Apple FaceTime disconnects if someone calls.

[HomespunEffects]

Does anyone know how I could stop FaceTime from disconnecting when someone calls me? I take guitar lessons via FaceTime and EVERY FRIGGEN TIME someone calls me in the middle of the lesson and it hangs up on my guitar teacher. Doesn't matter if I decline the call or not.

I guess I could set it to Do Not Disturb or something like that. Or just turn on airplane mode and activate only Wifi. I'll try that next. Any other suggestions?

 

[newpedals]

Does anyone know how I could stop FaceTime from disconnecting when someone calls me? I take guitar lessons via FaceTime and EVERY FRIGGEN TIME someone calls me in the middle of the lesson and it hangs up on my guitar teacher. Doesn't matter if I decline the call or not.

I guess I could set it to Do Not Disturb or something like that. Or just turn on airplane mode and activate only Wifi. I'll try that next. Any other suggestions?

Not an apple user but a crappy android phone one. Just like android, they may have specific apps to solve your issue.

A friend told me that most devices like that are setup in such a way

Phone calls and texts > more important than internet-based calls and messages

Because warnings of any kind by any authorities and friends in case of any natural (hurriance etc.) or man-made emergency (war) may be issued over text messages and calls preferentially.

Easiest way would be to put your phone in the flight mode while using wi-fi.

 

[norminal]

Does anyone know how I could stop FaceTime from disconnecting when someone calls me? I take guitar lessons via FaceTime and EVERY FRIGGEN TIME someone calls me in the middle of the lesson and it hangs up on my guitar teacher. Doesn't matter if I decline the call or not.

I guess I could set it to Do Not Disturb or something like that. Or just turn on airplane mode and activate only Wifi. I'll try that next. Any other suggestions?

I asked Grok:

That’s a frustrating issue! When you’re on a FaceTime call and an incoming phone call causes it to disconnect, it’s likely due to how your iPhone handles call priority or a glitch in the system. Normally, you should see options like “End & Accept,” “Hold & Accept,” or “Decline” when a new call comes in, without dropping the FaceTime session entirely—unless something’s interfering.

Here’s what might be happening and how to address it:

1. iOS Bug: Some users have reported this behavior, especially with certain iOS versions (like iOS 16 or earlier), where FaceTime drops unexpectedly when another call comes in, even if you try to decline it. Apple hasn’t fully acknowledged this as a widespread issue, but it’s popped up in forums since at least 2023.
2. Network Conflict: If your FaceTime call is using Wi-Fi and the incoming call switches your phone to cellular data (or vice versa), a shaky connection might force the FaceTime session to drop.
3. Settings Misconfiguration: Your call handling settings might not be optimized, or a feature like Wi-Fi Assist could be kicking in at the wrong time.

Quick Fixes to Try:

• Update iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. As of March 27, 2025, the latest version should be iOS 18 or higher. Updates often patch bugs like this.
• Restart Your iPhone: A simple reboot can clear temporary glitches. Hold the power button (with volume down on newer models) until the slider appears, then restart.
• Check Wi-Fi Assist: Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > scroll to Wi-Fi Assist and turn it off. This stops your phone from switching networks mid-call, which might destabilize FaceTime.
• Reset Network Settings: If it’s a persistent issue, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This clears Wi-Fi and cellular configs (you’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords).
• Test with Cellular Off: Turn off cellular data (Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Off) and use FaceTime over Wi-Fi only. If it stops disconnecting, the issue might be a cellular handoff problem.

If none of these work, it could be worth contacting Apple Support, as it might be a deeper software quirk tied to your specific device or iOS version.

 

[laxu]

Does anyone know how I could stop FaceTime from disconnecting when someone calls me? I take guitar lessons via FaceTime and EVERY FRIGGEN TIME someone calls me in the middle of the lesson and it hangs up on my guitar teacher. Doesn't matter if I decline the call or not.

I guess I could set it to Do Not Disturb or something like that. Or just turn on airplane mode and activate only Wifi. I'll try that next. Any other suggestions?

Easiest solution would be to use another device for FaceTime if this is some Apple stupidity. Seems the issue has been around since 2023.

Unfortunately FaceTime does not work well with e.g Android even though it kinda sorta works. So it better be an iPad or Mac.

Another option would be to just use a different software for video calls.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Thanks, friends.

Yeah, we used to use Skype but apparently it’s being rolled into Microsoft Teams. Or something like that. It was pretty flaky though.

I think what I’m going to have to do is get a web cam instead of using the phone as a camera/mic.

 

[jellodog]

@HomespunEffects Are you on the same device for the FaceTime call, or are you doing the music lesson on a laptop and someone is calling you on an iPhone (second seperate device)?

 

[HomespunEffects]

@HomespunEffects Are you on the same device for the FaceTime call, or are you doing the music lesson on a laptop and someone is calling you on an iPhone (second seperate device)?

Good point, I should have included the setup.

I’m using FaceTime on my Mac mini and my iPhone as a camera/mic.

 

[jellodog]

I’m using FaceTime on my Mac mini and my iPhone as a camera/mic.

Okay, well I've not tried that particular setup, so the following suggestion might not work.

However, when I don't want laptop FaceTime calls to be interupted by iPhone calls I have found that unchecking the following FaceTime settings checkbox works:

So this might not work since you're using the iPhone itself for the camera and mic, but it's worth trying if you've not tried it already.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Okay, well I've not tried that particular setup, so the following suggestion might not work.

However, when I don't want laptop FaceTime calls to be interupted by iPhone calls I have found that unchecking the following FaceTime settings checkbox works:

View attachment 41080


So this might not work since you're using the iPhone itself for the camera and mic, but it's worth trying if you've not tried it already.

I did set that to off but it was afterward so i haven’t been able to test it yet.

 

[LeftyLoungeLizard]

I asked Grok:

That’s a frustrating issue! When you’re on a FaceTime call and an incoming phone call causes it to disconnect, it’s likely due to how your iPhone handles call priority or a glitch in the system. Normally, you should see options like “End & Accept,” “Hold & Accept,” or “Decline” when a new call comes in, without dropping the FaceTime session entirely—unless something’s interfering.

Here’s what might be happening and how to address it:

1. iOS Bug: Some users have reported this behavior, especially with certain iOS versions (like iOS 16 or earlier), where FaceTime drops unexpectedly when another call comes in, even if you try to decline it. Apple hasn’t fully acknowledged this as a widespread issue, but it’s popped up in forums since at least 2023.
2. Network Conflict: If your FaceTime call is using Wi-Fi and the incoming call switches your phone to cellular data (or vice versa), a shaky connection might force the FaceTime session to drop.
3. Settings Misconfiguration: Your call handling settings might not be optimized, or a feature like Wi-Fi Assist could be kicking in at the wrong time.

Quick Fixes to Try:

• Update iOS: Go to Settings > General > Software Update. As of March 27, 2025, the latest version should be iOS 18 or higher. Updates often patch bugs like this.
• Restart Your iPhone: A simple reboot can clear temporary glitches. Hold the power button (with volume down on newer models) until the slider appears, then restart.
• Check Wi-Fi Assist: Go to Settings > Cellular (or Mobile Data) > scroll to Wi-Fi Assist and turn it off. This stops your phone from switching networks mid-call, which might destabilize FaceTime.
• Reset Network Settings: If it’s a persistent issue, go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This clears Wi-Fi and cellular configs (you’ll need to re-enter Wi-Fi passwords).
• Test with Cellular Off: Turn off cellular data (Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Off) and use FaceTime over Wi-Fi only. If it stops disconnecting, the issue might be a cellular handoff problem.

If none of these work, it could be worth contacting Apple Support, as it might be a deeper software quirk tied to your specific device or iOS version.