FaceTime calls drop Wi-Fi and fall on 5G

[ac360]

This is impacting my iPhone 14 Pro Max running iOS 16.0.3.

Every time I initiate a FaceTime call, the phone will drop Wi-Fi and switch to 5G. After the call, it immediately switches back to Wi-Fi. If someone FaceTimes me, my phone will remain on Wi-Fi.

The issue remains after I restart the phone. Also, the issue is impacting my partner’s iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 10.0.3. So, this is likely a iOS bug impacting different devices.

What the hell, Apple?!

Also, I remember being able to see the data usage for each FaceTime call. But now it doesn’t show such information. Did I misremember?

 

[tastesliketailpipe]

WHAT THE HELL APPLE!!!!@@@

Tis no bug.

To fix the issue above disable Wi-Fi Assist in Mobile Data settings. Right to the bottom you scroll - you'll find it.

and/or

still in Mobile Data settings find Mobile Data Options then set Data Mode to Standard. You must be on 'Allow More Data on 5G' right now this is why phone prefers 5G over Wi-Fi.

WHAT THE HELL @@!@? APPLE!!

 

[ac360]

WHAT THE HELL APPLE!!!!@@@

Tis no bug.

To fix the issue above disable Wi-Fi Assist in Mobile Data settings. Right to the bottom you scroll - you'll find it.

and/or

still in Mobile Data settings find Mobile Data Options then set Data Mode to Standard. You must be on 'Allow More Data on 5G' right now this is why phone prefers 5G over Wi-Fi.

WHAT THE HELL @@!@? APPLE!!

In fact, I already had Wi-Fi Assist disabled and it’s configured Standard in Data Mode. Still having issues.

Is this issue impacting you, too?

 

[tastesliketailpipe]

Oh.. then I do not know the solution.

Nah I'm still on iOS 15.7

 

[ManuCH]

This actually has to do with how the specific wifi you're on is configured (router settings, firewall etc). Dropping to 5G is a feature, as not having it would probably make the call fail altogether.

Details can be found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202078

 

[ac360]

This actually has to do with how the specific wifi you're on is configured (router settings, firewall etc). Dropping to 5G is a feature, as not having it would probably make the call fail altogether.

Details can be found here: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202078

If someone FaceTimes me, my phone will remain on Wi-Fi.

If this has to do with my Wi-Fi, how come my phone will remain on Wi-Fi if I get an incoming FaceTime call?

 

[ac360]

Spoke with Apple Support. They said they had received reports of the same issue from other users. So, they're investigating the issue.

Meanwhile, be aware of cellular data usage when you FaceTime.

 

[ManuCH]

If someone FaceTimes me, my phone will remain on Wi-Fi.

If this has to do with my Wi-Fi, how come my phone will remain on Wi-Fi if I get an incoming FaceTime call?

Because it depends on how your router opens incoming ports. The mechanism behind it changes for incoming or outgoing calls. So depending on the router type, firewall, settings, etc, this might happen - or maybe not.

For example, when I'm on certain hotel wifis, I get that exact problem. On my home wifi that I have full control of and I know how to configure, it all works well.

 

[TimFL1]

Because it depends on how your router opens incoming ports. The mechanism behind it changes for incoming or outgoing calls. So depending on the router type, firewall, settings, etc, this might happen - or maybe not.

For example, when I'm on certain hotel wifis, I get that exact problem. On my home wifi that I have full control of and I know how to configure, it all works well.

I experience the same issue starting 16.0.3 on my 14PM. Never had the issue before (have always been using Wifi with FaceTime Audio/Video) so this is likely a bug introduced in iOS 16.x

 

[ac360]

Because it depends on how your router opens incoming ports. The mechanism behind it changes for incoming or outgoing calls. So depending on the router type, firewall, settings, etc, this might happen - or maybe not.

For example, when I'm on certain hotel wifis, I get that exact problem. On my home wifi that I have full control of and I know how to configure, it all works well.

I never had this issue on my home Wi-Fi prior to iOS 16.0.3. I haven’t changed any settings to my home Wi-Fi either…

Hopefully this will be resolved by one of the upcoming iOS updates.

 

[ac360]

Because it depends on how your router opens incoming ports. The mechanism behind it changes for incoming or outgoing calls. So depending on the router type, firewall, settings, etc, this might happen - or maybe not.

For example, when I'm on certain hotel wifis, I get that exact problem. On my home wifi that I have full control of and I know how to configure, it all works well.

Out of curiosity, are you running iOS 16.0.3? What’s your iPhone model? Are you experiencing the issue I was describing?

 

[fatTribble]

WHAT THE HELL APPLE!!!!@@@

Tis no bug.

To fix the issue above disable Wi-Fi Assist in Mobile Data settings. Right to the bottom you scroll - you'll find it.

and/or

still in Mobile Data settings find Mobile Data Options then set Data Mode to Standard. You must be on 'Allow More Data on 5G' right now this is why phone prefers 5G over Wi-Fi.

WHAT THE HELL @@!@? APPLE!!

I did this a few months ago under iOS 15 and the problem went away.

I will say that for me, Facetime reliability is noticeably better under iOS 16.

 

[ManuCH]

Out of curiosity, are you running iOS 16.0.3? What’s your iPhone model? Are you experiencing the issue I was describing?

I was experiencing it under iOS 15 and now on iOS 16.0.3, but also 16.1 beta 5, when I'm on certain wifi networks that I don't have control of (some companies or hotels). I don't have it at home or at my workplace where I do the network administration myself.

I can see a quite direct connection between "restrictive" or "broken" wifis and this issue happening. Although it's interesting that you say you never had the issue before 16.0.3, so there must be more than one factor involved.