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How to Turn Off FaceTime on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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There's a serious bug affecting FaceTime right now, which lets someone who calls you hear the audio on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac even if you don't answer the call.

There does not appear to be any way to avoid getting these unwanted calls, short of turning off FaceTime. Luckily, it's easy to do.

facetimehowtodisable.jpg

How to Turn Off FaceTime on Your iPhone and iPad

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down to FaceTime.
  3. Click on the toggle next to "FaceTime."
This will turn off FaceTime on your specific device, but you will need to deactivate FaceTime on all of your iPhones and iPads to avoid unwanted spy calls if you use FaceTime connection methods other than a phone number.

How to Turn Off FaceTime on macOS

  1. Open up the FaceTime app.
  2. Click on "FaceTime" in the menu bar.
  3. Select "Turn FaceTime Off."
You can also choose "Preferences" and deselect "Enable this account to deactivate FaceTime.

With FaceTime disabled, no one will be able to secretly FaceTime call you to listen to your audio. With FaceTime enabled, anyone can exploit a Group FaceTime bug to place a call to you that will allow them to listen to your audio even if you don't accept the FaceTime call.

Article Link: How to Turn Off FaceTime on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/turn-off-facetime/
If someone needs to read a manual to turn off facetime, he or she won't know about MacRumors. But hopefully this will come up in Google...
 
This doesn’t work between my wife’s iPhone 8 (11.4.1) and my ip7+ (12.1.3) both devices must have to be on iOS 12.
 
The big downside to this is most people will probably turn off FaceTime and never turn it back on, even after the bug is fixed.

I like being able to call people with FaceTime audio, because the sound quality is far better than a cellular call. This may prove less reliable in the future.
 
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I'm still on iOS 10. Looks like I'm still enjoying the best iOS version.
 
This could cause a divorce!

MacRumors said:



There's a serious bug affecting FaceTime right now, which lets someone who calls you hear the audio on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac even if you don't answer the call.

There does not appear to be any way to avoid getting these unwanted calls, short of turning off FaceTime. Luckily, it's easy to do.

facetimehowtodisable.jpg

How to Turn Off FaceTime on Your iPhone and iPad

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down to FaceTime.
  3. Click on the toggle next to "FaceTime."
This will turn off FaceTime on your specific device, but you will need to deactivate FaceTime on all of your iPhones and iPads to avoid unwanted spy calls if you use FaceTime connection methods other than a phone number.

How to Turn Off FaceTime on macOS

  1. Open up the FaceTime app.
  2. Click on "FaceTime" in the menu bar.
  3. Select "Turn FaceTime Off."
You can also choose "Preferences" and deselect "Enable this account to deactivate FaceTime.

With FaceTime disabled, no one will be able to secretly FaceTime call you to listen to your audio. With FaceTime enabled, anyone can exploit a Group FaceTime bug to place a call to you that will allow them to listen to your audio even if you don't accept the FaceTime call.

Article Link: How to Turn Off FaceTime on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1548734798][/doublepost]This could cause a divorce!
 
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zorinlynx said:
The big downside to this is most people will probably turn off FaceTime and never turn it back on, even after the bug is fixed.

I like being able to call people with FaceTime audio, because the sound quality is far better than a cellular call. This may prove less reliable in the future.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1548735503][/doublepost]Of if you get a call from anyone you dont trust, just power off your phone immediately.
 
rmanbike said:
[doublepost=1548735503][/doublepost]Of if you get a call from anyone you dont trust, just power off your phone immediately.
Click to expand...
Seems like overkill. If someone was actually worried about a FaceTime attack of this kind, easy enough to decline the call and that ends the whole thing right there.
 
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rmanbike said:
[doublepost=1548735503][/doublepost]Of if you get a call from anyone you dont trust, just power off your phone immediately.
Click to expand...

If you're really concerned, then remove the SIM card, break the phone in half, buy a new phone, and insert SIM card. You secret agents out there can never be too careful. o_O
 
Googlyhead said:
That's kinda shot down any argument for updating for 'security reasons'.
Click to expand...
There are other issues in older versions that have been addressed. Bugs have been around and will be around. No way to really predict them.
 
I started getting a string of unknown callers — their numbers were shown but not name — shortly after upgrading to IOS 12. I neither answer nor decline. I let it ring. They do not leave voice mails. The calls were from a variety of states, but mostly NY, IN, MO, OH. The calls would come in late afternoon into the evening. I wonder if they were trying to exploit this security lapse.

I wonder if they listened in. However, I just started turning on Do Not Disturb, and I think that also shuts them down.
[doublepost=1548852108][/doublepost]
iapplelove said:
wow... what a software slip
Click to expand...
Lawsuits have already started.
 
solarmon said:
I started getting a string of unknown callers — their numbers were shown but not name — shortly after upgrading to IOS 12. I neither answer nor decline. I let it ring. They do not leave voice mails. The calls were from a variety of states, but mostly NY, IN, MO, OH. The calls would come in late afternoon into the evening. I wonder if they were trying to exploit this security lapse.

I wonder if they listened in. However, I just started turning on Do Not Disturb, and I think that also shuts them down.
[doublepost=1548852108][/doublepost]
Lawsuits have already started.
Click to expand...
Phone calls and FaceTime calls are different things.
 
C DM said:
Phone calls and FaceTime calls are different things.
Click to expand...
I understand. My point is the scammers are relentless at exploiting security openings. I think the Experian releases, et al, mean they have multiple databases to pinpoint users. Everyone’s a target, it seems. I don’ think its paranoia anymore. It’s fact. Too bad.
 
solarmon said:
I understand. My point is the scammers are relentless at exploiting security openings. I think the Experian releases, et al, mean they have multiple databases to pinpoint users. Everyone’s a target, it seems. I don’ think its paranoia anymore. It’s fact. Too bad.
Click to expand...
What I was saying is that it doesn't seem like this was involved in what you were describing and as those were regular phone calls based on description.
 
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