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David Shanahan Author

Level 4

1,004 points

Face ID Failing After Installing iOS 16.3.1

About 36 hrs after upgrading my iPhone 11 to iOS 16.3.1 Face ID stopped working. Until then Face ID had always worked flawlessly. It refused to unlock the phone and forced me to enter the passcode to unlock it. I tried cleaning the notch, retrying unlock, nothing helped. After several failed unlock attempts I got a message saying "Face ID unavailable, try again later".

Eventually I tried resetting Face ID and tried to set it up again, but during the face scan process I got the Face ID not available, try again later message. I then tried restarting the phone and went back into Face ID setup and it failed again, but on the second or third attempt it suddenly worked and I could complete the Face ID setup process. From then on Face ID was working again. For about 24 hrs. Then it just stopped working again (this time I didn't get the unavailable, try again later message, it just wouldn't unlock).

This time I powered the iPhone off and on again and it still failed to unlock without the passcode a few times, but then suddenly started working again for no obvious reason.

I guess it could be an intermittent h/w issue, but I'm suspicious that iOS 16.3.1 may be causing the problem, has anyone else encountered issues with Face ID after updating to 16.3.1?

I'm also curious about the meaning of the message "Face ID unavailable, try again later" and what sort of issue(s) would trigger that? What sort of problem would cause Face ID to fail temporarily and waiting a while might resolve? Temperature or something?

iPhone 11

Posted on Feb 16, 2023 2:48 AM

Top-ranking reply

magnum273

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Feb 23, 2023 3:48 AM

I have 2 iPhones 11 pro max and Face ID stopped working on both of them now. I tried all the solutions with no success . I am certain that the latest iOS update 16.3.1 is the cause .

I also have a few friends with the same phones that just mentioned to me that they have the same issue .

I hope a new update is released soon to fix this important issue

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90 replies

Alancito

Level 7

28,295 points

Apr 27, 2023 12:34 AM in response to Jazza1811

Jazza1811 wrote: "iPhone X Face ID worked without fail for over 5 years..."

Jazza ~ Does your iPhone X still have its original 5 year-old battery?

And what's the Maximum Capacity % here?...

Settings > Battery > Battery Health & Charging

õ¿õ¬

Apr 27, 2023 2:08 PM in response to Alancito

I updated with a power cable connected. The update was seemless and complete. The true depth camera functionality has nothing to do with power or battery status. Please research the growing number of users who have all experienced the same issue with Face ID after the latest software update … nice try though.

Nelson28

Level 1

0 points

Apr 28, 2023 7:29 AM in response to Jazza1811

This is surpricing to me, how discussion of FaceID problems is constantly directed elsewhere. For me problems started IMMEDIATELY after 16.3.1 update. The 16.4.1 improved situation a bit, but problem is still there. So to me this shows as a software problem, maybe it is hard to admit at Apple that this update makes lots of certain iPhones FaceID unusable. Maybe the new software does is not compatible with some of the hardware… Discussions about battery capacities sounds ridiculous at this point.

May 22, 2023 8:25 AM in response to David Shanahan

Almost the exact issue. Within a few hours if installing iOS 16.3.1 on my iPhone 13 Pro Max, FaceID just quit working. It had worked flawlessly up until that upgrade. I tried every kind of reset, and one time it randomly managed to register my face while setting up a new FaceID but stopped working again almost immediately. This surely feels like something to do with the OS upgrade. Frustrated - this is key feature for me and how I use my phone.

Mihir

Hilly1

Level 1

12 points

Jun 8, 2023 4:45 PM in response to David Shanahan

Had exactly the same issue. Face ID just stopped working. After iOS 16.5 update overnight last night, Face ID is working perfectly again. Little doubt in my mind that it was a problem with previous iOS update. Am I justified in wondering how many people needlessly had their phones repaired by Apple to fix a Face ID problem that Apple caused themselves?

Dec 27, 2023 5:32 PM in response to magnum273

Apple “badgered” me into setting up Face Recognition. After I did so, my phone Pass Code disappeared. Now, anyone who can “swipe” has access to my phone and my personal data!! I have attempted to reset the pass code - to no avail. I can’t even GET RID of the face recognition module.

Suzysurf

Level 1

8 points

Dec 28, 2023 6:48 AM in response to David Shanahan

I believe that's the case sum. But I also believe that one of the updates did indeed cause a problem. When I first did the update, my Face ID stopped working. It started working with the next update, and then stopped again. iPhone 12 Pro.

it also happened on my daughters iPhones'.

I don't think the country has a whole batch of bad bad sensors. I don't know. I have to use my phone using a passcode. Sucks.