How to restore 'After 4 hours' option for passcode requirement in Face ID settings on iPhone 17?

As I have a new look, faceid didn’t recognize me a few times. So I had to go to “Face ID & Passcode” to give the new look - it scanned again my face. Don’t remember what exactly I pressed more in the “Face ID & Passcode” options BUT my iphone 17 doesn’t give me anymore the “After 4 hours” option in “Require Passcode”.

I tried enabling/disabling “iPhone Unlock” in “Use Face ID For”

I tried enabling/disabling “Stolen Device Protection” and no change! The phone doesn’t give me anymore the “After 4 hours”



I own one more iphone - iphone 15. What annoys me even more is that on my second iphone, I had to update the new look as well. Then it didn’t show the “After 4 hours” option as well, BUT after a few clicks in the menu of “Face ID and passcode”, it DOES show me the “After 4 hours” - can’t recall what exact clicks I made, but now both phones are EXACTLY the same in options enabled BUT one iphone shows “After 4 hours” while the other shows only one option “Immediately” when I go to “Require Passcode”


I have the 2 phones like this:

iPhone 17 pro - iOS 26.2

iPhone 15 pro - was iOS 26.1 (now iOS 26.2)


Why!?


It can’t be the different iOS because I just updated also my iphone 15 to iOS 26.2 but it still gives me the 4 hours option.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: My iphone keeps requiring me passcode or FaceId when I unlock it. In settings “Face ID & Passcode” gives no other option than “Immediately” in the “Require Passcode” menu - “After 4 hours” and the rest are GONE!

iPhone 17 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Jan 5, 2026 7:20 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 9, 2026 3:16 AM

Caciora wrote:

So you mean that if I use apple pay, I don’t have any other option than “Immediately”?
Meaning that I need to disable/stop using apple pay in order to have other options?
this is ridiculous!
How can it be that it worked normal all these years?

I don't remember it being different previously but a lot changes over the years

The article Use a passcode with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support (UK) which I suggested you read says


  • Require Passcode: as soon as you lock your screen, the default for this setting will ask you to enter your passcode to unlock. If you don't want an immediate passcode requirement, change this setting. (For your own security, if you use Touch ID or Apple Pay, you can't change the immediate passcode requirement)."


We fellow users can only tell you What, not Why.

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How to restore 'After 4 hours' option for passcode requirement in Face ID settings on iPhone 17?

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