Face ID stop working on iPhone after iOS 18.4 update

The update couldn’t have caused your Face ID to stop working. But it rather sounds like a pure coincidence. Most times when Face ID isn’t working, there is something wrong with the TrueDepth camera, which is the hardware behind it. Please review the following Support Articles to do basic troubleshooting.

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

If an alert says Face ID has an issue on your iPhone or iPad Pro - Apple Support

If the above doesn’t help, this is likely a hardware issue that needs to be taken a look at your nearest Apple Store’s Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Provider.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple 

Did you Force Restart the phone?

• Press and quickly release the Volume Up
• Press and quickly release the Volume Down
• Press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears. Ignore anything else on the screen during this time and it may take up to 15 seconds before you see the Apple Logo while holding the side button.

Worked! I had to set up face id again but the process of shutting off stolen id protection, then face id, then restarting iPhone has currently fixed my issue. Hope anyone else has the same results if this issue happens to your device.

I contacted Apple Support. They performed a remote check on the hardware and found that Face ID was unavailable. The only thing they could offer was to send a courier to take it away and repair it, or replace the entire device. Well, I wasn't too happy, as my phone is essential for my work. Shortly after the conversation, it occurred to me that it might be worth trying a hard reset. Lo and behold...it helped, Face ID is working again! The only thing I noticed was that Face ID was disabled for some (not all) apps. I had to re-enable it.

joshlawson84 wrote:

I had this issue and took it in to an Genius Bar and they verified my hardware was working correctly, but confirmed there was an issue and said the cause was most likely the software update.

It subsequently began working again after the most recent update. Might just be a coincidence, but the Genius Bar did verify the hardware was all in perfect working order.

It will fail again soon.

Adding a +1 to this response / thread. FaceID stopped working. Tried to turn off but it required ... my Face ID which was not working and the reason I was trying to turn it off! Did a reset on the phone and all seems to be working normally now. For those having this issue, restart your phone to see if that will fix it.

Hello~ Any help by clicking on below?

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

If needed…

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

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~Katana-San~

It is almost always a hardware failure.

And yes an update which involves a high thermal and electrical stress on the phone, can be the "last straw" for an already failing phone hardware unit.

I had this issue and took it in to an Genius Bar and they verified my hardware was working correctly, but confirmed there was an issue and said the cause was most likely the software update.

It subsequently began working again after the most recent update. Might just be a coincidence, but the Genius Bar did verify the hardware was all in perfect working order.

Weird because if not an update related issue, then why would a message saying

“Face ID unavailable right now, try back later “? Because that is what my 16Pro just started doing today.

so I tried resetting face id…same message.

so i shut off theft protection, shut off face id, and shut down phone and am currently in the process of reconfiguring settings now. However I popped in to see if this was singular anomaly or if it was widespread. And why was my incident delayed from the initial occurrence from last update? Any answers would help shine some light. Thanks

+1. Phone updated last night. FaceID has not worked since, and you cannot retrain it or disable it, everything with faceID is the faceid and passwords settings is grayed out.

iPhone 16 pro, 18.4.1, Verizon network.

I believe it can't be caused by an update...yet quite a few people are complaining about FaceID not working after the 18.4 update...like me :(

I am also unable to use Siri!! Help!!

Same, the Face ID and Portrait mode in the camera suddenly stopped working on my iPad Pro M4. I don't feel like it's a hardware issue.

is this on your iphone or ipad? does your face id work now and is the front camera portrait mode working?