Problems activating FaceTime on iPad

Article

Problems activating FaceTime on iPad

Ask iLounge offers readers the opportunity to get answers to their iPod-, iPhone-, iPad-, iTunes-, or Apple TV-related questions from a member of the iLounge editorial team. We'll answer several questions here each week, and of course, you can always get help with more immediate concerns from the iLounge Discussion Forums. Submit your questions for consideration using our Ask iLounge Submit Form. We reserve the right to edit questions for grammar, spelling, and length.

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

Q: I have a new third-generation iPad and I’m trying to activate FaceTime on it. However, I don’t see a toggle on/off button in the FaceTime section in the Settings app. Instead it asks for my Apple ID and password, which it does not accept in either the FaceTime Settings or directly in the FaceTime app. Any ideas how
I can activate FaceTime?

- Emma

A: Unlike the iPhone, which can automatically register for FaceTime with nothing more than your cellular phone number, iPad and iPod touch devices both require an Apple ID in order to use FaceTime. As a result, the ON/OFF toggle for FaceTime only appears on these devices after you’ve activated FaceTime by signing in with your Apple ID.

However FaceTime requires an Apple ID that is an e-mail address, as opposed to the older, username-style Apple IDs that were previously used for things like iTunes Store accounts. Although Apple has been trying to encourage users to convert to the newer e-mail address usernames, it has not chosen to force the issue outright for anything other than newer services. As a result, many long-time iTunes users don’t encounter this issue until the first time they attempt to log into a newer service like FaceTime or iMessage.

If you’re still using a username as your Apple ID rather than your e-mail address, you can easily change it by going to http://appleid.apple.com. Changing your username to an e-mail address will not affect any existing content you have purchased or downloaded from iTunes with the Apple ID—only the login name changes, which is what you will need to use in the future with iTunes or any other Apple online services. Note that your actual iTunes purchases will probably still show your older username, rather than the new e-mail address, however this is entirely a cosmetic issue and does not affect your ability to use any protected content in your iTunes library.

Changing your username to an e-mail address is the recommended approach, as it is relatively transparent and will ensure compatibility with other Apple services going forward. If there is some reason you do not want to do this, however, you can just as easily sign up for a new Apple ID exclusively for FaceTime. Keep in mind, however, that a given e-mail address can only be associated with one Apple ID at a time, so if you’re already using your preferred FaceTime e-mail address on your original Apple ID, you will not be able to assign it to a new one without removing it from the original first.

For more information be sure to check out our Complete Guide to FaceTime: Set-up, Use, and Troubleshooting Problems.

The most asked question at iLounge.com:

How do I copy content from my iPod/iPhone onto my computer?

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, Apple TV and iPhone Video Formats

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Mac)

Converting DVDs, web video, TV shows and more:

The Complete Guide to iPod, iPhone and Apple TV Video Conversion (Win)

Best Speakers?

Best Headphones?

Best Case?

Best In-Car Solution?

Best Battery Extender?

Find more answers in the latest publications in our Library. Free downloads developed by the editors of iLounge!

Ask iLounge Archives:

12-4-13: iMessages come in from email address instead of phone number

11-27-13: Passcode entry field not appearing on iPhone

11-26-13: Custom ringtones assignments don’t sync to iCloud

11-25-13: Resuming incomplete iCloud backups

11-21-13: Adding multiple photos to a Shared Photo Stream

View the complete Ask iLounge archives...

« Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers under $300

Apple IDs and restoring purchased content to iTunes »

Comments

1

I am trying to log on to FaceTime with my password I have for my email which I am currently using for my apple ID and I am getting the message that my password is incorrect but I am able to log in using ny apple ID for everything else on my ipad2. Can someone help please.

Posted by Gabby on January 26, 2013 at 1:54 PM (PST)

2

I am having ipad 3rd genration(wifi) + cellular…and I am not able to find facetime app,also does not show on App Store…plz tell where to download facetime..

Posted by Shashank on February 2, 2013 at 6:28 AM (PST)

If you have a comment, news tip, advertising inquiry, or coverage request, a question about iPods/iPhones/iPad or accessories, or if you sell or market iPod/iPhone/iPad products or services, read iLounge's Comments + Questions policies before posting, and fully identify yourself if you do. We will delete comments containing advertising, astroturfing, trolling, personal attacks, offensive language, or other objectionable content, then ban and/or publicly identify violators.

Commenting is not available in this section entry.

Recent Reviews

Recent Articles

Shop for Accessories: Cases, speakers, chargers, etc.

iLounge

Article