How to Fix FaceTime Black Screen on iPhone or iPad

Published On - August 19, 2025

Emily Harris

You’re ready for a FaceTime call — maybe a chat with grandma or a quick catch-up with your best friend. But uh-oh! Your screen goes black. You can hear them, but you can’t see them. Or worse, they can’t see you. Don’t worry — we’ve all been there. The good news? It’s usually easy to fix.

Let’s walk through some simple steps to bring back the visuals. Keep calm, grab your iPhone or iPad, and follow along.

Step 1: Check Your Camera

FaceTime uses your device’s camera. If something’s blocking it, you may see a black screen.

  • Make sure there’s no case or sticker covering the camera.
  • Wipe the lens with a soft cloth. Smudges can cause odd effects!
  • Open the Camera app. If the screen is black there too, it’s probably a hardware issue.

Step 2: Restart Your iPhone or iPad

Classic advice, but it works! A quick restart clears out little bugs.

  • Hold the Side button and volume button, then slide to power off.
  • Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

Call someone on FaceTime again. Still black? Onward!

Step 3: Switch Camera During Call

This trick sometimes works magic.

  1. During a FaceTime call, tap the screen to bring up options.
  2. Tap the camera flip button to switch between front and back camera.
  3. Tap it again to flip back.

Sometimes a little “camera shuffle” kicks it back to life!

Step 4: Check App Permissions

Your camera must have permission to work with FaceTime. Here’s how to check:

  • Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera.
  • Make sure FaceTime is switched ON.

If it’s already on, try turning it off and back on again for good measure.

Step 5: Update iOS or iPadOS

Sometimes, Apple fixes bugs in newer updates. If your system is out of date, that could be the problem.

  • Go to Settings → General → Software Update.
  • If an update is available, install it.

After updating, try FaceTime again.

Step 6: Close and Reopen FaceTime

Running too many apps or a small glitch might freeze your camera. Here’s what to do:

  • Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-click Home, if you have one).
  • Find the FaceTime app and swipe it up to close it.
  • Reopen FaceTime and try again.

Step 7: Reset Settings (Only If Needed!)

This is a last resort. Don’t worry — it won’t delete your files. But it will reset things like Wi-Fi passwords and system settings.

  • Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad.
  • Tap Reset, then Reset All Settings.

Give it another go on FaceTime after the reset.

Still Not Working?

If you’ve tried everything and the screen is still black, it might be a hardware issue with your camera. Time to visit an Apple Store or contact Apple Support.

Enjoy Clear FaceTime Again!

FaceTime is fun when it works. Whether you’re sharing a laugh or blowing kisses to your pet, nothing should get in the way — especially not a black screen.

Now that you’ve got your camera working again, go ahead — make that call and strike a smile!