How to fix iPhone 13 mini Face ID not working issue

Is your iPhone 13 mini face ID not working? If that’s the case, here’s what you can do to fix it.

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 13 mini 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 13 mini Face ID has stopped working so you can get back to zipping around your phone.

Why is my iPhone 13 mini Face ID not working?

Your iPhone 13 mini Face ID may not be working for a number of reasons, including:

• Your device is running outdated version of iOS.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 your iPhone 13 mini Face ID not working issue

If you’re frustrated and muttering, “My iPhone 13 mini Face ID won’t work,” don’t worry—we’ve got your back. Here are some fixes to try. The tips explain below applies to iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.

Restart your iPhone

If your iPhone 13 mini Face ID doesn’t seem to work, your problem might be an easy fix. Our first suggestion is simple: Restart your device. You can do this by going to Settings > General > Shut Down. Now, turn your iPhone back on and then try using FaceID again.

See also: What to do if Your iPhone 13 mini Won’t Turn On

Update iOS

If you find your iPhone 13 mini Face ID not working after trying the above step, check to make sure your device is running 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.

Check your Face ID settings

If your iPhone 13 mini is running the latest version of iOS and FaceID still won’t work, check the settings.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Select Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode if prompted.
3. 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.

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.

See also: How To Fix iPhone 13 mini Camera Problems

Face the TrueDepth camera

Hold your iPhone so it’s vertical and no more than 20 inches from your face (think selfie distance), and face the TrueDepth camera directly.

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.

Add an alternative appearance

Face ID can pick up subtle changes in appearance, but if you’ve significantly changed your look—like growing or shaving a beard—you may need to set up an alternate appearance. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode if prompted.
3. Tap on Set Up an Alternate Appearance.
4. Look directly at your iPhone—hold it vertically—with your face positioned inside the frame.
5. Slowly move your head to complete the circle. Tap Accessibility Options if you’re unable to move your head.
6. When the first Face ID scan is complete, tap Continue.
7. Slowly move your head to complete the circle again.
8. When Face ID setup is complete, tap Done.

Reset Face ID

If your iPhone 13 mini facial recognition still won’t work, try a reset, then set it up again. You can do this by following these steps:

1. Start the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode. Enter your passcode if prompted.
3. Tap Reset Face ID.
4. Tap Set Up Face ID.
5. Holding your device in portrait position, tap Get Started.
6. Slowly move your head to complete the circle. Tap Accessibility Options if you’re unable to move your head.
7. When the first Face ID scan is complete, tap Continue.
8. Slowly move your head to complete the circle again.
9. When Face ID setup is complete, tap Done.

Reset your iPhone to its factory settings

If you’ve tried restarting, resetting, and updating and your iPhone 13 mini 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:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to General.
3. Select Transfer or Reset iPhone.
4. Tap erase all content & Settings.
5. Confirm that you want to erase your phone.
6. Once your iPhone is restored to its factory settings, follow the prompts to set it up like new. Then set up Face ID again.

iPhone 13 mini Face ID not working still?

If you’ve tried all of these troubleshooting steps and your iPhone 13 mini Face ID is still not working properly for you, you may have a hardware problem with your device that requires servicing. You should contact Apple Support for help.