People using Face ID to unlock their iPhone may sometimes find that the feature has stopped working on their device, which necessitates the use of a PIN to get access. It could be a frustrating experience, and many users are likely to be unhappy with the issue, especially when they just can't seem to find a way to fix the problem. Thankfully, there are a few methods that users could try to address the issue.

With Apple getting rid of Touch ID on the iPhone X, Face ID has become the only biometric identification method on an iPhone. It is required to not only unlock the device, but also to authenticate purchases, sign in to some apps, and carry out a myriad of other tasks. So a broken Face ID system can be an issue in many different scenarios.

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Restarting the device is always the first step towards troubleshooting any problem with just about any operating system, and that includes iOS and iPadOS. So if Face ID isn't working, try and restart the iPhone or iPad before trying another method. Also, make sure that the face is exactly perpendicular to the display while trying to use Face ID, which would give the device the best chance of detecting the user. Another troubleshooting option is to clean the iPhone's notch area to ensure that the Face ID sensors are not being obstructed by dirt or grime. If that doesn't take care of the problem then, according to Apple, check whether the iPhone or iPad is updated to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. This should get rid of any bugs that might be creating problems with Face ID in older versions.

Troubleshoot Non-Functional Face ID

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Face ID Render

If the aforementioned steps don't yield results, check the Face ID Settings by going over to 'Settings' > 'Face ID & Passcode' and making sure that Face ID is set up correctly with all the toggles turned on. Assuming all is set up right, it might be worth adding an alternate appearance to Face ID to see if the second one is recognized by the device. This might be especially useful if the user's appearance has been altered recently in terms of hairstyle, facial hair, glasses, and so on. If still no luck, the last ditch attempt would be to reset Face ID and start from scratch. To do this, go to 'Settings,' select 'Face ID & Passcode' and tap 'Reset Face ID.' Then select 'Set up Face ID' to get started.

If all else fails, the final option would be to factory reset the iPhone. However, this would erase all data on the device, so it's imperative that this is used as a last resort. To factory reset an iPhone or iPad, go to 'Settings,' select 'General,' and the scroll to the bottom and choose 'Transfer or Reset iPhone.' Finally, tap 'Erase All Content and Settings' and then follow the on-screen prompts to reset the device. Users may also need to input their Apple ID password during the process. Once the reset is complete, all the information on the device will be gone, including Face ID settings. With the iPhone or iPad back to the factory settings, the device will work exactly as it did the day it was purchased. Remember, this is the nuclear option and should only be used after all other options have been exhausted, possibly including taking the iPhone or iPad to an authorized Apple service center to see if they can help with the faulty Face ID.

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Source: Apple