Why FaceTime won't work
FaceTime has been fully blocked in Russia since December 2025 by a Roskomnadzor decision. Apple's video calls, the ones millions of iPhone, iPad and Mac owners relied on, stopped connecting on Russian networks.
What's blocked is Apple's video protocol itself: the call goes out but never reaches the other person. The restriction sits at the network level, so restarting the device or reinstalling the app won't help.
Who this affects
FaceTime is built into Apple devices. If you have:
- an iPhone, FaceTime calls have frozen
- an iPad, the FaceTime Audio and Video tabs don't work
- a Mac, video calls through FaceTime won't connect
And if the rest of the internet (sites, messengers) opens fine, the culprit is the service block, not your connection.
How to bring FaceTime back with a VPN
Step 1. Install a VPN client
On iOS, Happ or INCY work well, same on macOS. They're in the App Store and start working right after you import the subscription.
Step 2. Connect to a foreign server
Turn the VPN on for all device traffic. FaceTime talks directly to Apple's servers, so it can't work without a full tunnel.
Step 3. Restart FaceTime
Close the app completely and open it again. Calls should start connecting within a couple of minutes after you're online.
Step 4. iPhone: check FaceTime in Settings
Go to Settings, FaceTime and make sure the switch is on. After a block, the app sometimes flips back into the off state.
Which protocol to use
Video calls are sensitive to ping and stability. Among masking protocols, the best choices:
- Hysteria2, over QUIC, reconnects fast and handles packet loss
- XHTTP, masks as an API request
- VLESS + Reality, indistinguishable from normal HTTPS
Pick a server in Europe and the ping to Apple's servers stays minimal.
FAQ
Is FaceTime fully blocked? Yes, since December 2025. Video and audio calls don't connect without a workaround.
Will changing the region settings unblock it? No. The protocol is blocked at the network level, and changing the region in settings doesn't change how your phone reaches Apple's servers.
Can the person I'm calling see my IP through a VPN? No. The VPN replaces your address, so the other side only sees the VPN server's address.
Does FaceTime work on other devices if the VPN is only on my iPhone? FaceTime works on whichever device has the VPN on. To call from a Mac or iPad, turn the VPN on there too.