Face ID not working on iPhone after iOS 18 update

Mine isn’t working for anything. Even logging in here to make the comment. Usually, at the top, that face with the brackets around it moves and turns green. It doesn’t even move like it’s trying to read my face. I’ve turned off and turned on the Face ID (I’m too scared to reset it since so many people said it never let them re-add their face). It’s not working on my bank apps, my locked apps, hidden pictures, ANYTHING. This update has given me soooo many issues.

Same here. I confirmed, using an infrared remote, that the infrared camera is working, so it doesn’t seem like a hardware issue. Tried everything, including multiple reinstalls including recovery mode. No luck.

[Edited by Moderator]

I can see Apple is trying to make things more secure, but this is true overkill. There is no way now after IOS 18 upgrade to open my phone, no matter what settings I tinker with; using the facial recognition. 

I drive for a living, and if I want to open my phone, I literally have to stop and pull off to the side of the road. Then focus super hard with my eyeballs wailed open, 3 inches from the front camera. Then, cross my fingers that will open, it does so about 30% of the time. 

Apple this is not helpful upgrade, probably the worst on record that I can remember. Taking all of the changes into account. Please fix this issue at least; seems a lot of people are upset about this upgrade. The visual layout in photos is also very bad, confusing to see the least, sometimes it’s good to leave well enough alone right Apple? 

I hope you have better luck than I did.

they did a diagnostics check, away from me whilst I sat down on a seat with my phone). They did the Face ID diagnostics and said it was all clear. Not much they could say tbh apart from try resetting my Face ID which I had already done 8 times before going in.

on a good note I saw I had 503 cycles and my phone was on 85% (I’m currently using an iPhone 12 Pro Max, so it was nice to see the cycle count on his diagnostics check).

needless to say I am still stuck where I was and faulty Face ID.

Hello~ Take your iPhone in for a check…

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Find Locations

I have updated and have no such issues. By the way what’s your better health %…

Check the iPhone battery health and usage - Apple Support

Also…

If Face ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad Pro - Apple Support

~Katana-San~

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.

Me too I am experiencing the same issue right now.

Tried and not working. Same issues as all above. 13 pro max

Yes. I already contacted apple support and went in store and nothing was wrong with my phone

The solution added by the moderator does not work for me - iPhone 11.

Seems this has been an issue much longer than I thought. I chatted with support and got the standard “ we are aware and working on the problem. Can’t provide a date for the fix at this time”.

tried that several times, as well as all the other "fixes" reccommended. doesn't work. this is definitely an Apple issue since IOS 18 update. They really need to address this

Face ID is still not working on iOS 18.2.1! It is really annoying because iOS 17 Never had this issue. Surely Apple can do some roll back to get it working again??

Omg just been onto technical support and went through everything trying to reset the phone soft reset to get face recognition off and back on and nothing would worked last resort. Was the guy asked me to remove my screen protector which I did and low behold phones working perfect

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!