Why is Face ID failing after updating to iOS 18.3.1?

I’m using an iPhone 15 Pro Max. Same thing happened to my device after updating to ios 18.3.1. My phone was never dropped, never got wet, I use it mainly for communication and social media. So I don’t think I have done anything to have caused this.

I have tried tried forced restart, I’ve also tried resetting the faceid and I cannot set up a new one, so I tried restoring my phone. But I still cannot set up a new faceid. Then I learned that true depth sensor is not working.

You can check yours by using another camera to see if there are lights coming out of the sensor. You’ll only see it through another camera.

I’ve done all troubleshooting steps I found online. But none worked. Hoping the next update fixes it and I hope it comes out soon.

amanbansil wrote:

Update after speaking with Apple:

• Apple will not assist with this without me paying for a hardware FaceID module swap.

That's because it's a hardware problem. Hardware problems require hardware solutions. And, if you're out of warranty, they cost money.

I’m 99% sure now that it’s a huge bug and not hardware related. Apple support told me that they are aware of this problem but they can’t tell me for sure that the next update will solve it. I’m guessing because there aren’t so many of us with this issue. So it’s just a waiting game now.

Today my Face ID is working after upgrade 18.3.2

Unfortunately, there is no upcoming update until 18.4 in April. I will suggest continuing to contact Apple Support as our strength is in the unity of the affected community. Contact your local news, perhaps, they get interested in persuing this issue at a higher level.

Same issue here, after about a week since I've updated to iOS 18.3.1.

Contacted Apple Support and basically it's either resetting all settings, either waiting for the next update to come and hope for the best.

Has anyone tried resetting all settings ?

Following my earlier comments on this thread, this link will perhaps explain what’s going on with some of your phones, if you’ve had the screen or front camera replaced (by 3rd party components) or has been damaged.

https://umatechnology.org/face-id-stops-working-on-iphone-13-after-third-party-screen-repairs/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Hi Alin-Marcel,

If it is brand new (from an Apple store, major retailer or a mobile service provider and not a "renewed" or "refurbed" phone which may have had a screen replacement) and also still covered by the Apple warranty, Apple should resolve the issue and not fob you off with "wait for the next iOS update" excuse.

I have seen posts saying that Apple will fix the hardware issue if it complies with the above.

I only added the link to the comment about 3rd party components being the cause as I suspect that it is Apple's strategy to get more income by forcing customers to get iPhones repaired outside of the warranty

Opeemma wrote:

My Face ID is not working

Start here:

If Face ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad Pro - Apple Support

I just recently upgraded to ios 18.3.1 and I experienced the same.

I've tried turning off the stolen device protection, reset face ID, shut down and turn my iphone 13 Pro Max, and set up face ID all over again but it didn't work at all.

So this is really random. As I put in my last post I was on 18.2.1 (18.3.1 was downloaded but not installed) when the problem started. I managed to get Face ID working temporarily after a reboot and turned it off. I also turned it off for each app. I did the update to 18.3.1 , redid Face ID and turned it back on for everything and the issue has gone away !!!

No idea what to recommend to others but it is solved for me .

FYI , I am on an iPhone 13 .

note, I have the same issue since the update. I've spoken to Apple Support twice. They're escalating it to a "Senior Advisor" for investigation. The agent said to expect a call from the advisor. I have been showing them this thread. They are now aware of this thread.

What I tried: My Stolen Device Protection would not turn off so I could not reset FaceID. I had to log into iCloud.com and force iPhone to be erased from iCloud.com

Further to my comment above, which of you have tried the steps to reset Face ID and it still fails, have had replacement screens prior to iOS 18.3.1?

It’s just that I have also seen this (see screenshot). If your camera components have also been replaced by non-Apple parts (as part of the screen replacement) and Apple are doing a purge of 3rd party screens, it may be an explanation.

I called Apple Support in Poland, and they connected remotely to my iPhone and tried to debug the issue. No progress. They suggested going to apple service and paying to diagnose on site.