How To Fix My Face Id On Iphone Xr

Face ID is usually a breeze to use and prevents other people from getting into your phone. You can even use it to lock Google Drive, WhatsApp, or other third-party apps. So it can be concerning if Face ID is not working on your iPhone.

Luckily, you can fix it with several different solutions. Let's take a look at what you can do to troubleshoot the issue.

However, before we move on, please note that you may need to enter your passcode or Apple ID instead of using Face ID if:

You have just turned on or restarted your device
Your device has been locked for more than 48 hours
You have not used your passcode to unlock the device in the last 6.5 days and Face ID has not been used to unlock the device in the last 4 hours
Your device has been remotely locked
You have already had five unsuccessful attempts to unlock with Face ID
You initiated power off/Emergency SOS by pressing and holding the side button and either of the volume buttons together for 2 seconds

If none of the above are true and Face ID still isn't working, keep reading for some reliable solutions.

iPhone models that support Face ID

iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 mini
iPhone 12
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11
iPhone XS Max
iPhone XS
iPhone XR
iPhone X

How to fix Face ID not working on iPhone

Is anything covering the front camera?
Make sure your face is unobstructed
Turn Face ID off/on
Reset Face ID
Force restart your iPhone
Reset all settings on iPhone
Update to the latest iOS version

Is anything covering the front camera?

Sure, it sounds like a pretty small thing, but it's worth checking that nothing is covering the TrueDepth front camera on your iPhone. Make sure the screen protector or the case that you're using isn't blocking the lens. Also, ensure that the area around the front camera is clean as dirt or residue might be preventing it from working properly.

Further, remember that Face ID only works on iPhone in portrait orientation and not in landscape. So hold your phone upright. Also, keep your device about 10-20 inches from your face since Face ID has a similar range of view as when you make a video call or snap a selfie on your device.

Make sure your face is unobstructed

If Face ID is not working on your iPhone, make sure that nothing is covering your face. Keep your mouth, eyes, and nose fully visible to the front camera on your device. You can also set up an alternative appearance to use Face ID when wearing a mask.

Further, even though the face recognition technology works with a variety of sunglasses, it might not support those that block certain types of light. If you are wearing any such sunglasses, they might be blocking the infrared light used by the TrueDepth camera.

Turn Face ID off/on

Open Settings on your iPhone → Tap Face ID & Passcode → Enter your iPhone Passcode.
Under Use Face ID FOR section, turn off the switch next to each option.
If you use Face ID with third-party apps, tap Other Apps → then turn off the switch next to each app.

Now, turn off your device. Next, head over to Settings → Face ID & Passcode and then turn on the switch next to each option. Also, tap Other Apps and then turn on the switch for each app.

Now, try using Face ID again—It should work now. If it doesn't, move on to the next solution.

Reset Face ID on iPhone

Launch Settings → Tap Face ID & Passcode → Reset Face ID. This will wipe out all the existing mathematical representations of your face so you can reset them.

Follow the instructions on-screen to re-register your face on your iPhone. Once done, lock your phone and see if Face ID works.

Force restart your iPhone

This is also known as a 'hard reset' and can help fix your iPhone Face ID issues. Check out our guide for full instructions on force restarting your device.

Reset all settings on iPhone

If none of the above steps worked, you can try to reset all settings on your iPhone. This will wipe out all the existing settings including Wi-Fi passwords and website login details, but your media (photos, videos, etc.) and contacts will be unaffected.

Open Settings → General → Reset.
Now, tap Reset All Settings and then enter your iPhone Passcode if you have set one and press Confirm.

Update to the latest iOS version

Now is the time to check for a software update. Needless to say that it's become the biggest troubleshooter in recent times. Moreover, Apple keeps refining iOS, improving performance, and eliminating the bugs that keep popping up now and again. So, it deserves a shot as well.

Open Settings → General → Software Update → Download and install the latest iOS version as usual.

Tap on Settings then General then Software Update on iPhone

So, now you know how to fix the Face ID feature not working on your iPhone. Let us know in the comments below which solution worked for you. If you have any further questions, we'll do our best to answer them!

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Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com who has a keen eye for news, rumors and all the unusual stuff that happens around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting contents on social media.

Author

Marcus is a freelance tech writer/editor with a focus on succinctly explaining consumer devices and their software. His previous work has been published on MakeUseOf where he covered everything from iOS to Git and UI design.