Face ID suddenly stopped unlocking my password protected Notes on my iPhone

Question

Level 1

9 points

Face ID suddenly stopped unlocking my password protected Notes on my iPhone

Face ID suddenly stopped unlocking my password protected Notes and are now promoting me to write the password itself (which I do not remember anymore as I enabled Face ID instead).

I checked and Face ID is enabled in Settings both under Face ID & Passwords > Other Apps, and under Notes itself.

I have also tried to reset the password for Notes, under Settings > Notes, but it doesn't seem to do the trick either as the new password is not accepted for the old password protected note.

Please help me find out how to get Face ID activated again for my password protected notes as well as how to change the password for the old password protected note.

My iPhone is running software version 14.2 (18892) and I think the issue started after the latest update.

Thank you for your help.

Kind regards, Casper

iPhone XS Max

Posted on Dec 13, 2020 10:00 AM

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Answer 1

Chris0107

Level 9

52,001 points

Dec 13, 2020 10:07 AM in response to DKTribler

Face ID unlocking your notes is a convenience, it does not replace your password. Similar to using Face ID to unlock your phone, you cannot forget your iPhone passcode.

Certain events, such as resetting Face ID would be a cause for you to have to re-enter your Notes password

If you cannot remember the password, you will not be able to unlock your note(s).

When you set up your password, there was a prompt for a password hint. If you guess incorrectly a couple of time, I believe you'd see this password hint (assuming you set one up)

How to lock notes on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

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Answer 2

DKTribler Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 13, 2020 10:27 AM in response to Chris0107

Hi Chris0107. Thank you for your reply.

I have not done any changes to the phone (I have not reset the Face ID for example) or any other changes. And Notes are setup to use Face ID, and suddenly it stopped working (even though that the settings is still set to use Face ID to unlock notes).

How can I get this issue fixed?

I understand your comment about the password and Face ID. I just think we should be able to trust that the Face ID feature is reliable and works when we set it up.

Thank you.

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Answer 3

Chris0107

Level 9

52,001 points

Dec 13, 2020 10:32 AM in response to DKTribler

If it's prompting you to enter a password, I do not think there is any other 'fix' than entering the correct password.

What you're stating is that you expect to be able to turn on Face ID and forget your password. This will never happen.

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Answer 4

DKTribler Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 13, 2020 10:51 AM in response to Chris0107

Hi Chris0107.

Actually, I do not want to turn on Face ID; I actually cannot turn it on, as it is already turned on and has always been turned on since I got the phone. And suddenly today when I wanted to access the Note it stopped working without I did anything.

So all I want is for the Face ID to work on the Note again and as it has always done until today. I hope someone can help me fix this issue.

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Answer 5

DKTribler Author

Level 1

9 points

Dec 18, 2020 10:02 PM in response to Kingstats

Hi Kingstat,

Thanking for joining this conversation. Sorry to hear you had the same issue as me where the Face ID suddenly stops working and you are blocked out from your password protected notes.

Did you manage to find any solution for the issue?

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