Face ID not working on iPhone after iOS 18 update

Update from my previous post on 13 Dec. My FaceID stopped working again while overseas and I couldn't re-set it as i had Stolen Device Protection on and you need to be in a familiar location to re-set it. When I returned home I updated from iOS 8.1.1 to 8.2 and then re-set it like this: when the first 'circle' came on I used landscape position, then tapped 'ok'. When my face came up in the brackets [ ] I kept rolling my head around until the next 'circle' appeared and continued rolling my head around. That completed the re-set. Initially FaceID wasn't working too well, kept requesting passcode regularly and I kept having to tilt the phone/camera backwards and forwards for it to work, but over the course of a week or 2 it's almost back to normal. Hope that helps someone!

I did reboot when I tried to re-set it a week or two ago , but not this time. The first ‘circle’ is right at the beginning of the process (at least I remember it like that, it’s the beginning of FaceID re-set procedure before the brackets [ ] come up). I don’t wear glasses. It seemed the key for me was that I kept moving the camera around a little, backwards and forwards + tilting. If there’s a problem with the True Depth camera as someone described earlier then maybe that’s why you need to keep moving/tilting??

@sedective97 that is exactly my experience on my iPhone 13 Pro. I went to the Apple Store and they tested the front camera and said it was a sensor issue that I could pay to fix (or upgrade my phone). Sounds like you have the same issue on the newest model of phone!

I have just been using my passcode for everything with FaceID off, hoping a future update fixes the issue.

How do we get Apple’s attention on this?

@Dudley - Yeah, I'm on a brand new phone and have this issue. The ironic thing is that FaceID works perfectly on my iPhone 13 and even on my X! (both updated to the latest iOS version).

I would also like to point that prior to iOS 18.1 FaceID was working like a charm! So this makes me thing that there's a software bug with the TrueDepth camera/sensor to some devices after iOS 18.1.

@Apple_fan8 - I don't know what to say. As you can see there are issues even with the brand new phones.

@mdourney - Yes, unfortunately this happens with the new devices as well. The phone is only couple of months old. Now I'm gonna send feedback to the link @Katana-san provided, and if they happen to contact me eventually, I will share that. Meanwhile I'll continue using my passcode hoping for future updates to fix the problem.

I had the same problem after update (14 pro max) so I tried to reset it and it didn’t let me do it at first couple of times but eventually it’s started working again and it’s fine now

Same problem. After a few days of updating to IOS 18 face id stopped working. The worker at the Genius Bar says the diagnostics tool reports my face id as broken.

I tried to reset, reinstall IOS, but doesn't work.

The reparation of face id is 300 Euro in Spain.

This just happened to me. It was working early this morning and around 10 it just stopped. A few days ago I updated both my work & personal phone to the iOS 18.1 & now none work with my Face ID. I have restarted the phone, uninstalled & installed Face ID, did the privacy settings advice, I contacted apple support to run diagnostics on my phone and it was fine, I even factory reset my phone & NOTHING works. This has to be a bug! I hope it’s fixed soon!

Hello~ You are not addressing Apple here but your fellow forum members. If you want to contact Apple instead of insulting us…go to the lower left and click on the small Support icon. Also if there is a problem with your Face ID…

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Find Locations

~Katana-San~

Guess what happens when you take your iPhone 11 to a Apple Store Genius Bar after the face id stops working after 18.x update?

They try to sell you a) trade up to a newer model (14 or better) giving you $200 trade in

or b) want to sell you a new face id front camera for $169+tax.

This is AFTER explaining to them that everything was working fine just prior to update. I brought receipts - I had a diagnostic run for another issue 4 days prior.

So, for those for whom the Screen Time fix, suggested by a couple of people here, does NOT work, we are screwed. By Apple. Again.

Btw, my forward camera works just fine, but on the diagnostics (after the update) it comes up as fail.

The only fail here is Apple.

Update: My face ID did not work since last month when I updated my 13 pro max to ios 18.1. Yesterday I upgraded to 18.2, with the hope of fixing the issue. It actually did, after I restarted my phone. I managed to set up a new face ID. Fast forward this morning after waking up, face ID again not working ffs. Fix this Apple. Lmk how to fix this issue if you have any alternatives except from the ones from this forum.

After doing the diagnostics check on my phone myself it showed every bit of hardware fine.

I did the Face ID check and showed up to be the TrueDepth camera has an issue.

I reset my settings (loosing all my password remembering, alarms, WiFi connections, etc). I then did the diagnostics again and the same issue showed.

I did the online chat with Apple and he did checks and was surprised as shows up every in good working order.

So I am off back to Apple to see what they can do. If it is something I have to pay for I will not be paying for it and will do without Face ID because I was planning on upgrading when the 17 pro max comes out at the end of the year……

Fingers crossed Apple can sort it out for me tomorrow at no charge.

Can you please let us know if the Genius Bar helps / sorts it out. Many thanks

Hello~ Click on below as posting here will not get anybody’s attention but ours…

Product Feedback - Apple

~Katana-San~

Face ID issue after ios 18.2.1 update - Apple Community

I finally went ahead and submitted product feedback. No idea if that will get anywhere, but at least we tried.