sure you swicth facetime on under Settings---->General--->Restrictions----> FacetimeOn and Under Phone facetime on, Hope it works
posted by March 26th on: Jan 21, 2013 02:54am
omggggggggg you just saved my life and i love you soooo very much...
posted by Himosha on: Jul 2, 2011 11:52pm
try updating the ios and let us know if the facetime will work
posted by Beezer on: Jan 6, 2013 05:37pm
Very useful although I did not need to do a full reset I went inot restrictions and tunred facetime back on there and then activated from the settigs list. Thank you for this help
posted by need help! on: Jun 16, 2011 11:17pm
thats what happened to me! iPhone 4 but no facetime? they keep advertising the iPhone 4 with facetime and junkk but its NOT working. i'm getting frustrated and need help!!
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posted by Ericyong86 on: Jul 31, 2010 08:01am
same, set as new phone also cant activate facetime even though follow all the step
posted by Tda on: Nov 19, 2012 02:30am
You have saved my blood pressure from giving me a stroke! I did the last step and I can finally FaceTime my family!!!!
posted by Sayhun on: Feb 17, 2011 01:33pm
hi in my phone its showing setting/phone/but no face time at all even it is iphone4.please help
posted by Nam on: Oct 17, 2012 11:12am
I did it but it was not effective on my phone.. neeeed help heeere pleeeeease
posted by Noah Schubert on: Jun 25, 2010 10:18am
The following worked for me: 1. Go to Settings-->General-->Restrictions 2. Tap "Enable Restrictions" 3. For Facetime, set the allow option to ON 4. Tap "Disable Restrictions" 5. Go to Settings-->Phone 6. You should now see a Facetime option. Toggle it off and on again.
posted by Bella on: Sep 9, 2012 09:03am
Hi I have an iPhone 4 (Not 4s) and have already updated my iOS to version 5.1.1 but I still don't have the Facetime feature. Tried going to settings > phone but after going to the 'Phone' part i got nothing. No facetime button at all. Can anyone tell me what to do? :(
posted by Ifanm on: Sep 3, 2012 05:33am
Hey Kiran: Thanks for the tips, your answer helped me to, now my iPhone 4 is complete hahaha!! :D
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posted by Jigenc on: Jun 9, 2011 07:08am
me too.....iphone4 but no facetime???
posted by HAI :) on: Dec 26, 2011 09:03pm
same!
posted by zeshan on: Aug 9, 2012 09:05pm
thks alot its working thks a millon
posted by Colin Young on: Jun 25, 2010 01:05am
All you have to do it activate Facetime then turn your phone off and on.
posted by Terence on: Jun 25, 2010 04:28pm
YOU sir are the man!!! second step worked for me! thank you thank you THANK YOU!!!! by the way did i thank you? :-)
posted by Bryan on: Jun 25, 2010 07:27pm
Apparently this is a bug with Apple restoring from a backup of an old 3G instead of a 3GS (or not restoring from a backup): http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-fix-missing-facetime-video-call-feature-iphone-4-0117507/
posted by Kaz Walia on: Jun 25, 2010 07:43pm
Step 3 worked for me... Cheers Buddie! :D
posted by Drew Hammond on: Jun 25, 2010 08:17pm
Rich! Thank god someone else has the same problem as me... No options for facetime and nothing in the settings menu either... My 3G doesn't work either... I went into the Apple store and had them fix it for me... took like 30 minutes. BUT I just got home and attempted to restore my settings again from my 3gs and of course... IT DOESN'T WORK AGAIN! -_-
posted by Senteniel on: Jun 28, 2010 11:03am
thanks your instructions worked after set all settings zaby
posted by Bob on: Jun 26, 2010 01:25am
Thanks! Had the same problem and you solved it! :)
posted by Kthierry on: Jul 14, 2010 05:41pm
Thanks for the info...took care of the problem right away. Apparently when I restored from backup it automatically turned facetime off.
posted by Mac on: Jun 29, 2010 04:36pm
Ugh...not one of these steps helped at all in my case. Looks like I'll just have to wait for iOS 4.01 to (hopefully) fix this issue.
posted by Ppamer on: Jun 30, 2010 02:59am
YUP... it was a setting. thanks a ton you guys! ppamer
posted by Sud33p on: Jun 27, 2010 11:11am
fantastic - worked striaght away with number 2!!!! great help
posted by stonerlady on: Dec 23, 2010 07:00pm
You can as well just restart the iPhone instead of resetting it.
posted by Hghg on: Jul 8, 2010 04:13am
thank you!
posted by Little_peas on: Nov 4, 2010 10:34am
Thank you so much!! it really helped out!!
posted by Lara on: Nov 4, 2010 10:41pm
the same happened to my iphone 4, can u plz help? the apple store fixed it and said it was only because i had to update it. i came home and restored it and it doesnt work again? help!!
posted by Vickig on: Nov 5, 2010 02:44am
Got my iPhone 4 several months ago and didn't realize anything was wrong until my husband got his today and we were trying out Facetime. I was able to get my Facetime button by following steps one and two above. Thanks for the help.
posted by Tahir4 on: Nov 6, 2010 07:16pm
hi i have iphone 4 with os 4.1 i did not upgrad from i phone 3 but i cant see face time button in my phone even in seetting > phone.... or in restrictions any body can help me?
posted by Noreen Hus on: Nov 7, 2010 10:59pm
hey worked for me. thankz!
posted by clar on: Nov 15, 2010 07:42am
i have the iphone 4 but still cant fine facetime !
posted by hevris on: Nov 15, 2010 02:05pm
Thanks, have just set this up on my husbands new iphone4 and on my mac pc, i only have the iPhone3g so will use the facetime from my mac to his phone. On further reading, does this mean that I can have facetime on my 3g too????????
posted by Ashutosh Kanodia on: Dec 7, 2010 09:11am
i have an Iphone 4 from US which is unlocked can i do the same steps because i think if i do so then my phone will locked for US network.
posted by KWT71 on: Jul 6, 2010 05:56pm
I have the exact same thing, it has to do with restoring from my back. As soon as I restored the phone back to default everything works now. By the way, my 3G network connection also fail, checked the carrier and it said none.
posted by Guest on: Nov 17, 2010 12:20pm
For ME region iphones problems search in google for "FaceTime Hacktivator" for jailbreaked iPhone 4. I just installed from Cydia and facetime appears in setting.
posted by tutta on: Feb 12, 2011 04:30am
i tried to activate face time on my ipod, but i didn't find my country. does anybody have an idea ??!!!!
posted by Nigel on: Nov 18, 2010 12:32pm
Hi there, I live in Dubai and have just purchased the Iphone 4 from the local provider and there is no FaceTime. I was told that it had been removed by them (I suppose to keep their profits high). Is there anyway I can get it back? Thanks Nigel
posted by joyec on: Dec 4, 2010 05:32am
hi,,, good day,,, actually i follow your steps of getting the facetime,,,but still i cant fined the facetime application,,,why? its maybe because im here in saudi arabia were i heard facetime is disabled here,,,thanks a lot
posted by Dpdr469 on: Dec 5, 2010 01:38am
Thank you. I don't know how that ever got turned off. Thank you, I was about to reset the darn thing.
posted by Mohmed on: Nov 21, 2010 07:17pm
Thank you very much. All done with your guide.
posted by Benoithabets on: Nov 21, 2010 04:25pm
I have a different problem: Every time I start up the Google Mobile App, the activation message for facetime appears even though I deactivated the FaceTime feature.
posted by Manontop on: Nov 21, 2010 11:18pm
first class boss it works!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Stuarta13 on: Dec 8, 2010 04:56pm
thanks for the link, that was what happend to my phone and i had no idea what was going on. saved me the embarrasment of going to the apple store and him laughing at me
posted by Skaterfood on: Dec 25, 2010 11:19pm
My iPhone 4 straight up came without the FaceTime app so I'm clueless
posted by Bob3882 on: Dec 7, 2010 08:30am
Go to "Settings" then "phone", switch on "FaceTime" and then restate your phone, it'll active the FaceTime button.
posted by joyec on: Dec 7, 2010 05:30am
i have the same problem like this, but how about here in saudi arabia were facetime is disabled even the application itself is missing on my new iphone4...please help,,,thanks
posted by Naga on: Jan 24, 2011 11:21pm
i have iphone 4 version 4.1 but cant find the word facetime anywhere !
posted by Stuartmax on: Jan 10, 2011 01:24am
Great Noah Worked for me Good work mate
posted by Adelsan on: Jan 25, 2011 12:26pm
this helped! Thanks!
posted by Oliver_pasion on: Dec 29, 2010 01:11am
oh jeezzzz.......this really helped me a lot...particulary the third step.... thanks so much.....
posted by Dick on: Jan 2, 2011 04:08am
Yes
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posted by Nadeem Bhatti on: Feb 20, 2011 11:00pm
hey thanks in advance but i have jail-broken i phone 4 with 4.2.1 , is that any problem with do all this stuff , i mean i dont wanna be lost anything now its working well but i cant used face-time so have any body solution even i dont find facetime option in my all hole iphone so what i have to do..?
posted by Hugo-rocks on: Dec 16, 2010 06:30pm
NONE OF THIS WORKS FOR ME WHAT SHOULD I DO
posted by Heshamatef67 on: Dec 17, 2010 02:29am
all the steps doesn't work and the button is not their
posted by Cantus Terroco on: Dec 30, 2010 08:05pm
first 2 solutions did not work for me. i restored the software using iTunes. :-) - Did it work? Yes and No! no, my facetime still not there! - Did I lose data? Yes, my media (music and videos) lost some third party apps like my yahoo msgr
posted by Cantus Terroco on: Dec 30, 2010 08:14pm
I hope that i will be fixed with new updates on the 31st dec 2010. :-(
posted by Sweet_abu7meed on: Dec 21, 2010 02:04am
i have an issue when i go into my settings i dont have anything about facetime its like my facetime does not excist on my phone or something... so what should i do ???? please help me
posted by Winter051094 on: Jan 1, 2011 03:59am
OMG! thank you so much for this! it helped a whole lot! :)
posted by Andrea on: Jan 2, 2011 08:18pm
if i reset my iphone will all of my songs and contacts and apps dissappear?
posted by Taraaw on: Jan 6, 2011 12:48pm
This was amazing! I wish people did more of these posts in the future!!! (:
posted by Christel on: Jan 27, 2011 11:29pm
Hi umm i have the Itouch w/ face time and it doesnt have the on/off switch what would i do?
posted by Nikkimac10 on: Jan 7, 2011 07:04pm
Thank-you this help. but I do not have an icon on my screen for facetime but I can still use the option on my phone
posted by Nasima on: Feb 22, 2011 01:10am
Thanksssss! THAT sorted me out! :-)
posted by Brandon Machen on: Jan 11, 2011 01:26pm
my phone has no facetime option on it at all wat do i do
posted by Lumnitz Miki on: Jan 13, 2011 08:45am
no FaceTime app? just within the contacts?
posted by Kkr Srw on: Jan 15, 2011 08:57am
I bought a I phone 4 recently. Factory unlocked. I don't even see facetime on/off option in the settings window Please help
posted by retart on: Jan 15, 2011 10:26pm
Dude. I am such an idiot. for 4 months I've had the facetime in the OFF mode. WOW.. thanks. alot.
posted by Julianfarquhar on: Jan 17, 2011 09:24am
Thanks that was really helpful. I went to the end of step 3, and it started to work.
posted by Julianfarquhar on: Jan 17, 2011 09:26am
Just thought. I wonder if I am paying for a mobile call when I use this? I am connected to the Wifi but calling a mobile. Conundrum?
posted by Paul Henry on: Jan 31, 2011 01:58pm
I am an Indian. I bought an iPhone 4 (factory unlocked) about 3 months ago. It is only recently that I looked for the FACETIME on my phone, and it is not there. I have tried everything you have suggested. I restored my phone completely. I did not cancel the restore process - I let it restore completely. Buy, I still do not have the buttons for FACETIME. Do you have any other suggestions? My email address is
posted by Johan on: Jan 19, 2011 06:48pm
Awesome guide! Thnx :)
posted by de1phinus on: Feb 5, 2011 08:11am
I bought my iPhone 4 and used my 3G S details to restore and also lost my FaceTime facility. Your simple directions at stage 1 worked perfectly! Thank you.
posted by Kristina on: Jan 20, 2011 05:13pm
the reset work for me!! Thanks for the help - I was so frustrated :)
posted by STAR on: Jan 21, 2011 10:21am
Worked for met to get the button back
posted by Frank on: Jan 21, 2011 08:17pm
How about the app icon -- anyone know how to get that back???
posted by Tosudheerk on: Feb 1, 2011 10:06am
thanks for the solutions. solution 2 worked for me to come over couple of issues including Facetime..
posted by Tibo on: Jan 23, 2011 02:48pm
iv got it but i still have no icon on the home screen
posted by Demetramoschetti on: Jan 23, 2011 06:24pm
Hi, thanks for your info. I have the 32g iPod Touch 4 and lost my Facetime App. I could only use Facetime if I did a search and all was fine. I followed your steps and it worked! THANK YOU - you made my daughter's day!
posted by Rabs26 on: Feb 3, 2011 06:37am
I have an iphone 4 and i set it up as a new phone however when i go into contacts i can do facetime although i dont have the app on my phone, please help :)
posted by Dixie600mhz on: Mar 5, 2011 06:55pm
This problem also shows up when you import a backup to the iphone 4 from an itouch4.