Face ID not working on iPhone after iOS 18 update

Updated iPhone 11 to latest IOS update 18 and Face ID not working.

turned off and on tried to reset face id but it won’t let me do a new id.

video and camera is working so don’t think it’s a camera issue


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Posted on Sep 21, 2024 1:44 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 10, 2024 8:39 AM

Copy&paste from someone else

(thanks really much - worked on my 13 pro max)


Turns out, the problem was with content restrictions. I had content and privacy restrictions enabled, which were blocking Face ID from working properly. Here's how I fixed it:


  1. Go to Settings > Screen Time.
  2. Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  3. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted.
  4. Tap on Passcode Changes and set it to Allow.
  5. After turning off the restriction, Face ID started working again. So, before diving into software or hardware fixes, l'd recommend checking your this settings first.
248 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Oct 10, 2024 8:39 AM in response to SevTonks

Copy&paste from someone else

(thanks really much - worked on my 13 pro max)


Turns out, the problem was with content restrictions. I had content and privacy restrictions enabled, which were blocking Face ID from working properly. Here's how I fixed it:


  1. Go to Settings > Screen Time.
  2. Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  3. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted.
  4. Tap on Passcode Changes and set it to Allow.
  5. After turning off the restriction, Face ID started working again. So, before diving into software or hardware fixes, l'd recommend checking your this settings first.

Oct 30, 2024 8:52 AM in response to SevTonks

Same problem with with Face ID not working after updating to iOS 18.1 last night. After fiddling with the settings. Finally this worked:


*****I turned off Require Attention for Face ID and turned off Attention Aware Features. Retried Face ID and it worked!


I then turned both features back on. Face ID still working 👍

Dec 13, 2024 9:18 AM in response to SevTonks

My faceID stopped working intermittently after upgrade to 18.1.1

I tried to re-set it and then I lost it completely. I tried everything that’s been posted previously on this conversation to no avail. After 5 days I thought I’d try to set it again and it worked after I did the following…

Settings >Face ID & Passcodes>Re-set Face ID. I started it with the phone held in landscape, allowed it to focus on my face for about 30secs (it kept focusing and unfocusing) , then rotated the phone slowly into portrait, then it started to go in to the set-up!

Hope that useful for someone!

Jan 9, 2025 6:18 PM in response to SevTonks

Ok, so after doing the remote diagnostic with Apple online support I went to the Apple Store. The rep was very nice and helpful. He did a specific diagnostic checking the true depth camera (apparently the remote diagnostic just checks to see that the camera and components are present and other low level things, according to the Apple Genius Bar rep).


The tech showed me the results which indicated the True Depth sensor/camera had a fault. When I asked why that would happen, he said that “it was nothing you did…sometimes the sensors just go bad/wear out”, which surprised me.


Options are replace the true depth camera sensor or upgrade the phone or use it as is.


We hold our phones a long time and have never had a sensor wear out. My wife’s phone is one of the first with FaceID…iPhone XR. Still going strong. One of the reasons we like Apple.


Im not sure if it’s a sw issue or a driver issue or what, but it seems like there are too many reports for the FaceID issue not to be some kind of update issue?


I’ll keep an eye on this thread. Hoping a fix or magic bullet comes soon. For now I’m using my passcode and not FaceID. Good luck everyone.


[Edited by Moderator]

Oct 12, 2024 1:56 AM in response to SevTonks

I had a similar issue with Face ID not working after updating to iOS 18. I thought my TrueDepth camera might be damaged however thats not possible as I just updated to IOS 18 and before it was working fine, but as said in this guide Fix Face ID Not Working on iPhone After iOS 18 Update, I ran a hardware test using the Check My Device app from the App Store. Luckily, the TrueDepth camera was working fine, which was a relief!


Turns out, the problem was with content restrictions. I had content and privacy restrictions enabled, which were blocking Face ID from working properly. Here’s how I fixed it:


  1. Go to Settings > Screen Time.
  2. Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  3. Enter your Screen Time passcode if prompted.
  4. Tap on Passcode Changes and set it to Allow.


After turning off the restriction, Face ID started working again. So, before diving into software or hardware fixes, I'd recommend checking your this settings first, if this is not your issue check other recommended solutions too


[Edited by Moderator]

Nov 12, 2024 6:08 AM in response to SevTonks

mine was not working due to very bright indoor light. I went to darker place and tried again, make sure you have nothing as long hair covering face or eyeglasses on, and when it will ask to register for face mask just follow. Darker room helped to resolve problem for me. I did the same what you did back to factory settings, hard reset. Also question about screen protector. Do u have it and is it full cover or something might cover front camera like portion of film from screen protector or glass

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Face ID not working on iPhone after iOS 18 update

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.