Is your iPhone 14 Pro face ID not working? You’ve come to the right place. In this article, I’ll explain why Face ID is not working on your iPhone 14 Pro and show you how to fix the problem for good!
Face ID makes it quick and effortless to unlock your iPhone, authenticate downloads, make purchases, and more. Despite the usefulness of this feature, it can cause some troubles at times when it fails to work. So, what can you do when iPhone 14 Pro Face ID doesn’t work? Is that it? Is there a solution? Well, in this Troubleshooting guide, we’ll explain what to do if your iPhone 14 Pro Face ID has stopped working so you can get back to zipping around your phone.
Why is my iPhone 14 Pro Face ID not working?
Your iPhone 14 Pro Face ID may not be working for a number of reasons. These include:
- Your device is running outdated version of iOS.
- Something is blocking the camera or your face.
- You’ve made five unsuccessful attempts to match your face.
- Your device hasn’t been unlocked for more than 48 hours.
- You haven’t used your passcode to unlock your iPhone in the last six and a half days, and Face ID hasn’t unlocked the device in the last four hours.
- Your iPhone has received a remote lock command.
- You brought up the power off/Emergency SOS screen by pressing and holding either Volume button and the Side button simultaneously for two seconds.
How to fix iPhone 14 Pro Face ID not working issue
If you can’t set up Face ID on your iPhone 14 Pro, if Face ID is not available, or if Face ID has stopped working randomly and doesn’t recognize your face anymore, here are some fixes to try:
Note: information in this article apply to iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
1. Restart your iPhone
One of the most basic yet effective ways to fix iPhone 14 Pro Face ID not working issue is to restart your phone. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Shut Down. Now, turn your iPhone back on by holding down the Side button until the Apple Logo show up on the screen.
Once you do this, the Face ID components that stopped working should work perfectly now. Though, you will need to enter your passcode again the first time you unlock your iPhone after doing this.
2. Update iOS
Apple fixes known bugs and issues via software updates. If the Face ID setup isn’t working or repeatedly fails to unlock your iPhone 14 Pro, the problem may be at the deeper software level. To fix this, update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If there is an update available, tap Download and Install.
3. Check your Face ID settings
If your iPhone 14 Pro is running the latest version of iOS and FaceID still won’t work, check the settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Select Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Make sure that Face ID is turned on for the feature you’re trying to unlock. In addition to the iPhone’s unlock screen, you can also use Face ID on iTunes, the App Store, Apple Pay, , Password AutoFill and any third-party apps that support Face ID.
4. Don’t block the truedepth camera
Face ID makes use of a camera system known as TrueDepth. It features several components including a dot projector that illuminates your face with more than 30,000 tiny infrared dots as well as an infrared camera that detects those dots. If it’s blocked, it won’t be able to properly recognize your facial features.
Check to see if your screen protector or case is interfering with the camera. Also, carefully clean any dust or dirt from this area and confirm you’re not covering the lens with your finger or palm when you try to use it.
5. Face the TrueDepth camera
Hold your iPhone at a distance no more than 20 inches from your face (think selfie distance), and face the TrueDepth camera directly.
6. Don’t hide your face
In the same way that it’s important not to block the Face ID’s camera, you should make sure nothing is covering your face when you need Face ID to work. To make sure FaceID can recognize you, your eyes, nose, and mouth should be fully visible—remove face masks and sunglasses.
7. Set Up an Alternate Appearance
You can set up an alternate appearance that may help Face ID perform better if you’re wearing glasses, have facial hair, or have changed your appearance in another way. Here’s how to do that:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap on Set Up an Alternate Appearance.
- Look directly at your iPhone—hold it vertically—with your face positioned inside the frame.
- Slowly move your head to complete the circle. Tap Accessibility Options if you’re unable to move your head.
- When the first Face ID scan is complete, tap Continue.
- Slowly move your head to complete the circle again.
- When Face ID setup is complete, tap Done.
8. 9. Reset Face ID and Set It Up Again
When iPhone 14 Pro Face ID is not working or available, resetting it could help. Doing this will remove the saved face and you will have to set it up again.
To reset Face ID on your iPhone:
- Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode if prompted.
- Tap Reset Face ID.
- Tap Set Up Face ID.
- Holding your device in portrait position, tap Get Started.
- Slowly move your head to complete the circle. Tap Accessibility Options if you’re unable to move your head.
- When the first Face ID scan is complete, tap Continue.
- Slowly move your head to complete the circle again.
- When Face ID setup is complete, tap Done.
9. Reset All Settings
When you reset all your iPhone settings, personal data like photos, videos, apps, music, and such are not removed. However, all the settings you have ever changed or added, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Home Screen layout, VPN, and Keyboard settings, are erased and set back to the default.
When your iPhone 14 Pro Face ID feature isn’t working, resetting all your device settings might help.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap General.
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap Reset.
- Tap Reset All Settings.
Once the process completes, set up Face ID again, and it should work perfectly now.
10. Reset your iPhone to its factory settings
If you’ve tried restarting, resetting, and updating and your iPhone 14 Pro Face ID still won’t work, you may have to reset your device to its factory settings. Doing this will erase nearly all data on your phone, so be sure to backup all your essential files to iTunes or iCloud first. Here’s how to do a factory reset:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to General.
- Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Tap erase all content & Settings.
- Confirm that you want to erase your phone.
- Once your iPhone is restored to its factory settings, follow the prompts to set it up like new. Then set up Face ID again.
11. iPhone 14 Pro Face ID not working still? Contact Apple support
If you’ve tried all of these troubleshooting steps and your iPhone 14 Pro Face ID is still not working properly for you, you may have a hardware problem with your device that requires servicing. If you recently dropped your iPhone 14 Pro on a hard surface, there may be physical issues with the Face ID sensors. Due to this, it may crash on the setup screen, be unavailable, or not work at all.
Face ID also may not work if your iPhone 14 Pro was underwater for a very long time.
If your situation fits either of the above instances, you should contact Apple Support for help.
Fixed iPhone 14 Pro Face ID not working issue
So, if you can’t set up Face ID on your iPhone 14 Pro, if Face ID is not available, or if Face ID has stopped working randomly and doesn’t recognize your face anymore, one of the solutions above should have fixed it. Once Face ID starts working, your iPhone experience will get much more convenient.
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