If Face ID doesn’t work correctly on your device or stops working correctly, you won’t be able to unlock your iPhone, authorize Apple Pay transactions, autofill passwords, approve downloads, or sign in to apps with a glance at your device.
If you can’t set up face recognition or the face recognition function stops working for no apparent reason, becomes unavailable, no longer recognizes your face, or asks you to enter the passcode instead, Today I bring you an article with some tips and possible solutions that can help you.
These solutions apply to all Apple devices equipped with a TrueDepth camera systemincluding from iPhone X to iPhone 14 and compatible models of iPad Pro.
When will Face ID not work natively?
Before going directly to the possible facial recognition solutions, there are situations in which facial recognition will stop working temporarily, let’s see what they are:
After five failed facial scans.
You just turned on or restarted the device.
The device not unlocked in more than 48 hours.
You have initiated shutdown or SOS emergency display.
The device was put into Lost mode through the Find My app.
It has been more than four hours since you last used facial recognition to unlock the device and your passcode more than 156 hours (six and a half days).
Check Face ID settings
First of all we are going to see if the facial recognition has been configured correctly, to do this follow the following steps:
First open the app Setting.
Scroll down and tap Face ID and passcode.
If you see the option Reset Face ID, face recognition is already set up on this device. Otherwise, select set it up and follow the instructions.
With facial recognition configured, activate its possible functions, such as unlocking the iPhone, using it in the App Store, using it to pay…
Allow Face ID in third-party apps
Your favorite third-party applications for banking, payments, instant messaging, etc., could use facial recognition for login authentication. However, if you’ve denied an app permission to use Face ID in the past, you’ll be prompted to enter your device’s passcode each time.
If you want to activate facial recognition for a compatible third-party application, follow the steps below:
First you need to open the app Setting.
Scroll down and tap Face ID and passcode.
At the bottom tap Other apps.
Make sure the switch for the app in question, such as WhatsApp, is set to ON. Alternatively, tap the desired app in the Settings app root list (such as Settings > WhatsApp) and check if facial recognition has been turned on.
Cleaning the TrueDepth camera sensor
Over time, the TrueDepth camera lens may become dirty or oily. Use a soft, dry cloth to wipe down the sensor array on top so nothing darkens it. Some rugged cases and thick screen protectors may slightly cover the sensors, so consider removing them.
Avoid blocking your face
For Face ID to work smoothly, the TrueDepth camera needs a clear view of the eyes, nose, and mouth, so avoid obscuring this area with a headscarf or similar clothing. If you’ve set up Face ID with a mask, make sure your eyes aren’t blocked when you use the feature.
“You may have to hold your iPhone higher if you’re wearing a mask,” Apple notes.
If your iPhone or iPad doesn’t support Face ID with a mask feature, be prepared to enter a passcode in places where masks are required. Fortunately, Apple Watch owners can unlock an iPhone with their Apple Watch while wearing a skin.
Try using Face ID without sunglasses
Face ID uses infrared light invisible to the human eye. Apple designed the feature to work with hats, scarves, glasses, contact lenses, and many sunglasses.
Unfortunately, most sunglasses and polarized lenses interfere with infrared light. If your device doesn’t unlock with Face ID while you’re wearing a pair of shades, remove them and try again.
Hold your iPhone correctly
To use Face ID correctly, hold your iPhone or iPad at a comfortable distance, not too far or close to your face. Face ID works best at arm’s length or closer (10-20 inches or 25-50 centimeters). If you cover or obstruct the Face ID sensors with something like your finger, you’ll see a “Camera Covered” message with an arrow pointing to the TrueDepth camera.
Face ID works in both portrait and landscape, but only iPhone 13 or later with iOS 16 or later supports Landscape Face ID. As for Face ID with a mask feature, it only works in portrait mode on iPhone 12 and later with iOS 15.4 and later, according to Apple’s website.
Restart your iPhone or iPad
A reset is the most basic solution to any problem. It involves two steps. First of all, turn off your iPhone in Settings > General > Shut down. And secondly, wait for about a minute before turning the device back on.
The Face ID components that stopped working should now work just fine. But for security reasons, you need to enter your passcode to turn Face ID back on after a reset.
Update iOS to the latest version
Apple regularly updates iOS and iPadOS to fix bugs, fix vulnerabilities, and improve its software. If Face ID isn’t working, the problem may lie at a deeper software level. In that case, update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Configure an alternate appearance
Setting up an additional Face ID appearance can help the facial recognition feature work better, especially if you wear glasses or have rapidly growing facial hair.
If you don’t want to, follow these steps to set up an alternate Face ID look:
First open Settings on your iPhone or iPad Pro.
Choose Face ID and passcode from the root list.
Choose the Set up an alternate appearance option, and then follow the onscreen prompts.
Face ID continually learns and updates its mathematical representation of your face as your appearance changes and evolves. But if you suddenly look very different (say, after shaving off a full beard), setting up an alternate appearance will ensure that Face ID still recognizes you.
Reset Face ID and set it up again
When Face ID isn’t working or available, resetting the feature might help. Doing so will delete your saved faces and you’ll have to set up Face ID again from scratch.
Here’s how to reset Face ID on your iPhone again, follow the steps below:
First open the Settings app on your device.
Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode.
Tap the Reset Face ID option.
Choose Set Up Face ID to set it up again.
Reset device settings
Resetting all settings might fix Face ID, but it will also revert your home screen layout, keyboard dictionary, network preferences, and other settings to factory defaults. Installed apps and personal data such as photos, videos, music, and individual files will not be removed.
To reset your iPhone or iPad, venture into Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset, then tap the Reset all settings option. You will have to enter your access code to confirm the action. After the reset is complete, set up Face ID again and see if it works.
Erase and factory reset your iPhone
If none of the above solutions help, consider factory resetting your iPhone or iPad. This will erase everything including apps, photos, settings, and all other data on the device. So, make a backup of your iPhone or iPad first, just in case. Once the reset is complete, you can set up your device as new or restore your iPhone from a backup saved in iCloud or on your computer.
Make sure Apple carries out your repairs
Have you recently replaced the screen of your iPhone? Or did you get it repaired for some hardware problem at an unauthorized service center? Face ID may only work after it’s been fixed at an Apple Store or authorized repair shop.
That’s because official repairs need to authenticate the new Face ID sensor with Apple’s servers. Using non-genuine Face ID parts may prevent the feature from working properly.
Contact Apple Support
If you recently dropped your iPhone and damaged the TrueDepth camera, Face ID may be stuck on the setup screen, unavailable, or not working at all. Face ID could also kick in if your iPhone was submerged in water or spent underwater for a long time.
Therefore, contact Apple Support to schedule a store visit in any of those cases.
If your Face ID issue is not hardware related, the tips above should help you fix it. Once Face ID starts working again, your iPhone experience will be much more convenient.
Face ID, as you probably know, is very secure and offers a seamless unlocking experience. And if you follow some reasonable measures, you can make it even safer and more useful.
