«Face ID "He doesn't recognize my face." Sometimes, when trying to unlock our iPhone we find this unpleasant surprise. A much more common problem than you think. Fortunately, there are several ways to solve this type of situation. In this article we tell you how to reset Face ID on your iPhone.
As everyone knows, Face ID is a very convenient feature that allows an iPhone owner to unlock their device and authorize transactions with a simple glance. However, when it stops working, it can be extremely frustrating.
The solutions that we review in the following paragraphs are applicable to all Apple devices that are equipped with a system TrueDepth camera, as well as compatible iPad Pro models.
Why isn't Face ID working?
When Apple introduced Face ID with the launch of the iPhone X in 2017, it did so with the aim of replacing the previous fingerprint recognition system, Touch ID. The new idea seemed much safer and more convincing: el Biometric unlocking through facial detection.
Face ID was very well received among iPhone users. So much so, that it has been included in all subsequent models. And also on iPads.
Despite this, it is not an infallible system. Sometimes, even if only occasionally or temporarily, Face ID may stop working. The causes The most common that give rise to these circumstances are the following:
- La camera lens is dirty or blocked.
- Our face is not well lit or the image is not displayed clearly enough.*
- We are using a version of Outdated iOS.
In all these cases, Face ID will be disabled as a security measure. The objective is to prevent our device from ending up in the wrong hands and, when in doubt, it is always better to block it.
Apart from this, Apple also has several features that prevent Face ID from working. It is not that the system fails, but rather that it stops working until we can confirm that it is really us trying to access the device. Thus, Face ID will also not work when:
- We haven't unlocked our iPhone for over 48 hours.
- We have performed five failed facial scans.
- We haven't used Face ID in the last four hours and we haven't used the passcode in over six and a half days (156 hours).
- We have resorted to “Find my iPhone” feature to lock the device.
(*) At this specific point, the option "Set up an alternate appearance", so that Face ID is able to recognize us, even if we wear glasses, a beard, etc.
How to reset Face ID on your iPhone
The solution that should be applied in each situation depends, of course, on the cause that caused Face ID to stop working. If we are not sure of the exact reason, the most prudent thing to do is to try each of the methods in the order in which we present them below:
Check that Face ID is activated
Let's start with the simplest: if the function is not activated, it is logical that it does not work. So before looking for more complex solutions, we must discard the obvious. To carry out this check you must follow these steps:
- First we go to the Settings of the iPhone.
- Then we select the option Face ID and we introduce the access code.
- Once inside, we make sure that the switches for the functions with which we want to use Face ID (for example, Phone Unlock) are on the ignition position, that is, green.
Check that the capture conditions are appropriate
As obvious as it may seem, many times identification through Face ID does not work because of something as banal as a hat or sunglasses. We need to make sure that nothing blocks our face. Eyes, nose and mouth must be perfectly visible to the camera.
On the other hand, identification may not occur because we are in a room that is too dark or in an environment with poor lighting. Or for something as stupid as, without realizing it, we are covering the lens with our finger. That happens more often than you think.
Remember that the iPhone must be in vertical position when we perform the scan. And that the lens must be completely clean. Wiping with a slightly damp cloth or rag is usually enough to remove impurities.
Update iOS
There are times when Face ID is not working properly because it simply needs an update. To execute this action all we have to do is go to the Settings menu, select the "General" section and there click on the option "Software update".
If there is a new version of the operating system available, we can download and install it quite quickly. Then, with updated iOS, we can check that Face ID works again.
Reset Face ID on your iPhone
If all of the above has not worked, you have to move on to more drastic methods. The most effective of them is to reset Face ID and proceed to a new configuration from scratch.
The steps to perform this action are as follows: First we go to “Settings”, then we click on “Face ID” and finally we select the option "Reset Face ID." All the information that we have previously saved will be deleted, but we can configure it again so that it works without errors. We must insist that resetting Face ID on your iPhone is the last resort that we should try.
Contact Apple
We have tried everything and the problem persists: Face ID does not recognize our face and the final resource of resetting Face ID on your iPhone has not given the result we expected. At this point, we will have to start thinking that Our iPhone has hardware or software problems that require professional attention. Our advice in these cases is to go to the apple support page and open a service request.
Editor specialized in technology and internet issues with more than ten years of experience in different digital media. I have worked as an editor and content creator for e-commerce, communication, online marketing and advertising companies. I have also written on economics, finance and other sectors websites. My work is also my passion. Now, through my articles in Tecnobits, I try to explore all the news and new opportunities that the world of technology offers us every day to improve our lives.