Face ID is an incredibly useful security feature available on newer iPhones and iPads. It allows you to securely unlock your device and authenticate app logins just by glancing at the screen. No fingerprints or passcodes required!
But what happens when, out of the blue, Face ID stops working properly?
It can be frustrating when you go to unlock your iPhone and instead of scanning your face successfully, you get an error message. Or Face ID takes much longer than usual to recognize you.
Don‘t worry – in most cases, Face ID issues can be fixed. In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll cover the 6 most common reasons why Face ID may stop working suddenly and provide troubleshooting tips to get it working properly again.
Overview of Face ID and Why It‘s Important
Before diving into troubleshooting, let‘s quickly go over what Face ID is and why it‘s an important security feature:
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Face ID uses advanced cameras and sensors to create and store a mathematical representation of your unique facial features.
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To unlock your device, Face ID matches a scan of your face against its stored data to confirm it‘s really you trying to gain access.
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Face ID is considered extremely secure because the chance of a false match is about 1 in 1 million compared to fingerprint sensors which have a 1 in 50,000 chance.
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With Face ID, you don‘t need to type in passcodes or scan fingerprints to unlock your device or authenticate. Just glance at the screen anytime biometric authentication is required by apps or device settings.
So in summary, Face ID provides both security and convenience. That‘s why so many iPhone and iPad users rely on it daily. When it suddenly stops working, it can be annoying and disrupt your normal workflow.
The good news? There are some common reasons why Face ID fails unexpectedly. Identifying the cause is the first step towards getting Face ID operational again on your device.
Reason 1: Pending Software Updates
One straightforward reason your Face ID could stop working properly is that you have an iOS update pending. Apple regularly pushes software updates with bug fixes and feature enhancements.
Sometimes updates include improvements or tweaks to the Face ID system itself. If Face ID begins malfunctioning, there‘s a chance you missed installing an update that could resolve problems.
To fix this:
- Open Settings app
- Tap General > Software Update
- Install any available updates and restart device
This will ensure your iPhone or iPad is running the latest iOS version with updates specifically for Face ID or other components that could impact it.
Reason 2: Dirty or Blocked Cameras
Another super common reason for Face ID to stop working – the TrueDepth camera lenses are obstructed physically in some way.
As we discussed earlier, Face ID relies on advanced cameras and sensors built into the front-facing notch area of newer iPhones and iPad models. The TrueDepth camera system includes:
- Infrared camera
- Flood illuminator
- Proximity sensor
- Ambient light sensor
- Dot projector
- Front camera
All these components work together for Face ID facial authentication to succeed. But if any of the lenses or sensors are blocked even partially, Face ID can fail.
Some examples of things that could obscure the cameras:
- Dirt, debris, or oil on camera lenses
- Thick phone case around notch area
- Cracked screen protector
- Stickers or skins covering any sensors
To fix this:
- Carefully clean all camera lenses/sensors with soft cloth
- Remove any obstructing case or skin
- Replace cracked screen protector
- Delete any lens-blocking app camera modes
Double check that all TrueDepth components are fully visible to properly capture your face. A simple cleaning or removing accessories should get Face ID working again in no time.
Cleaning any dirt or debris from the TrueDepth cameras can often resolve Face ID issues.
Reason 3: Device Needs Reboot
As with most electronic devices, occasionally restarting your iPhone or iPad can clear up funky issues like Face ID problems.
Rebooting your device essentially provides a "clean slate" for all components and systems to begin working properly again. It often irons out software glitches or memory leaks that build up over time.
To quickly reboot your iPhone or iPad:
- Hold down the Side/Power button
- When slider appears, slide it to power down
- Once device is fully shut off, hold Side button again to power back on
Once your Apple device has fully restarted, open Settings and try unlocking with Face ID. There‘s a good chance it starts functioning normally again.
Reason 4: Third-Party App Permission Issues
Many third-party apps utilize Face ID authentication once you enable permission. But issues can arise if permissions get accidentally revoked.
For example, say you initially granted your banking app access to Face ID to securely log in. However, if later on you adjust permissions or privacy settings, that could inadvertently remove Face ID access specifically for that app.
Now when trying to log into your bank via the app, Face ID will fail unexpectedly, and you’ll get locked out!
Or you may notice Face ID doesn‘t work only within certain apps, while it still successfully unlocks your actual device screen. This points to a third-party permission problem.
To troubleshoot app issues:
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode
- Scroll down and tap Other Apps
- Check that any apps needing Face ID have toggles ON
- Toggle OFF and back ON to reset permissions
Re-enabling Face ID access for particular apps should resolve any app-specific failures related to software permissions.
Be sure to check the app permissions page in your Face ID settings if you notice problems only within certain apps.
Reason 5: Face Partially Obscured
Alright, this one might seem obvious. But so many Face IDunlock failures occur simply because part of the user‘s face gets blocked!
As sophisticated as Apple‘s TrueDepth camera and facial recognition capabilities are…Face ID still needs to fully SEE your face to work properly.
So for example:
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Wearing sunglasses – Face ID sometimes works depending on lens type, but often fails with very dark lenses.
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Face mask covering mouth/nose – Masks completely block Face ID unless you set up alternate appearance.
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Hat brim pulled down low on forehead
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Holding phone flat on desk surface rather than angled upward
To fix obscured face issues:
- Remove any hats/glasses/masks
- Hold device directly in front of face with screen facing you
- Center eyes/nose within viewfinder so cameras capture fully
- Set up alternate Face ID appearance with mask ON if necessary
Basically, position yourself and your device to enable Face ID a clean and centered view of your face. Remove anything obstructing its view.
If wearing a face mask is unavoidable for you, take the extra step to set up Face ID while wearing a mask. This teaches Face ID to recognize you using only your eyes/forehead area visible above the mask.
Reason 6: Poor Device Positioning
One final common cause of Face ID failures directly relates to HOW you‘re holding your iPhone or iPad when trying to unlock. Face ID can be quite sensitive to positioning.
For example, angling your phone screen significantly off-center from your face makes scanning more difficult. Face ID also only works when device orientation is portrait mode.
Additionally, holding your tablet flat on a desk instead of upright towards your face may cause issues. The cameras need to view your face head-on with as little angle as possible.
To troubleshoot positioning problems:
- Hold device about 5-10 inches directly facing your nose and mouth
- Align eyes/nose inside on-screen circle
- Keep phone in portrait orientation not landscape
- Angle screen to directly face you, don‘t lay flat
- Sit up straight facing the camera don‘t lean over it from above
- Remain motionless during scan process
Getting the positioning right goes hand-in-hand with keeping your face fully visible. Cameras should capture eyes, nose, and mouth evenly without heavy angling.
Follow these best practices, and Face ID should start reliably recognizing you again during scans.
Hold your device about 6 inches away directly facing you for optimal Face ID scanning.
Troubleshooting: Advanced Face ID Tips
If you‘ve made it this far but Face ID still isn‘t working properly, don‘t give up! Here are a few more advanced troubleshooting tips to try:
Set Up Alternate Face ID Appearance
Over time, changes to your physical appearance could cause Face ID confusion. Growing a beard, getting different glasses, etc can prevent proper recognition suddenly.
To address this, set up an Alternate Appearance to essentially teach Face ID your new look:
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode
- Tap Set Up An Alternate Appearance
- Follow prompts guiding your face within on-screen circle
- Complete process to add second facial scan to your Face ID
Now try unlocking your device, and Face ID will reference BOTH original and alternate scans when matching your face.
Reset Face ID
If all else fails, resetting Face ID entirely may help resolve stubborn issues. This forces Face ID to re-learn and re-store your facial data from scratch:
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode
- Tap Reset Face ID
- Follow setup process to rescan your face
Assuming no hardware damage, this should get Face ID working good as new after reconstituting its facial recognition baseline.
Factory Reset Device
Finally, another last resort is fully factory resetting your iPhone or iPad:
- Backup device data externally
- Open Settings > General > Reset
- Choose Erase All Content and Settings
This essentially reverts your device to brand new condition software-wise. You‘ll have to reload apps and settings, but it can wipe out any corrupted Face ID data once and for all.
Conclusion
I hope this comprehensive Face ID troubleshooting guide covered the most likely culprits if you find Face ID suddenly not working on your iPhone or iPad. To summarize:
- Update to latest iOS software version
- Clean all TrueDepth camera lenses
- Reboot your device
- Double check app permissions
- Remove face obstructions
- Position phone correctly facing you
- Try setup alternate appearance
- Reset Face ID completely
- Factory reset device (if all else fails)
Following the step-by-step troubleshooting tips for each of the 6 common Face ID issues should help restore seamless facial recognition unlocking on your device.
Infographic summarizing key Face ID troubleshooting areas covered in this guide.
Your face is unique. So whenever Face ID stops recognizing its distinct contours, it can feel jarring. Hopefully by now though you feel empowered to get Face ID functioning reliably again in no time.
Let me know in the comments if any issues persist after trying the troubleshooting fixes! I‘m happy to provide personalized support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set up Face ID to work with my face mask on?
Yes! As of iOS 15.4, iPhone and iPad users can scan an alternate Face ID appearance wearing a proper face mask covering their nose and mouth. This will allow bypassing masks for facial authentication.
Why might I get asked for a passcode instead of Face ID sometimes?
If your passcode gets entered too many times incorrectly, Face ID gets disabled temporarily for security reasons. You‘ll need to use your device passcode to regain access until the timeout period passes.
Is Face ID the only way to unlock my iPhone now?
No, you can still set up standard passcode authentication as a fallback if you run into Face ID issues. Some people opt to only use passcodes for simplicity or personal preference too.
Can identical twins unlock each other‘s iPhones with Face ID?
Possibly yes! There have been rare reports of identical twins successfully duping Face ID and accessing their twin‘s device. But results can vary depending on specific differences in their facial structure or appearance over time.
Would placing a photo in front of Face ID cameras unlock my phone?
Definitely not 🙂 Face ID relies on advanced 3D facial modeling and an infrared camera rather than a basic camera photo for authentication. So it cannot be tricked by static photos or video.