User profile for user: Bert Frowein
Bert Frowein Author
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iPhone 16 Face ID not working after iOS 26.2.1 update

Yesterday, after upgrading an iPhone 16 to IOS26.2.1, my wife’s iPhone’s Face ID does not work. In fact there is no security to open her phone. I have deselected Stolen Device Protection in order to activate her passcode. This issue was not present with IOS 26.2. I have restarted her phone multiple times, cleaned her front facing camera and turned the iPhone Unlock on and off several times. Also, we have reset the Face ID and restarted. As of now, the phone is set to use passcode and the Face ID feature does not work. Any suggestions?

Posted on Feb 1, 2026 4:55 AM

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User profile for user: SravanKrA
SravanKrA
User level: Level 10
431,892 points

Posted on Feb 1, 2026 10:07 PM

You may try some of these steps, please check after each step...


  1. Eye tracking relies heavily on the front-facing camera. Ensure the lens is clean and free from smudges or obstructions. Use a soft, lint-free cloth.
  2. Ensure adequate lighting. Poor lighting can significantly impact eye-tracking performance.  
  3. Sometimes assistive touch settings can interfere. Check your assistive touch settings within the accessibility menu.
  4. Ensure your screen protector or case isn't obstructing the front-facing camera. See the poic below
  5. If you still need help, reset your Face ID, then set it up again. Go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, then tap Reset Face ID. Next, tap Set up Face ID to set it up again. If Face ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad Pro
  6. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
    1. Restart the device. That's it.
    2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
  7. Corporate iPhone Profile Check and Removal Guide
    1. Is this your corporate iPhone? Then please contact the system administrator of your corporate.
    2. If it is your device, in that case, do you have any profile installed by your corporate/organization/enterprise/School Management?
    3. Erase the profile added by you If you have installed a profile on your own --> Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...
    4. Please contact the system administrator of the organization who provided the profile to you
  8. Parts and service history
    1. With iPhone 12 models and later using iOS 15.2 and later, you can go to Settings > General > About to see the parts and service history of your iPhone and you can see if the camera has been replaced. If the repair was done using genuine Apple parts and processes, you will see "Genuine Apple Part" next to Camera.
    3.  
    4. You will see an Unknown Part  message if the camera installation is incomplete or if the camera:
    5. Was replaced with a nongenuine camera
    6. Was already used or installed in another iPhone
    7. Isn't functioning as expected
    8. This message doesn't affect your ability to use your iPhone or access your camera. Learn more about iPhone parts and service history.
    9. If your iPhone's camera has been previously replaced, repaired, or serviced by an unauthorized service provider, it's worth noting that Apple may decline to provide service for your device. The decision to refuse service will depend on the specific components that were affected by the unauthorized service.
  9. If the issue persists, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data but will reset all personalized settings to their default values. Go to Settings > General > Transfer & Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings and confirm the action. Note that you will need to reconfigure your settings afterward. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.
    1. Reset All Settings: Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support:- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
    2. You can return settings to their defaults without erasing your content.
    3. If you want to save your settings, back up your iPhone before returning them to their defaults. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem but returning settings to their defaults doesn’t help, you might want to restore your previous settings from a backup.
  10. Make sure you have the latest updates installed.
    1. Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
    2. Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)


If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance. They can provide specific guidance based on your device

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: SravanKrA
SravanKrA
User level: Level 10
431,892 points

Feb 1, 2026 10:07 PM in response to Bert Frowein

You may try some of these steps, please check after each step...


  1. Eye tracking relies heavily on the front-facing camera. Ensure the lens is clean and free from smudges or obstructions. Use a soft, lint-free cloth.
  2. Ensure adequate lighting. Poor lighting can significantly impact eye-tracking performance.  
  3. Sometimes assistive touch settings can interfere. Check your assistive touch settings within the accessibility menu.
  4. Ensure your screen protector or case isn't obstructing the front-facing camera. See the poic below
  5. If you still need help, reset your Face ID, then set it up again. Go to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, then tap Reset Face ID. Next, tap Set up Face ID to set it up again. If Face ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad Pro
  6. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
    1. Restart the device. That's it.
    2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
  7. Corporate iPhone Profile Check and Removal Guide
    1. Is this your corporate iPhone? Then please contact the system administrator of your corporate.
    2. If it is your device, in that case, do you have any profile installed by your corporate/organization/enterprise/School Management?
    3. Erase the profile added by you If you have installed a profile on your own --> Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone - Apple ...
    4. Please contact the system administrator of the organization who provided the profile to you
  8. Parts and service history
    1. With iPhone 12 models and later using iOS 15.2 and later, you can go to Settings > General > About to see the parts and service history of your iPhone and you can see if the camera has been replaced. If the repair was done using genuine Apple parts and processes, you will see "Genuine Apple Part" next to Camera.
    3.  
    4. You will see an Unknown Part  message if the camera installation is incomplete or if the camera:
    5. Was replaced with a nongenuine camera
    6. Was already used or installed in another iPhone
    7. Isn't functioning as expected
    8. This message doesn't affect your ability to use your iPhone or access your camera. Learn more about iPhone parts and service history.
    9. If your iPhone's camera has been previously replaced, repaired, or serviced by an unauthorized service provider, it's worth noting that Apple may decline to provide service for your device. The decision to refuse service will depend on the specific components that were affected by the unauthorized service.
  9. If the issue persists, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data but will reset all personalized settings to their default values. Go to Settings > General > Transfer & Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings and confirm the action. Note that you will need to reconfigure your settings afterward. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.
    1. Reset All Settings: Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support:- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
    2. You can return settings to their defaults without erasing your content.
    3. If you want to save your settings, back up your iPhone before returning them to their defaults. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem but returning settings to their defaults doesn’t help, you might want to restore your previous settings from a backup.
  10. Make sure you have the latest updates installed.
    1. Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
    2. Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)


If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance. They can provide specific guidance based on your device

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User profile for user: SravanKrA
SravanKrA
User level: Level 10
431,892 points

Feb 1, 2026 10:05 PM in response to Bert Frowein

Face ID issues are not always the iOS update's fault!  Many things can cause phone problems.  If you tell people you think it's an iOS update, it might make it harder to fix or find a solution for the real issue.



Remember, the right question often leads to the solution!



Was/Is your device Jailbroken? If that's the situation, please be informed that attributing the issues to iOS updates may not be accurate.



iOS updates aim to enhance user experience, boost security, and fix bugs rather than disrupt core features. The majority of the issues after updates might stem from underlying, unmentioned factors. Updates won't typically alter personal data but may refine settings or features. Backup before major updates for safety. Review Apple's update details and backup advice for a smooth process.


Kindly consider checking your settings and addressing any device issues before attributing the issue to external factors. This could be a pure coincidence that the iOS update affected the iPhone functions.


Before initiating a standard iOS update, it's advisable to create a backup. Have you completed this step? If yes, proceed with the restoration from the backup.



See what each update does: OS — iOS 26, About iOS 18 Updates, About iOS 17 Updates, About iOS 16 Updates, About iOS 15 Updates, About iOS 14 Updates, About iOS 13 Updates, About iOS 12 Updates, and so on...



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User profile for user: SravanKrA
SravanKrA
User level: Level 10
431,892 points

Feb 1, 2026 10:06 PM in response to Bert Frowein

The term used by you, "Face ID not working since 26.2.1 update," is purely coincidental, and it surely is not iOS 26.2.1 because...


I conducted a thorough search of this forum using the term 'Face ID after iOS Update' and uncovered numerous posts detailing similar issues across various iOS updates. This suggests that iOS updates may not consistently be the root cause. Below are a handful of examples extracted from the search results:




Reports of Face ID appear across all models and iOS versions in this forum, suggesting the issue is device-specific rather than tied to any particular iOS version or model.



Handling. Handle your iPhone with care. · Repairing. iPhone should only be serviced by a trained technician. · Battery. · Lasers. · Distraction. · Navigation. · Charging.Cleaning.


Important safety information for iPhone




Clean iPhone immediately if it comes in contact with anything that may cause stains, or other damage—for example, dirt or sand, ink, makeup, soap


Important handling information for iPhone



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iPhone 16 Face ID not working after iOS 26.2.1 update

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