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

oh right try this.... Go to settings, screen time, content & privacy restrictions, the turn it off completely

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.

If you have payment methods in Apple Wallet, Immediately is the only option. Delete the Wallet app from iPhone Air and what happens?

Jeff Donald wrote:

One sort of work around for the locking immediately is allowing Apple Watch to unlock the paired iPhone. The Watch in contact with my wrist is the biometric authentication and all I have to do is raise my iPhone and it unlocks. It’s really the best of both worlds.

I will try it. I previously avoided that in case my phone is snatched in the street, but then it's probably open anyway.

LD150 wrote:

Jeff Donald wrote:

One sort of work around for the locking immediately is allowing Apple Watch to unlock the paired iPhone. The Watch in contact with my wrist is the biometric authentication and all I have to do is raise my iPhone and it unlocks. It’s really the best of both worlds.

I will try it. I previously avoided that in case my phone is snatched in the street, but then it's probably open anyway.

Not available on Touch ID phones 😡 Unlock your iPhone with Apple Watch – Apple Support (UK)

That's the way it works. If Face ID is turned on, the Phone locks immediately after it turns off and requires Face ID (or a passcode) to open. If you turn off Face ID and only use a passcode, you will have the time delay options.

I ran into the same issue and had to permanently disable Face ID just to control how often my phone requires a passcode. I spent hours on the phone with Apple support and got nowhere.

For years, I used Face ID only for apps and payments, not unlocking, and set the passcode to trigger after an hour. One change in Face ID settings removed that option entirely.

Now the only workaround is turning Face ID off completely, which means anyone can access everything on my phone if they know my passcode. Apple may think this improves security, but it does the opposite.

My work requires my face to be covered so limiting how often it locks was my only option. Apple has now ruined that. It’s my phone. I should be able to choose when a passcode is required even if I use Face ID for passwords.

Has anyone actually resolved this? This thread seems to be a frustrating read of people not understanding the actual issue and going completely off topic.

I have 2 iPhones. iPhone 17 pro and iPhone Air

iphone 17 pro can successfully use Face ID (screen lock toggled off) and set the duration to every 4 hours. It can be toggled on and off and on and off freely.

iPhone air cannot. Same settings, same software, same everything. The ONLY way to get the option to require any duration other than immediately is to have Face ID completely disabled.

So how is phone A different from phone B? Same settings, same banking apps, the only difference is the physical phone.

It is the first thing I try with every update. 17 pro never has any issues, iPhone air is the opposite.

[Edited by Moderator]

Philmnn124 wrote:

Has anyone actually resolved this? This thread seems to be a frustrating read of people not understanding the actual issue and going completely off topic.

I have 2 iPhones. iPhone 17 pro and iPhone Air

iphone 17 pro can successfully use Face ID (screen lock toggled off) and set the duration to every 4 hours. It can be toggled on and off and on and off freely.

iPhone air cannot. Same settings, same software, same everything. The ONLY way to get the option to require any duration other than immediately is to have Face ID completely disabled.

So how is phone A different from phone B? Same settings, same banking apps, the only difference is the physical phone.

It is the first thing I try with every update. 17 pro never has any issues, iPhone air is the opposite.

[Edited by Moderator]

We described how the situation is now, nothing to resolve.

You can ask for it to change, https://apple.com/feedback

Good luck.

Philmnn124 wrote:

Described what exactly? “Theway it is now” makes no sense when one phone can do it and another phone with the same exact settings can’t.

You joined the thread to vent frustration about the status quo, but there is nothing that can be done about that.

If one of your phones allows other than "immediately" when you use wallet then whoopee, enjoy. It shouldn't do.

One sort of work around for the locking immediately is allowing Apple Watch to unlock the paired iPhone. The Watch in contact with my wrist is the biometric authentication and all I have to do is raise my iPhone and it unlocks. It’s really the best of both worlds.

Thanks, I’ll take a look at the video when I’ve access to my iPad with a larger screen. I can’t tell anything on my iPhone screen.

But here’s the threat and why banks have required the immediate locking feature. Your iPhone is stolen and won’t lock for hours. You’ve been targeted because the scammers already have your credit card information. But they’re afraid the bank will want to verify a large purchase via 2FA or acknowledging a text. Scammers make a large purchase (think $20,000 or more). The text or 2FA message is sent. You have zero protection. Scammers respond affirmative and bank approves purchase. You have zero fraud protection from bank or payment network operator (VISA, Mastercard, American Express etc.).

About a year ago New York Times ran a big story on criminal rings doing nearly the same as I described. The difference is Apple plugged the loophole. Now the scammers come up behind you hoping you’ll enter your passcode in a dark bar or restaurant and when the get the number they steal the device.

Banks about 10 years started demanding shorter time before locking. Apple responded by doing exactly that and few years ago implemented the immediate requirement.

See Use a passcode with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch – Apple Support (UK)

If the passcode is not accepted by your iPhone, it is possible that the passcode you are entering, although correct in your memory, might belong to a different device. Passcodes are device-specific and cannot be used interchangeably across different devices. For example, if you have multiple devices and each has its own unique passcode, entering the passcode of one device on another will not work. Always ensure you are using the correct passcode associated with the specific device in question.

Passcode Counter:

Passcode Lock Periods: The iPhone enforces increasing waiting periods after consecutive incorrect passcode attempts to prevent brute-force attacks.

1st four attempts will allow you to enter the correct passcode immediately without any delay. Subsequent failed passcode attempts will result in longer lockout periods:

Failed Attempts:

• 5th: 1 minute (iPhone Unavailable)
• 6th: 5 minutes (iPhone Unavailable)
• 7th: 15 minutes (iPhone Unavailable)
• 8th: 60 minutes (1 hour) (iPhone Unavailable)
• 9th: 90 minutes (1 hour and 30 minutes) (iPhone Unavailable)
• 10th: 120 minutes (2 hours) (iPhone Unavailable)

Depending on settings, the iPhone might erase itself or lock indefinitely, requiring a connection to a computer for a reset.

Correct Passcode Resets the Counter: If you enter the correct passcode after any number of incorrect attempts, the counter resets, and the phone behaves as normal. Future incorrect attempts will restart the count from the beginning (e.g., after five incorrect attempts, entering the correct passcode resets the count to zero).

Passcode

Your data is not lost if you have a backup either on iCloud or iTunes.

If you see an iPhone or iPad unavailable message or a "Security Lockout" screen

If you forgot your passcode, you can use your Apple ID and password to erase and reset your device without a computer.

Learn what to do if you see "[Device] unavailable" or "Security Lockout" on your iPhone or iPad.)

iPhone is disabled.

Following this process is the only way out if your iPhone is disabled. The steps given in this link will help you reset the passcode -> If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your ...

Regarding your data…

1. If you have an iCloud or iTunes latest backup, then there is nothing to worry about. If not read more...
2. You have synced your data to iCloud, then what you will get back is what you have synced to iCloud and uploaded to iCloud Drive; the information that is synced and stored in iCloud are, Contacts, Calendars, Bookmarks, Mail, Notes, Voice Memos, shared photos, iCloud Photos*, Health data, call history, and files you store in iCloud Drive. (*-If you have turned on iCloud Photos, your content is automatically stored in iCloud.)
3. You have imported your Photos and videos to Mac/PC then they are safely residing there on Mac/PC
4. You have uploaded some of it to Cloud Drives using the Files app (iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, DropBox, Flickr, box, AmazonDrive, Adobe Creative Cloud, etc). The data remains there.
5. If you have not backed up or do not have the latest backup, nor imported nor you have synced or uploaded your data to cloud drives prior to the situation that you are in, then I am sorry, all your data is lost.