Face ID not working for Apple Arcade activation

My Face ID does not work to activate my Apple Arcade subscription


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 12, iOS 15

Posted on Mar 26, 2022 3:38 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 27, 2022 8:50 AM

Hi bsled,


Thanks for coming to Apple Support Communities for help today.


If Face ID is working elsewhere correctly, it may just not be switched on for App Store purchases. Please see: Use Face ID on your iPhone or iPad Pro.


"To use Face ID to purchase content from the iTunes Store, App Store, and Book Store, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and make sure that iTunes & App Store is turned on. Then follow these steps:


  1. Open the iTunes Store, App Store, or Book Store, then tap something that you want to buy.
  2. When asked to pay, double-click the side button, then glance at your iPhone or iPad. If you're wearing a face mask that covers your mouth and nose but Face ID with a mask isn't set up, tap Pay with Passcode and enter your passcode instead.
  3. Wait for Done and a checkmark to display


You might be asked to enter your Apple ID password for the first purchase you make in the iTunes Store, App Store, or Book Store."


Have a fantastic day!

399 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 27, 2022 8:50 AM in response to bsled

Hi bsled,


Thanks for coming to Apple Support Communities for help today.


If Face ID is working elsewhere correctly, it may just not be switched on for App Store purchases. Please see: Use Face ID on your iPhone or iPad Pro.


"To use Face ID to purchase content from the iTunes Store, App Store, and Book Store, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and make sure that iTunes & App Store is turned on. Then follow these steps:


  1. Open the iTunes Store, App Store, or Book Store, then tap something that you want to buy.
  2. When asked to pay, double-click the side button, then glance at your iPhone or iPad. If you're wearing a face mask that covers your mouth and nose but Face ID with a mask isn't set up, tap Pay with Passcode and enter your passcode instead.
  3. Wait for Done and a checkmark to display


You might be asked to enter your Apple ID password for the first purchase you make in the iTunes Store, App Store, or Book Store."


Have a fantastic day!

Jun 27, 2022 2:42 PM in response to bsled

I had the same exact issue. However, I did not try this trick and still received the password prompt. What is happening is we are leaving the faceid prompt running while taking the time to look at this thread and then respond. It just so happens that, in that time, the faceid request times out and asks for your password. This is what happened to me. I kept trying with no change in results. So, on the final try, I just left it running out of annoyance and started searching for a solution on my PC (another reason I think the "reply to the thread" solution is just a coincidence). After finding this thread, I decided to give it a try, so I unlocked my iPhone and, what do you know, the request had already timed out and prompted me for the password.


So, in the end, I think for everyone with this issue, just let the faceid request run until it times out and prompts for the password.


Hope this helps.

Jul 20, 2022 8:21 AM in response to bsled

** FIX **


So I had this issue as well and commenting in this forum as others suggested was not a solution. However, temporarily turning off Face ID in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > iTunes & App Store, forced the App Store log in to use my passcode which helped circumvent the problematic Face ID feature which simply doesn't work in this case. Hope this helps others get around this persistent issue.

Jul 24, 2022 8:12 AM in response to NJAZ3

Just want to follow up. Commenting on this thread does not fix the issue.


Tried signing up on my partner’s phone with out commenting and here’s how it worked:

Once you see the blinking Face ID then you swipe up from the bottom to get the screen where you can swipe through your open apps. The Arcade app will then go to let you enter your password and you can complete the sign up.


hope this helps.


Aug 4, 2022 2:11 AM in response to bsled

Here's what I did to fix my issue. Note: I was receiving regular text messages, no incoming calls, and no text message from Apple Arcade for verification.


  1. I was stuck on the Face ID so I went into Settings > Face ID & Passcode and turned off "ITunes & App Store" I went back into the App Store and it prompted me to input my apple id password instead of Face ID.
  2. Turn ITunes & App Store back on in Settings > Face ID & Passcode
  3. Go into Settings > Messages and make sure there's not a warning that your phone number is not associated with this device. If you see that, choose to remove it. Then tap your phone number again and it will take a few seconds to register with your device again.


Once I did that, I started getting incoming calls, and when I chose to "resend the code" from the arcade, it came through no problem, and everything is working fine now.

Aug 6, 2022 5:22 PM in response to chefguy76

I had to go into Settings > Face ID & Passcode and turn off iTunes & App Store.


Then go into Settings > Messages and see if there is a warning that your phone number is not associated with the device. If so, remove it and then tap on your phone again to register it with your device.


Go into Arcade and you’ll be prompted for your password instead of Face ID. Once Arcade is activated you can go back into settings and turn on iTunes & App Store again. Let me know if that works.

Aug 6, 2022 5:26 PM in response to Rd5x

I had to go into Settings > Face ID & Passcode and turn off iTunes & App Store.


Then go into Settings > Messages and see if there is a warning that your phone number is not associated with the device. If so, remove it and then tap on your phone again to register it with your device.


Go into Arcade and you’ll be prompted for your password instead of Face ID. Once Arcade is activated you can go back into settings and turn on iTunes & App Store again. Let me know if that works.

Aug 20, 2022 5:02 AM in response to bsled

Found the solution. So go to settings, go to Face ID & Passcode and turn off Face ID for iTunes and App Store. Just remember you have to know your Apple ID password otherwise you’ll be in a worst position than before.


Once I typed in my Apple ID it worked, then I simply went back and turned Face ID back on.


Hope this helps you!

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Face ID not working for Apple Arcade activation

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