Since upgrading yesterday, FaceTime audio calls no longer pipe through audio from the person I'm calling. They can hear me, but I can't hear them. This is not a problem with my MacBook Air (early 2020). It's only an issue with my late 2014 Mac mini. Switching audio devices/rebooting doesn't fix the issue. VERY frustrating.
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12.1 Facetime Problems
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As I said in my prior post, "Switching audio devices/rebooting doesn't fix the issue." The settings aren't the issue. I even did a clean install of the entire system - which was overdue anyway - and basically have a stock installation. It still doesn't work and is clearly a software issue.
It would be useful if other Mac mini owners could test to see if they are having this issue as well.
Are you using different input and output devices? For example, internal microphone but AirPods as output. I’ve had an issue in the past where this combination would not work, not sure if it’s been fixed.
It doesn't work when the input/output is the same or when it's different. It worked before updating to 12.1.
MacMini M1 2020 with macos 12.0.1 user here,
I have a similar problem like OP. the only difference is if i switch my audio device to another one and switch back it's working fine then. after restarting facetime i have the same problem again.
i dont know if its a problem with macos 12.x or earlier.
is there a way to reinstall or reset facetime?
deleting the com.apple.FaceTime.plist didn't help and didn't reset anything ...
EDIT:
what i forgott: facetime is the only app with this problem. all other apps like discord, teams, zoom, skype work just fine!
I have a similar problem like OP. the only difference is if i switch my audio device to another one and switch back it's working fine then. after restarting facetime i have the same problem again.
i dont know if its a problem with macos 12.x or earlier.
is there a way to reinstall or reset facetime?
deleting the com.apple.FaceTime.plist didn't help and didn't reset anything ...
EDIT:
what i forgott: facetime is the only app with this problem. all other apps like discord, teams, zoom, skype work just fine!
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Yes, calls over Facebook, signal, and other apps work fine. This is a problem specific to FaceTime and, it seems, specific to Mac mini devices. I should note, though, that this issue -- the issue of receiving no audio regardless of which audio device is selected -- did NOT pop up until the 12.1 update two days ago.
For those having this issue, please report it to Apple by calling them and speaking to a "senior advisor," who will create a ticket.
I have a similar problem since the 12.1 update on a MacBook Pro (15", 2017). If I use the FaceTime app or if I transfer the audio from a phone call from my iPhone to my MBP, the audio is very crackly. I can't hear the other person, and the other person can't hear me. The video works fine, and there are no other connection issues. FaceTime on my iPhone works well.
Audio otherwise works well on my MBP. Playing music, watching YouTube, recording voice memos all are fine. It's just FaceTime that has this issue.
I just got off the phone with Apple Support, and it seems that this is a known issue that they are working on. My wife's MBP has not been updated to 12.1, and she had a long FaceTime conversation last night without issues.
Audio otherwise works well on my MBP. Playing music, watching YouTube, recording voice memos all are fine. It's just FaceTime that has this issue.
I just got off the phone with Apple Support, and it seems that this is a known issue that they are working on. My wife's MBP has not been updated to 12.1, and she had a long FaceTime conversation last night without issues.
I have an update on my FaceTime crackly audio issue. After trying a number of things, what resolved the issue was to backup my computer to Time Machine, erase the hard drive, reinstall macOS from scratch, and then restore my computer from the Time Machine backup. Restoring from Time Machine took the most time, about 8 hours for close to 2 TB of data, even when using a hardwired ethernet cable instead of wifi.
I'm not sure why this would resolve the issue, as I think restoring from a Time Machine backup would restore all the settings for apps. But I'm glad it did, because it's now a lot easier for my kids to talk to their grandparents.
I also gained back about 8 GB of storage, so that was a nice bonus.
One thing I've learned recently is that Apple Support is really pretty good. I was able to get on the phone or chat with Apple Support in a couple minutes, max. And although they are clearly following a script (reboot the computer, set up another user account, boot into Safe Mode, etc.), they do seem to take ownership of the issue. I've actually had to contact Apple Support a few times over the past month after not using it for quite a long time, and I've been very happy with the outcomes.
I'm not sure why this would resolve the issue, as I think restoring from a Time Machine backup would restore all the settings for apps. But I'm glad it did, because it's now a lot easier for my kids to talk to their grandparents.
I also gained back about 8 GB of storage, so that was a nice bonus.
One thing I've learned recently is that Apple Support is really pretty good. I was able to get on the phone or chat with Apple Support in a couple minutes, max. And although they are clearly following a script (reboot the computer, set up another user account, boot into Safe Mode, etc.), they do seem to take ownership of the issue. I've actually had to contact Apple Support a few times over the past month after not using it for quite a long time, and I've been very happy with the outcomes.
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This is a really extreme measure to fix a problem with FaceTime. I think I will continue to use Skype to stay in touch with parents until Apple might fix FaceTime in a future macOS update.
According to a user here, the 12.2 beta fixes the problem. I suppose we'll see when the update is released.
Both good points above, but given the choice between waiting for 12.2 to be released (I don't do betas) and trying to teach my parents how to use a new communication app, I thought letting a Time Machine restore run overnight was the best option. 
Also, I used to think that wiping the drive and restoring from a backup was an extreme measure. Now that I've had to do one, it's not as bad as I thought. It's certainly better than unlistenable audio in FaceTime.
But if you do this, definitely use a hardwired ethernet connection, rather than wifi.
Also, I used to think that wiping the drive and restoring from a backup was an extreme measure. Now that I've had to do one, it's not as bad as I thought. It's certainly better than unlistenable audio in FaceTime.
But if you do this, definitely use a hardwired ethernet connection, rather than wifi.
I have the same problem on macOS 12.1 and a 2014 Mac mini. I can't hear the audio from the other person on FaceTime. It worked fine on 12.0.1.
Camera is a Lenovo FHD webcam... although I don't know if the camera would matter because the problem is I can't hear audio from the person on the other end. They can hear my audio from this camera's mic just fine.
Camera is a Lenovo FHD webcam... although I don't know if the camera would matter because the problem is I can't hear audio from the person on the other end. They can hear my audio from this camera's mic just fine.
Good to hear. You have a native FaceTime camera though. I wonder if it will be fixed with those of us with third party devices (Mac mini owners, etc.).
The quality control from Apple the past few years has been abysmal. This is the equivalent of releasing a version of Safari that can't load web pages. Do they actually beta test their own software these days?
I can confirm this. Im on a M1 Mac mini running macOS Monterey 12.0.1 and the sound won't work in FaceTime. It works in everything else like Zoom and Microsoft Meeting but won't work in Facetime