Check what is in front of the camera
Face ID uses the TrueDepth camera at the top of the screen. A screen protector or case edge over that area, a smear, or a crack across it is enough to stop it. Clean it with a soft cloth and remove anything covering it.
Hold the phone at arm's length or closer, facing you. Face ID works in landscape only on iPhone 13 and later, and it struggles with some polarised sunglasses.
Check the settings
Settings → Face ID & Passcode shows what Face ID is allowed to unlock. If unlocking works but App Store or Apple Pay does not, the switch for that feature is off there.
Require Attention for Face ID needs your eyes open and looking at the phone. That is the safer setting; if it is failing you, check that nothing on your face — tinted glasses in particular — hides your eyes from the camera before turning it off.
Masks, glasses and changes in appearance
Face ID with a Mask is available on iPhone 12 and later, in Settings → Face ID & Passcode. It looks at the area around your eyes, so add each pair of glasses you wear with it.
Set Up an Alternate Appearance on the same screen helps if you look substantially different at times — with heavy make-up, work glasses or a beard you grow and shave.
Restart, then reset Face ID
Restart the iPhone; Face ID often comes back after one. If it does not, Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Reset Face ID, then set it up again in good light. This removes your stored face data and records it afresh, and fixes recognition that has drifted over time.
Updating iOS is worth doing at the same time — our update guide covers it.
If it says Face ID is not available
Face ID is not available. Try setting up Face ID later, or a setup that will not start, means iOS cannot reach the TrueDepth camera. Restart and update first. If the message stays, it is a hardware fault, not a setting.
This is common after a drop, liquid exposure, or a screen replacement by a shop that did not transfer the original parts correctly. The TrueDepth camera is paired to the phone's logic board, so only an Apple repair or an independent shop using Apple's parts and calibration can restore it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Face ID stop working?
Usually something covering the TrueDepth camera — a screen protector, case or smear. Clean the top of the screen, restart, and reset Face ID if that does not help.
What does Face ID is not available mean?
iOS cannot reach the TrueDepth camera. If a restart and an update do not clear it, the camera has a hardware fault and needs a repair.
Does Face ID work with glasses and masks?
With most glasses, yes. Face ID with a Mask works on iPhone 12 and later; add each pair of glasses you wear with it.
Will resetting Face ID delete anything?
Only the stored face data. You set Face ID up again afterwards; passwords, Apple Pay cards and everything else are untouched.