Face ID means identification by your face, in other words unlocking your Apple device with a scan of your face. From the iPhone X onwards, this feature replaced fingerprint unlocking on Apple's phones. And it's much more convenient, because it happens automatically and there's no need to place your finger on a sensor or tap in a PIN.
What should you do if Face ID suddenly stops working, or doesn't work as reliably and quickly as it used to? A simple fix usually helps.
Fixing Face ID yourself
Step 1: Restart
Yes, turning it off and on again always works, on every device. Do try it as your very first option.
- Turn the phone off in the usual way – that is, by pressing the side (power) button and either volume button at the same time.
- The screen will then offer you the option to power the device off.
- Turn it back on after about 30 seconds with a long press of the power button on the side of the phone.
Step 2: Check your settings
This option is mainly useful if you're using Face ID for the very first time, because unlocking with Face ID has to be enabled. But try refreshing the setting too if the restart didn't work.
- Open Settings
- Tap Face ID & Passcode
- Choose “Enable Face ID” if you don't have this option turned on as the way of unlocking your phone
- If the feature is enabled, try turning it off and back on again
Step 3: Update
Another of the universal fixes. It may be a temporary problem that a new update puts right. So whenever you have a problem of any kind, always make sure your device is updated to the latest version of the system.
- Open Settings
- Tap General
- Tap Software Update
- If an update is available, install it
Step 4: Reset Face ID
A reset lets you set Face ID up all over again.
- Open Settings
- Tap Face ID & Passcode
- Tap Reset Face ID
- Then set Face ID up again following the steps above
After the reset, it's a good idea to restart the whole device as well.
Nothing works?
If none of the previous steps has worked, another option is to reset all settings or even the whole device. That is a fairly drastic step, though, which restores the device to its factory settings. In that case we strongly recommend first backing up your data by following our guide. It's better, though, to start with a consultation with a specialist. They'll assess whether a reset will help or whether a repair is needed.
Is your Face ID not working? Come and see us! We specialise in Apple products.
✆ 607 855 558
✉ info@appleguru.cz
Seifertova 683/83, Prague 3 - Žižkov
Professional Face ID repair – price
How much will a Face ID repair cost you? Here at appleguru.cz we most often repair Face ID on iPhone X and 11 series models:
iPhone X / XR / XS / XS Max - 3,690 Kč
iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max - 4,890 Kč
For the current list of models we repair Face ID on and for current prices, please ask our technicians.
Apple Face ID is an advanced technology that offers the user convenience and, at the same time, a high level of device security. That's an important feature for owners, especially if they often use the device to manage their finances and sensitive data.
Our Apple device specialists can repair Face ID after almost any accident. We're among the few in the Czech Republic who can deal with the delicate Face ID even after the device has suffered physical damage, for example after the phone has been dropped or has got wet. Water damage is in fact the most common cause of Face ID not working properly. Owners of higher-end iPhones often assume that the iPhone is waterproof, which unfortunately isn't entirely true, as you can read in our article How water-resistant is the iPhone, really?.
