If Touch ID is widely believed to be the gold standard of fingerprint scanner, Face ID is an ideal template for face unlock. While all are top-notch, Apple’s face unlock feature does run into problems every once in a while. Sometimes, authentication may fail for no apparent reason. Other times, it can throw a tantrum and it doesn’t define you. I have listed the best possible solutions to fix Face ID not working on iPhone as I find myself at the end of such issues in many cases. If you’re looking for a quick fix, give these a shot.
Tips to Fix Face ID Issues on iPhone/iPad Pro (March 2021)
There can be many reasons why Face ID is not working on your iPhone. For example, the problem can occur due to a random software glitch, a miscellaneous bug, or even your sunglasses or faulty screen protector. So, to fix Face ID problems on iOS, you will have to take a close look at various things.
It is worth mentioning that you can try these solutions to fix Face ID problems on your iPad Pro. So, regardless of whether you are having problems with your iPhone or iPad Pro, follow the tips below to fix Face ID not working issue.
1. Restart Your iPhone
Like I said, some of these solutions might sound silly, and this is probably the dumbest-sounding of them all. No matter what crazy glitch or issue you’re encountering, the first thing you should try is restarting your iPhone. On iPhone X or later, the process of turning off your phone has become a little different. Now you need Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons until you see the option to turn off your iPhone.
After your iPhone turns off, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears and wait for your phone to turn on. In over 50% of cases where your Face ID is not working, this simple method should fix the problem.
2. Check for Software Updates
Another thing to check if Face ID is not working on your iPhone/iPad Pro is the latest software update. Apple usually releases bug fixes via new software updates and you should update your iPhone as soon as the updates are released. To check if you have a software update, open the Settings app and Go to General -> Software Update and tap the “Download and Install” button if there is an update.
3. Keep Required Distance
If your Face ID is not working intermittently, there is a good chance you are not keeping your iPhone within the required distance. According to Apple’s guidelines, Keep your iPhone between 10 inches and 20 inches apart for Face ID to work flawlessly.. So keep this important thing in mind when unlocking your iPhone using Face ID.
4. Check Your Sunglasses
Also, you should be aware that Face ID may stop working when wearing certain types of sunglasses. sunglasses stopping infrared light from passing through will cause Face ID to fail As infrared light is part of the verification system. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell which sunglasses won’t work with Face ID, so you might want to check if it’s your sunglasses that are the problem.
5. Make Sure Your Face ID Sensors Are Not Off
One of the biggest reasons Face ID stops working on your iPhone/iPad Pro is because users unknowingly turn off their Face ID sensors. This can be the screen protector you use, screen replacement or sensors may be dirty and covered with dust. Therefore, if Face ID is not working, you should regularly clean the sensors and remove/reapply any screen protectors present on the device. We recommend using a screen protector with a precise cutout for the notch. If you’re looking to buy a new one, check out our handy guides to the best screen protectors for the iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max.
6. Set Alternate View
In iOS 12 or later, Apple allows users to set an alternate view. This is a great feature for people whose job requires them to wear a mask or cover part of their face. They can use this feature to set this particular skin as an alternative skin so that Face ID can identify them in any situation. To set an alternate view, Open the Settings app and go to Face ID & Passcode -> Set an Alternate Appearance and set it up.
7. Turn off the Attention Feature
By default, Face ID requires you to look at your iPhone to unlock the device. While this is a useful feature for extra security, turn this feature off if you experience too many unsuccessful unlock attempts. You can find this feature by going to Face ID & Passcode in the Settings app. Here you can scroll down to see the Require Attention for Face ID option and turn it off.
When you turn the toggle off, a popup appears on the screen saying: “If you turn this off, Face ID will unlock your iPhone even if your eyes are not clearly open and you are not looking at the screen.” Tap OK to confirm the action.
8. Reset Face ID
If none of the above solutions worked for you, the last thing you can do is reset and reinstall Face ID. Most of the time, it solves the bad functioning of Face ID. Therefore, I advise you to go for the reset. To do this, Open the Settings app, tap on Face ID & Passcode and then tap on “Reset Face ID” To re-register your face data
Fix Face ID Not Working With These Easy Fixes
As you can see, the solutions to the ‘Face ID Not Working’ problem are quite simple. In my experience Face ID works pretty reliably in most situations. These quick fixes usually come to my rescue when I run into any issues. So, I hope they try to fix Face ID on your iPhone as well.
If nothing fixes the problem, you should have your iPhone checked by an authorized service center at the earliest. If you have any doubts or any other useful tips to fix the problem, let us know in the comments section.