iPhone Face ID Not Working: Fix Now

Apple started offering the Face ID instead of the usual Touch ID on the iPhones in 2017 with the iPhone X. It became an instant hit, a trendy feature amongst the iPhone users as it made unlocking their iPhones effortless.

Over the years, there have been significant advancements in the Face ID feature in terms of the unlock speed and reliability of the system. Yet, just as with any other innovation, you might encounter situations where you face the iPhone Face ID not working problem.

Many iPhone users have complained about this. More often than not, it is a petty issue and is mainly related to a software glitch. You can resolve this complication easily by following some straightforward steps. Here is a list of solutions to the iPhone Face ID not working issue.

Methods to fix the iPhone Face ID not working issue.

Here is a list of methods you can apply to fix the iPhone Face ID not working issue.

1. Make sure Face ID is enabled.

Sometimes the Face ID feature gets disabled. This might happen due to a software glitch, a system update, or you might turn it off unknowingly. You can check it by the following steps.

Navigate to the Settings menu.
Choose Face ID & Passcode. If asked, enter your passcode.
Check that FaceID is configured and turned on.

2. Ensure that the selfie camera is not blocked.

The TrueDepth camera sensor is placed towards the upper part of the front-facing side of the iPhone. If the iPhone is in a cover or has a protective case obstructing the lens, you must take it off for this function to work correctly. Look for any debris, filth, or other accumulation as well.

Verify whether the camera is in landscape orientation as well. If it is, ensure that your hand or finger is not in the way when you intend to utilize it. If this is the case, check for the “Camera Covered” indication at the upper portion of the display, with a sign pointing towards the TrueDepth camera.

3. Face the front-facing camera directly.

If the Face ID does not work, make sure you’re looking straight at the TrueDepth camera. Face ID works only if the lens is in portrait mode and the user is directly looking towards it.

Consider the TrueDepth camera to have the same field of vision as a FaceTime phone or shooting selfies. For this technique to operate, your iPhone must be around fifteen inches away from the face or roughly an arm’s distance away.

4. Restart your iPhone.

Rebooting your iPhone is the easiest and best remedy to any problem on the iPhone. Restarting your iPhone might solve a variety of issues. It is possible that your iPhone’s Face ID is not functioning because of a brief software glitch. If this is the case, restarting your iPhone should fix the problem.

5. Make sure that your face is not hidden.

Next, you need to make absolutely sure that your face is not hidden by anything. Hiding your face might prevent the TrueDepth camera from identifying you. The camera must be able to notice your facial features distinctly.

The Face ID function is amicable with a huge variety of eyeglasses, but not all of them. Suppose you are using sunglasses manufactured to block specific types of light, for instance.

In that case, they may be repelling the IR light utilized by the TrueDepth sensor. Consider removing your goggles to check if that helps.

6. Look for a software upgrade.

If rebooting your iPhone does not fix the iPhone Face ID not working problem, ensure your iPhone is running the most recent version of iOS. Here is how to update your iOS version.

Connect your iPhone to the internet and plug it into a charger.

Navigate to Settings and look for General. Here, there will be the Software Update option. You need to tap on it.

If there is a pending software upgrade, select Install Now.

Hit Install Tonight if you want to install the software upgrade overnight. Before going to bed, make sure your gadget is switched on and has an active internet connection.

7. Redo the Face ID configuration.

You can constantly reconfigure the Face ID by deleting the previously set face and scanning your face again. This can be quickly done by the following steps:

Move over to the Settings menu and choose Face ID & Passcode. If asked, provide your password.

Hit the Reset Face ID button.

Establish Face ID by tapping the Set Up Face ID button.

Hit Get Started while placing your smartphone in portrait mode.

To complete the circle, turn your face gently. If you can not turn your face, go to Accessibility Preferences.

Whenever the initial Face ID scan is finished, press Continue.

Gently turn your face to complete the circle once more.

When the Face ID setup is finished, press Done.

8. Factory reset your iPhone.

If every other step has failed, the last option for reactivating Face ID is a factory reset. Though that will most certainly take many hours, it may prevent you from purchasing a new iPhone, paying for expensive maintenance, or having to input your password till your next update.

Before you perform a hard reset, please make a note of your iCloud account, along with your iPhone passcode, as it will be required during the procedure. You must perform data backup to not miss all of your data.

Navigate to Settings, then open General. Look for the Reset option and open it. Here, you will find the Erase All Content and Settings option to begin resetting your iPhone to factory default.

Suppose you have not previously saved your iPhone’s data as we recommended. Your device will ask you to do so before wiping everything.

You need to pick Back Up Then Erase or Erase Now if you have previously backed up your iPhone. Finally, use your password to confirm your identity before selecting Erase iPhone.

9. Take your iPhone to an Apple Store.

If you have done everything and your Face ID is still not functioning, or if you see warnings like Face ID Is Not Accessible or Unable to enable Face ID on this iPhone, that is probably the ultimate death knell. These notifications indicate a hardware issue that causes the Face ID to misbehave.

In reality, the two most prevalent causes of Face ID failure are that your iPhone had fallen or the display was fixed by someone who broke the Face ID hardware in the procedure.

As a result, you will probably need to get it repaired or purchase a substitute iPhone.

Because the Face ID detectors are attached to the CPU for safety and must be configured by Apple, you should not have this service handled by any third-party repairers.

How to use Face ID with a mask?

In the present pandemic scenario, there are a few ways you may attempt to make utilizing Face ID with a face cover less difficult.

Face ID can be programmed to recognize you with a mask on in the same way that it can adapt and respond to natural variations in your appearance by configuring the iPhone’s biometric technology while “wearing” half of a face cover.

While repeating merely the first Face ID configuration will give you some sporadic success, putting up an Alternate Appearance in an analogous way will fetch you more regular outcomes. Here is the method to use Face ID with a mask.

Move over to the Settings menu and choose Face ID & Passcode.

Choose Reset Face ID.

Establish Face ID by tapping the Set Up Face ID button.

Fold the face cover in half and put it on any half of the face.

If you receive a Face Obstructed notification, gradually shift the face cover to the side of the face until you receive the Move your head slowly to complete the circle notification. To avoid a mistake, make sure you just conceal the point of your nose.

Perform two complete scans of your face, maintaining the mask on the same side of your face at all times.

When you notice that Face ID is enabled, try opening your iPhone with Face ID while wearing the mask over your face usually.

If the Face ID is not responding after the above steps, proceed ahead.

Navigate to Settings and then find Face ID & Passcode to configure an Alternate Appearance.

Establish the Alternate Appearance.

Cover your face with the face cover like before, only covering the other side of your face.

Repeat the two Face ID scans, but this time for the other side of your face.

When you are done, reapply your mask and attempt to open your iPhone anew.

Conclusion

Here concludes our list of solutions if you face the iPhone Face ID not working issue. I have included a wide variety of solutions, from easier ones like restarting your iPhone to more complex solutions like factory resetting your iPhone.

Mostly, petty issues such as this are because of a software bug that might have crept into your iPhone. Since iPhones have a durable build, there is unlikely an issue with the hardware. If it is a hardware-related issue, you can do nothing except take your iPhone to an Apple Care Center.

I have tried to design this guide in a very user-friendly manner. I hope you find this helpful and share this with the people around you who face the iPhone Face ID not working issue.

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