Face ID Not Working on iPhone? Fix Recognition, Setup, and “Not Available” Errors
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If Face ID is not working on your iPhone, first check whether iOS is intentionally asking for your passcode or whether Face ID is actually failing. A passcode prompt after a restart, after repeated failed Face ID attempts, or in other security-sensitive situations can be normal. If Face ID repeatedly fails to recognize you, says “Face ID is not available,” will not complete setup, or works for unlocking but not for purchases or apps, use the checks below in order.
First, identify which Face ID problem you have
Different Face ID symptoms point to different fixes. Use this quick diagnosis before resetting anything.
| What you see | What it usually means | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone asks for your passcode once | This can be a normal security requirement rather than a Face ID failure. | Enter the passcode, then test Face ID again. |
| Face ID keeps saying it does not recognize you | The TrueDepth camera may be blocked, your face may be partly obscured, or the angle/distance may be wrong. | Check the camera area, face visibility, orientation, and distance. |
| “Face ID is not available” or setup will not complete | A temporary software issue or a TrueDepth camera problem may be involved. | Update iOS, restart, then reset Face ID only if needed. |
| Face ID unlocks the iPhone but not an app or purchase | The relevant Face ID permission or feature may not be enabled. | Check Settings > Face ID & Passcode. |
| Face ID fails only with a mask or sunglasses | Mask mode has specific model, eye-visibility, glasses, and orientation requirements. | Check Face ID with a Mask settings and test without sunglasses. |
1. Make sure iOS is not requiring the passcode on purpose
Face ID does not replace your iPhone passcode. Apple intentionally requires the passcode in certain security situations even when Face ID is working correctly. Examples include after the iPhone has just been turned on or restarted, after five unsuccessful biometric matches, after a remote lock command, and after certain Emergency SOS or power-off button actions. Apple also applies time-based limits before biometric authentication can be used again.
If Face ID worked normally before the passcode prompt, enter your passcode once and try Face ID again. Do not reset Face ID just because iOS requested the passcode in one of these situations. Apple documents these security boundaries in its Platform Security guide.
2. Check the TrueDepth camera area
Face ID depends on the TrueDepth camera system at the front of the iPhone. Apple specifically recommends checking for anything that could cover it, including a smudge, case, or screen protector.
- Look closely at the top/front camera area for fingerprints or debris.
- If a case or screen protector overlaps the sensor area, temporarily remove it and test Face ID again.
- Do not insert tools into the sensor area or try to repair the TrueDepth hardware yourself.
Apple’s current Face ID troubleshooting guide also warns that improper repair or modification of the laser system can interfere with safety mechanisms. If Face ID setup remains unavailable after the software checks below, service is safer than a DIY TrueDepth repair.
3. Check whether your face, angle, or distance is the problem
By default, Face ID needs a clear view of your eyes, nose, and mouth. Apple says the TrueDepth camera works at roughly the same viewing range as a selfie or FaceTime call and recommends keeping the iPhone about 10–20 inches from your face.
Orientation also depends on the iPhone model. On iPhone 13 models and later running iOS 16 or later, Face ID can work in portrait or landscape orientation. On earlier Face ID iPhones, Apple says Face ID works only in portrait orientation.
If recognition is inconsistent, test once with the iPhone directly in front of you, within the recommended range, and with your full face visible. That simple test helps separate a positioning problem from a persistent setup or hardware problem.
4. If you wear a mask or sunglasses, check the special Face ID rules
Face ID with a Mask is available on iPhone 12 and later with iOS 15.4 or later. It relies on the area around your eyes, so your eyes must remain visible. Apple also says Face ID with a Mask does not work in landscape orientation.
If the problem happens only while you are masked:
- Open Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
- Confirm Face ID with a Mask is enabled if you intend to use it.
- Make sure the mask is not too high or too close to your eyes.
- If you wear regular glasses, you can use Add Glasses in the same Face ID settings.
- If you are wearing sunglasses, test without them. Apple says Face ID with a Mask is not designed to work with sunglasses.
See Apple’s current Face ID with a Mask instructions for the supported behavior.
5. Check the Face ID feature that is actually failing
If Face ID unlocks your iPhone but fails only for the App Store, Apple Pay, Password AutoFill, or a third-party app, the TrueDepth camera may be fine. The problem can instead be a Face ID setting for that specific use.
Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Apple says this is where you choose which features can use Face ID. For third-party app sign-in, tap Other Apps to review which apps are allowed to use Face ID. For saved usernames and passwords in Safari, check Password AutoFill. Apple’s Face ID setup and use guide documents these controls.
If the issue is limited to one third-party app, also open the app normally and sign in manually once. Apple notes that some Face ID-capable apps may require a manual sign-in before they offer Face ID.
6. Restart the iPhone, then enter your passcode
A restart is a low-risk next step if Face ID suddenly stopped working. Apple’s Face ID troubleshooting sequence specifically recommends restarting the device, entering the passcode, and then trying Face ID again.
If you need the button sequence for your model, use our iPhone restart and force-restart guide. After the iPhone starts again, the first unlock requires the passcode; that is expected behavior. Test Face ID on a later unlock.
7. Install the latest iOS update available to your iPhone
Apple recommends updating iOS when Face ID is not working. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest version offered for your iPhone after backing up important data and making sure the device has enough power and storage.
For the exact update steps and common update problems, see our iPhone software update guide.
Do not assume that every Face ID problem after an update was caused by the update itself. If the TrueDepth camera cannot complete a new Face ID setup after a restart and current software, move to the reset and service checks below.
8. Add an alternate appearance if your appearance varies significantly
Apple says Face ID normally learns as your appearance changes. If you have an appearance that can look substantially different, however, you can add an alternate appearance.
Open Settings > Face ID & Passcode and use the alternate appearance option if it is available. This is more appropriate for a recognition problem than repeatedly deleting and recreating Face ID.
9. Reset Face ID only after the easier checks
If Face ID still fails, Apple’s next troubleshooting step is to reset Face ID and enroll your face again:
- Open Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
- Tap Reset Face ID.
- Tap Set Up Face ID.
- Hold the iPhone in portrait orientation during setup and follow the two face-scan prompts.
Resetting Face ID means you must enroll your face again, so do this after checking obstruction, orientation, settings, restart, and software updates. A factory erase is not part of Apple’s standard Face ID troubleshooting sequence, and it is not a sensible first-line fix for this problem.
When “Face ID is not available” may need service
If the front camera or TrueDepth system is not working and you cannot complete Face ID setup, Apple says the iPhone may need service. This is especially important when the error remains after a restart, current iOS software, and a fresh Face ID setup attempt.
At that point, avoid opening the phone or attempting a TrueDepth camera repair yourself. Apple states that only a trained technician should service the device because improper repair, modification, or non-genuine components in the laser system can interfere with safety mechanisms.
What not to do first
- Do not factory-reset the iPhone just because Face ID failed. Apple’s normal Face ID troubleshooting path does not begin with erasing the device.
- Do not disable security settings simply to avoid a legitimate passcode prompt. A passcode request can be intentional.
- Do not assume landscape Face ID works on every model. Apple limits landscape support to iPhone 13 models and later with iOS 16 or later, and Face ID with a Mask remains portrait-only.
- Do not treat an app-only Face ID failure as a hardware failure. Check the Face ID permission for that use first.
Bottom line
For most Face ID problems, the safest order is: confirm the passcode prompt is not a normal security requirement, check the TrueDepth camera and face visibility, verify the relevant Face ID setting, restart, update iOS, and only then reset Face ID. If the iPhone still says Face ID is unavailable or cannot complete setup, Apple’s guidance points toward professional service rather than repeated resets or DIY TrueDepth repair.