I have a friend I like to do FaceTime with pretty often. We've been
having lots of trouble getting connections between our Macs, FT keeps
trying to use our iPhones. Like I'll call him in the FT app on my
MacBook and it says "Using iPhone," so I end the call and try again. Or
I start a FT and it starts from my Mac but then my friend's iPhone
alerts him instead of his iMac.

Somehow we always finally end up on the Macs but does any body know how
we can do that right away and keep the iPhones from being used on either
end?

On 2024-09-08, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I have a friend I like to do FaceTime with pretty often. We've been
> having lots of trouble getting connections between our Macs, FT keeps
> trying to use our iPhones. Like I'll call him in the FT app on my
> MacBook and it says "Using iPhone," so I end the call and try again.
> Or I start a FT and it starts from my Mac but then my friend's iPhone
> alerts him instead of his iMac.
>
> Somehow we always finally end up on the Macs but does any body know
> how we can do that right away and keep the iPhones from being used on
> either end?

When someone calls you on FaceTime, all of your devices will alert you o
the call and you can answer the call on whichever device you want. Just
because your friend sees/hears the call ring on one device doesn't mean
they have to answer it on that device.

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On 9/9/24 7:49 AM, Jolly Roger wrote:
> On 2024-09-08, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> I have a friend I like to do FaceTime with pretty often. We've been
>> having lots of trouble getting connections between our Macs, FT keeps
>> trying to use our iPhones. Like I'll call him in the FT app on my
>> MacBook and it says "Using iPhone," so I end the call and try again.
>> Or I start a FT and it starts from my Mac but then my friend's iPhone
>> alerts him instead of his iMac.
>>
>> Somehow we always finally end up on the Macs but does any body know
>> how we can do that right away and keep the iPhones from being used on
>> either end?
>
> When someone calls you on FaceTime, all of your devices will alert you o
> the call and you can answer the call on whichever device you want. Just
> because your friend sees/hears the call ring on one device doesn't mean
> they have to answer it on that device.
>

Hmmm, we'll check again but I'm pretty sure only the iPhone has been
rining and there hasn't been anything to answer on the Macs.

On 11. Sep 2024 at 00:50:38 CEST, "Connor Shannon" <cshannon1898@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>> When someone calls you on FaceTime, all of your devices will alert you o
>> the call and you can answer the call on whichever device you want. Just
>> because your friend sees/hears the call ring on one device doesn't mean
>> they have to answer it on that device.
>>

That´s the theory.

>
> Hmmm, we'll check again but I'm pretty sure only the iPhone has been
> rining and there hasn't been anything to answer on the Macs.

And that´s where theory differs from reality. (I had those incidents where
only one device of 3 was ringing too)

On 2024-09-10, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 9/9/24 7:49 AM, Jolly Roger wrote:
>> On 2024-09-08, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> I have a friend I like to do FaceTime with pretty often. We've been
>>> having lots of trouble getting connections between our Macs, FT
>>> keeps trying to use our iPhones. Like I'll call him in the FT app on
>>> my MacBook and it says "Using iPhone," so I end the call and try
>>> again. Or I start a FT and it starts from my Mac but then my
>>> friend's iPhone alerts him instead of his iMac.
>>>
>>> Somehow we always finally end up on the Macs but does any body know
>>> how we can do that right away and keep the iPhones from being used
>>> on either end?
>>
>> When someone calls you on FaceTime, all of your devices will alert
>> you o the call and you can answer the call on whichever device you
>> want. Just because your friend sees/hears the call ring on one device
>> doesn't mean they have to answer it on that device.
>
> Hmmm, we'll check again but I'm pretty sure only the iPhone has been
> rining and there hasn't been anything to answer on the Macs.

You probably just didn't notice the notification on the Mac.

Otherwise, check FaceTime settings on the Mac in question by opening the
FaceTime app and choosing Settings from the FaceTime menu in the menu
bar at the top of the screen. This goes without saying, but naturally
the Mac must be signed into the same iCloud account as the iPhone for
you to receive FaceTime calls there.

--
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JR

On 9/11/24 7:38 AM, Jolly Roger wrote:
> On 2024-09-10, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> On 9/9/24 7:49 AM, Jolly Roger wrote:
>>> On 2024-09-08, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>> I have a friend I like to do FaceTime with pretty often. We've been
>>>> having lots of trouble getting connections between our Macs, FT
>>>> keeps trying to use our iPhones. Like I'll call him in the FT app on
>>>> my MacBook and it says "Using iPhone," so I end the call and try
>>>> again. Or I start a FT and it starts from my Mac but then my
>>>> friend's iPhone alerts him instead of his iMac.
>>>>
>>>> Somehow we always finally end up on the Macs but does any body know
>>>> how we can do that right away and keep the iPhones from being used
>>>> on either end?
>>>
>>> When someone calls you on FaceTime, all of your devices will alert
>>> you o the call and you can answer the call on whichever device you
>>> want. Just because your friend sees/hears the call ring on one device
>>> doesn't mean they have to answer it on that device.
>>
>> Hmmm, we'll check again but I'm pretty sure only the iPhone has been
>> rining and there hasn't been anything to answer on the Macs.
>
> You probably just didn't notice the notification on the Mac.

We were sitting right in front of our Macs with FT open waiting for the
call!!

> Otherwise, check FaceTime settings on the Mac in question by opening the
> FaceTime app and choosing Settings from the FaceTime menu in the menu
> bar at the top of the screen.

Okay what do I do with the settings? Turn off the phone number so I can
only be called with my email address? Turn off Calls from iPhone? Some
other setting to force calls to the Mac?

> This goes without saying, but naturally
> the Mac must be signed into the same iCloud account as the iPhone for
> you to receive FaceTime calls there.

Well it must be b'cuz I'm signed in for other Apple things and also
eventually we get a Mac to Mac connection just a lot of times not on the
first try.

On 14.09.24 23:24, Connor Shannon wrote:
> Okay what do I do with the settings? Turn off the phone number so I can
> only be called with my email address? Turn off Calls from iPhone? Some
> other setting to force calls to the Mac?

Correct. That is the way to go.

--
"Roma locuta, causa finita." (Augustinus)

On 14.09.24 23:24, Connor Shannon wrote:
> Okay what do I do with the settings? Turn off the phone number so I can
> only be called with my email address? Turn off Calls from iPhone? Some
> other setting to force calls to the Mac?

Open FT. Menu Face Time - Settings - Deactivate "Calls from iPhone" (i
have a German UI. Might differ slightly).

HTH, Jörg

--
"Roma locuta, causa finita." (Augustinus)

On 2024-09-14, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 9/11/24 7:38 AM, Jolly Roger wrote:
>> On 2024-09-10, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> On 9/9/24 7:49 AM, Jolly Roger wrote:
>>>> On 2024-09-08, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>> I have a friend I like to do FaceTime with pretty often. We've
>>>>> been having lots of trouble getting connections between our Macs,
>>>>> FT keeps trying to use our iPhones. Like I'll call him in the FT
>>>>> app on my MacBook and it says "Using iPhone," so I end the call
>>>>> and try again. Or I start a FT and it starts from my Mac but then
>>>>> my friend's iPhone alerts him instead of his iMac.
>>>>>
>>>>> Somehow we always finally end up on the Macs but does any body
>>>>> know how we can do that right away and keep the iPhones from being
>>>>> used on either end?
>>>>
>>>> When someone calls you on FaceTime, all of your devices will alert
>>>> you o the call and you can answer the call on whichever device you
>>>> want. Just because your friend sees/hears the call ring on one
>>>> device doesn't mean they have to answer it on that device.
>>>
>>> Hmmm, we'll check again but I'm pretty sure only the iPhone has been
>>> rining and there hasn't been anything to answer on the Macs.
>>
>> You probably just didn't notice the notification on the Mac.
>
> We were sitting right in front of our Macs with FT open waiting for
> the call!!
>
>> Otherwise, check FaceTime settings on the Mac in question by opening
>> the FaceTime app and choosing Settings from the FaceTime menu in the
>> menu bar at the top of the screen.
>
> Okay what do I do with the settings? Turn off the phone number so I
> can only be called with my email address? Turn off Calls from iPhone?
> Some other setting to force calls to the Mac?

The "You can be reached for FaceTime at" section should have all of the
ways you want to be reached by someone calling you with FaceTime. If you
disable the phone number in that section, you will prevent people from
being able to reach you on this device with your phone number. Same
thing goes for the email address(es) listed there. If you have some
options disabled there, and your friend called you at one of the
disabled addresses, that would explain you not seeing the call come in
on your Mac.

The "Call From iPhone" setting allows you to place and receive calls on
your Mac through your iPhone whenever your iPhone is within range of the
same WiFi network to which your Mac is connected. I have had this
enabled for many years and receive and make calls on my Macs without
issue. I can't think of a reason you should disable this.

The "Start new calls from" setting tells FaceTime to always start new
outgoing calls on your Mac from the phone number or email address you
specify. Recipients will see calls coming from that phone number or
address.

>> This goes without saying, but naturally the Mac must be signed into
>> the same iCloud account as the iPhone for you to receive FaceTime
>> calls there.
>
> Well it must be b'cuz I'm signed in for other Apple things and also
> eventually we get a Mac to Mac connection just a lot of times not on
> the first try.

Is it possible the Mac in question has spotty internet connectivity?
That would also explain the symptom you are describing.

--
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I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

On 14. Sep 2024 at 23:24:31 CEST, "Connor Shannon" <cshannon1898@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>> You probably just didn't notice the notification on the Mac.
>
> We were sitting right in front of our Macs with FT open waiting for the
> call!!

Same here just last friday.
iPhone and iPad where ringing, MacbookAir wasn´t (while beeing locked into
the same facetime account).

If there is a "magical" setting I´d sure like to know where to find it.

On 16.09.24 08:41, Bernd Froehlich wrote:
> On 14. Sep 2024 at 23:24:31 CEST, "Connor Shannon" <cshannon1898@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>>> You probably just didn't notice the notification on the Mac.
>>
>> We were sitting right in front of our Macs with FT open waiting for the
>> call!!
>
> Same here just last friday.
> iPhone and iPad where ringing, MacbookAir wasn´t (while beeing locked into
> the same facetime account).
>
> If there is a "magical" setting I´d sure like to know where to find it.

Works here perfectly. Tested 10 seconds ago.
All devices have to be logged in the same Wifi and the same iCloud
account. In addition everything has to be activated on FT on the Mac. FT
as standard application for calls.

--
"Roma locuta, causa finita." (Augustinus)

On 2024-09-16, Bernd Froehlich <befr@eaglesoft.de> wrote:
> On 14. Sep 2024 at 23:24:31 CEST, "Connor Shannon" <cshannon1898@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>>> You probably just didn't notice the notification on the Mac.
>>
>> We were sitting right in front of our Macs with FT open waiting for
>> the call!!
>
> Same here just last friday. iPhone and iPad where ringing, MacbookAir
> wasn´t (while beeing locked into the same facetime account).
>
> If there is a "magical" setting I´d sure like to know where to find
> it.

What you are both describing isn't normal.

Which model Mac and what version OS is running on it?

--
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I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

On 11.09.24 10:47, Bernd Froehlich wrote:
> On 11. Sep 2024 at 00:50:38 CEST, "Connor Shannon" <cshannon1898@yahoo.com>
> wrote:
>
>>> When someone calls you on FaceTime, all of your devices will alert you o
>>> the call and you can answer the call on whichever device you want. Just
>>> because your friend sees/hears the call ring on one device doesn't mean
>>> they have to answer it on that device.
>>>
>
> That´s the theory.
>
>
>>
>> Hmmm, we'll check again but I'm pretty sure only the iPhone has been
>> rining and there hasn't been anything to answer on the Macs.
>
> And that´s where theory differs from reality. (I had those incidents where
> only one device of 3 was ringing too)

Do you allow incoming connections for FT in the Mac firewall?

--
"Roma locuta, causa finita." (Augustinus)

On 9/16/24 8:03 AM, Jolly Roger wrote:
> On 2024-09-16, Bernd Froehlich <befr@eaglesoft.de> wrote:
>> On 14. Sep 2024 at 23:24:31 CEST, "Connor Shannon" <cshannon1898@yahoo.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>> You probably just didn't notice the notification on the Mac.
>>>
>>> We were sitting right in front of our Macs with FT open waiting for
>>> the call!!
>>
>> Same here just last friday. iPhone and iPad where ringing, MacbookAir
>> wasn´t (while beeing locked into the same facetime account).
>>
>> If there is a "magical" setting I´d sure like to know where to find
>> it.
>
> What you are both describing isn't normal.
>
> Which model Mac and what version OS is running on it?
>

Mine is a MacBook Air I just got it last year or maybe late 2022. It has
Sonoma, I just got the notice about Seqoia but I haven't updated it yet.

I turned off my iPhone phone number in FT on the MacBook, my friend and
I will be doing FT this weekend so we'll see if that helps.

On 19. Sep 2024 at 20:05:18 CEST, "Connor Shannon" <cshannon1898@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> Mine is a MacBook Air I just got it last year or maybe late 2022. It has
> Sonoma, I just got the notice about Seqoia but I haven't updated it yet.

2022 MacBook Air (M2) here also.
Just updated to Sequoia.

Can´t imagine that it is a MacBook Air problem, but who knows...

On 20. Sep 2024 at 08:29:22 CEST, "Bernd Froehlich" <befr@eaglesoft.de>
wrote:

> Can´t imagine that it is a MacBook Air problem, but who knows...

Spent some hours on the net and finally solved it.

Two tips I found were to clear the DNS cache of the mac and to connect the
Mac through a hotspot to the internet.
Lo and behold: Facetime worked, I got the call on my Mac 8-)
Then I reset my router and now Facetime works just fine.

Not sure whether it was the DNS cache or the router reset that ultimately
solved it but I hope it works for you too Connor.

On 2024-09-20, Bernd Froehlich <befr@eaglesoft.de> wrote:
> On 20. Sep 2024 at 08:29:22 CEST, "Bernd Froehlich" <befr@eaglesoft.de>
> wrote:
>
>> Can´t imagine that it is a MacBook Air problem, but who knows...
>
> Spent some hours on the net and finally solved it.
>
> Two tips I found were to clear the DNS cache of the mac and to connect the
> Mac through a hotspot to the internet.
> Lo and behold: Facetime worked, I got the call on my Mac 8-)
> Then I reset my router and now Facetime works just fine.
>
> Not sure whether it was the DNS cache or the router reset that ultimately
> solved it but I hope it works for you too Connor.

What make and model router?

--
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR

On 20. Sep 2024 at 18:34:11 CEST, "Jolly Roger" <jollyroger@pobox.com>
wrote:

> What make and model router?

Fritzbox 7590. (Widely used in Germany but I guess not in the rest of the
world).

On 9/20/24 7:21 AM, Bernd Froehlich wrote:
> On 20. Sep 2024 at 08:29:22 CEST, "Bernd Froehlich" <befr@eaglesoft.de>
> wrote:
>
>> Can´t imagine that it is a MacBook Air problem, but who knows...
>
> Spent some hours on the net and finally solved it.
>
> Two tips I found were to clear the DNS cache of the mac and to connect the
> Mac through a hotspot to the internet.
> Lo and behold: Facetime worked, I got the call on my Mac 8-)
> Then I reset my router and now Facetime works just fine.
>
> Not sure whether it was the DNS cache or the router reset that ultimately
> solved it but I hope it works for you too Connor.

Gosh I don't want to go through my phone instead of my wifi. But I'm
glad it worked for you!

We just tried again. My phone was near my MacBook and it "rang" with the
FT call. I had phone number FT turned off on my MacBook like you guys
suggested but my name with my phone number was still in his FT call list
so I think when he clicked on it it called my phone number. I didn't
answer and sent my friend a text message (from my Mac) asking if he
could "call" my email address. So then he clicked New Facetime Call on
his Mac and typed in my email and it rang on my MacBook. (Also on my
phone but I ignored that.)

So I think the key is to force the computers to use email addresses but
since the FT previous call list includes phone calls it's easy for a
friend's phone number to be in the list and you have to make sure you
aren't using that. Anyway thats what I think is happening.

On 21.09.24 20:42, Connor Shannon wrote:
> We just tried again. My phone was near my MacBook and it "rang" with the
> FT call. I had phone number FT turned off on my MacBook like you guys
> suggested but my name with my phone number was still in his FT call list
> so I think when he clicked on it it called my phone number. I didn't
> answer and sent my friend a text message (from my Mac) asking if he
> could "call" my email address. So then he clicked New Facetime Call on
> his Mac and typed in my email and it rang on my MacBook. (Also on my
> phone but I ignored that.)
>
> So I think the key is to force the computers to use email addresses but
> since the FT previous call list includes phone calls it's easy for a
> friend's phone number to be in the list and you have to make sure you
> aren't using that. Anyway thats what I think is happening.

Here FT does not care. It always rings on my Mac.

--
"Roma locuta, causa finita." (Augustinus)

On 21. Sep 2024 at 20:42:23 CEST, "Connor Shannon" <cshannon1898@yahoo.com>
wrote:

> Gosh I don't want to go through my phone instead of my wifi. But I'm
> glad it worked for you!

That was only for a quick test to make sure that the problem is indeed the
router.

On 2024-09-21, Connor Shannon <cshannon1898@yahoo.com> wrote:
> On 9/20/24 7:21 AM, Bernd Froehlich wrote:
>> On 20. Sep 2024 at 08:29:22 CEST, "Bernd Froehlich" <befr@eaglesoft.de>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Can´t imagine that it is a MacBook Air problem, but who knows...
>>
>> Spent some hours on the net and finally solved it.
>>
>> Two tips I found were to clear the DNS cache of the mac and to
>> connect the Mac through a hotspot to the internet. Lo and behold:
>> Facetime worked, I got the call on my Mac 8-) Then I reset my router
>> and now Facetime works just fine.
>>
>> Not sure whether it was the DNS cache or the router reset that
>> ultimately solved it but I hope it works for you too Connor.
>
> Gosh I don't want to go through my phone instead of my wifi. But I'm
> glad it worked for you!

You should read more carefully. He doesn't seem to be saying he had to
connect to the hotspot to get it to work - that was just one of the
suggestions he read. He does say he cleared his DNS cache and reset his
router.

Have you tried either of those things?

> We just tried again. My phone was near my MacBook and it "rang" with
> the FT call. I had phone number FT turned off on my MacBook like you
> guys suggested

That was a bad suggestion. Turn it back on.

> but my name with my phone number was still in his FT call list so I
> think when he clicked on it it called my phone number. I didn't answer
> and sent my friend a text message (from my Mac) asking if he could
> "call" my email address. So then he clicked New Facetime Call on his
> Mac and typed in my email and it rang on my MacBook. (Also on my phone
> but I ignored that.)

That's precisely why you should turn the phone number back on on your
Mac. Whoever suggested you turn it off was giving bad advice.

> So I think the key is to force the computers to use email addresses
> but

No. Many of us receive calls to our cellular phone numbers on our Macs.
That's how it's supposed to work.

> since the FT previous call list includes phone calls it's easy for a
> friend's phone number to be in the list and you have to make sure you
> aren't using that. Anyway thats what I think is happening.

No, you should be able to use any address or number listed in FaceTime
Preferences > You can be reached at - including your iPhone's phone
number. The problem you are having isn't due to FaceTime settings.
Something else (probably your router) is getting in the way.

--
E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

JR