iPhone 18 Pro Face ID repeatedly stops working on two separate devices
Title: iPhone 18 Pro Face ID repeatedly stops working — even after replacing phone
I'm wondering if anyone else is experiencing intermittent Face ID failures on the iPhone 18 Pro running iOS 27.2.
I'm now on my SECOND iPhone 18 Pro after exchanging the original within Apple's 14-day return window because of this exact problem.
Both phones have experienced the same behavior: Face ID will work normally for a period of time, then suddenly stop recognizing me, requiring my passcode every time.
Here's what I've tried:
- Confirmed iOS is up to date.
- Verified iPhone Unlock and Require Attention for Face ID are enabled.
- Tested with Require Attention disabled, without improvement.
- Added an alternate appearance while Face ID was working intermittently, but recognition subsequently became even less reliable.
- Discovered Reset Face ID was unavailable while Stolen Device Protection was enabled.
- Temporarily disabled Stolen Device Protection and successfully reset Face ID.
- Set up Face ID from scratch without glasses, although my original enrollment at the Apple Store was done with glasses.
- Successfully unlocked the phone six consecutive times, both with and without glasses.
- Re-enabled Require Attention and Stolen Device Protection.
Unfortunately, about 3 hrs after resetting and having successful use of Face ID, it stopped working again and was failing on every unlock attempt.
I have had this phone for 2 days. The phone was set up through the Apple Store, with Verizon activating my cellular service separately.
I'm wondering whether this is a known iOS 27.2 software issue, a problem with the TrueDepth camera system, or something related to transferring settings from one phone to another.
Has anyone experienced this on the iPhone 18 Pro, particularly on two separate devices? Has anyone found a lasting solution?
I'd appreciate hearing about similar experiences before making another trip to see the genius's.
iPhone 18 Pro, iOS 27
