How to fix Face ID not working on iPhone after iOS 18 update

Face ID is an easy way to unlock your iPhone or sign in to apps…when it works correctly. And in iOS 18, Apple now allows you to lock your apps behind Face ID. It feels like an inconvenience when I have to put in my passcode to open my iPhone, and Face ID saves me from worrying about passwords for several apps. Some iPhone users have reported that Face ID is not working after iOS 18 update. If Face ID stopped working on your iPhone after iOS 18 update, you can fix it easily.

Face ID issues after iOS 18 update

Since your problems began after updating your iPhone to iOS 18, you may assume that your Face ID problems are a software issue Because your Face ID was working before the update. We’ll go through some troubleshooting steps, including resetting your device’s Face ID, and then tell you what to do if a Face ID reset fails to resolve the issue.

How to fix Face ID not working after iOS 18 update

Update your iPhone to the latest iOS 18 version

Ensure that your iPhone is running the latest version of iOS 18. You can check if you are running the latest version or not by going to Settings > General > Software Update. And if there is an update, follow the onscreen instructions to update your iPhone.

After updating your iPhone to the latest iOS 18 software, check if Face ID is working.

Check your Face ID settings

Check your Face ID settings to make sure that Face ID is allowed to open/authenticate the apps and features you want to use it with.

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. Make sure Face ID is enabled for the things you are trying to use it for.

Make sure nothing is covering the front camera

Check the front camera of your iPhone. The front camera is located in the notch or Dynamic Island near the top of the screen.

• Make sure it isn’t covered by a case or screen protector that could be blocking the camera.
• Check for dirt or residue. Clean the camera area even if you can’t see anything.

Make sure your face is not blocked

Apple designed the Face ID feature to work with hats, scarves, glasses, contact lenses, and many sunglasses. Unfortunately, most sunglasses may interfere with Face ID. If your iPhone doesn’t unlock with Face ID while wearing a pair of shades, take them off and try again.

If you wear a mask, make sure you have set up Face ID with a mask.

Check your Phone Orientation and Distance

Hold your iPhone in portrait orientation (vertically) and ensure that your face is about 10-20 inches away from your iPhone when using Face ID.

Restart your iPhone

Try restarting your iPhone. Restarting your iPhone may fix iOS 18 Face ID problems. Simply restart and then try again. Here is how you can restart your iPhone:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen to bring up Control Center.
2. Tap on the power button located in the top-right corner.
3. Move the slider from left to right and wait for your iPhone to turn off.
4. Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears to turn on your iPhone again.

Add an alternate appearance

Face ID can learn to recognize you if your appearance varies somewhat. If you have changed your appearance recently or if you sometimes wear two very different appearances, you might want to try adding an alternate appearance to your Face ID.

1. Open Settings, scroll down and tap on Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode.
2. Tap on Set Up an Alternate Appearance.
3. Look directly at your iPhone and make sure the image of your face is inside the frame.
4. You will need to move your head and complete the circle. The circle will show green and enlarge in the directions it has completed your face scan.
5. Tap Continue. Complete another scan. Tap Done when the setup is complete.

Reset Face ID

If you are still experiencing problems, reset Face ID and then set up again. Here is how you can do this:

1. Open Settings, scroll down and tap on Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode.
2. Tap on Reset Face ID, then tap Set Up Face ID.
3. Tap Get Started and follow the onscreen instructions to scan your face.
4. You can skip “Face ID with a Mask” by tapping Set Up Later. Tap Done.

If resetting Face ID didn’t help

There is a possibility that your iPhone has hardware damage. To find out for sure, you can contact Apple Support for assistance.

See also: 10 Things You Didn’t Know Your iPhone Could Do in IOS 18