@APPLE - THIS IS NOT A HARDWARE ISSUE!!! - This is 100% software related.
Face ID is working and opening all secured applications on my phone that require Face ID or Passcode, when Face ID is disabled in settings
Back story - Sorry for the long read
(iPhone user since Gen 1)
I have had the Face ID issue going on with my 13 pro since the initial ios 17 release. It would say "move your face closer" or "move your face further away" and it would move in and out of focus never recognizing my face. The setup would finally work after several attempts, only to find out it wasn't working when I attempt to unlock my phone or it would work one time and then stop.
I reached to apple for assistance and was told it was hardware issue. This is after various attempts at resetting face-id, factory resetting the phone, wasting countless hours searching forums and going to the "genius" bar only to be told its a bad sensor and it needs to be repaired for around $300.
I said "F that, I can just use the pass code until this phone dies 100%".
Well, to my surprise, after the 17.5.1 update my face ID was suddenly working again, but Face ID was shut off in settings! I thought, well this is odd! I got busy with work but continued using Face ID for the past few weeks to open secured applications and it was working flawlessly.
Today, I finally had some time to go mess with my settings to set up Face ID. I went through the steps, set up my face for glasses, mask, whatever and guess what? Face ID is not opening applications when its enabled.
I shut face ID off again, and it opens my secured apps. I tested to make sure it wasn't just opening randomly by using a coffee cup for the face, my dogs face for the face, my daughter and my wifes faces as well. None of them open the applications, just my face does.
So, if it is a hardware issue, why was it working flawlessly to open apps after the 17.5.1 push when its disabled but not unlocking the phone? Why is it NOT working when Face ID is enabled, and fails to open applications? To me that is NOT intermittent. I can repeat this over and over. Settings are software related, not hardware related.
[Edited by Moderator]