My notes were locked with facial recognition. Woke up and now requires password. Help please! How on earth?

You’re not going to like this, but it’s just the facts.

Locked Notes have ALWAYS been encrypted w/ a password.

Your phone “remembered” the password and entered it for you when you used FaceID. (much the same way it enters your phone’s passcode for you)

However, something reset that part of your phone’s memory - possibly a camera fault as mentioned - and it no can longer can enter your notes password.

So … you need to re-enter it.

Until you can do so, the note will remain locked.

There is no bypass or workaround as there is no key saved anywhere which can be recovered.

The “good news” is that there’s no failed-attempt limit or lockout. So you can keep on trying possibilities w/o any risk.

So … there ya go. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

More detail:

Secure features in the Notes app – Apple Support (AU)

AussiePhilly wrote:

My notes were locked with facial recognition. Wake up to find them needing a password. How on earth could that happen?

So enter the passcode to get into the notes, if you don't know the passcode then you won't be able to access it. How to lock or unlock notes on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

You may have a hardware failure on your phone with the camera.