How to fix iPhone X Face ID not working after iOS 13.3

Face ID is the latest technology designed and develop by Apple Inc. This feature is used to unlock phone screens, accessing apps, and processing purchases. The facial recognition system which replaced the old Touch ID uses the front camera (TrueDepth camera) to authenticate the identification of the user. But with the recent iOS 13.3 update, Face ID has disappointed a lot of iPhone X users.

If you are also having the same issue with your iPhone X which Face ID stopped working after the iOS 13.3 implementation, this article is for you. Before we start troubleshooting your iPhone X device, let’s see why Face ID would fail in some instances. Read further.

Troubleshooting iPhone X with Face ID not working issue after iOS 13.3.

Unlocking your iPhone X is can be done by simply glancing at the front camera or also known as TrueDepth camera of your iOS device. But there is always an exception. Face ID won’t work as intended when:

1. You’ve just turned on or restarted your iPhone X device.
2. Your iOS device has not been unlocked for 48 hours.
3. You haven’t unlocked your iPhone X using the passcode for 6 and a half days, and Face ID has not been used for the given 4 hours time to unlock the iPhone device.
4. Your iPhone X received a remote access command.
5. You have unsuccessfully unlocked the iPhone X with Face ID for 5 times.
6. You have turned off your iPhone X device or initiated SOS (emergency) by simultaneously pressing and holding down either volume button and power (side) button for at least 2 seconds.
7. Your iPhone X has less than 10% battery life.

Aside from these, there are also things you need to consider when using Face ID on your iPhone X. Ensure that the TrueDepth camera (front camera) is free of dust and not covered by a screen protector or phone case. Your face should be fully visible for the facial recognition system to authenticate your identity. The distance of your face should be 10-20 inches apart from your phone. Never wear sunglasses when using Face ID. If these basic requisites are met and still Face ID is not working, start troubleshooting your iPhone X using the tweaks listed below.

First solution: Check Face ID settings to fix your iPhone X.

The iOS update might have automatically altered your iPhone’s settings and disabled Face ID resulting the feature to quit working. Here is how you check and manage Face ID settings on your iPhone X:

1. From Home, go to Settings.
2. Select Face ID & Passcode.
3. Scroll down to the Use Face ID for section and check if Face ID is still enabled to selected options and in-apps.
4. Toggle the switch to corresponding option to enable Face ID when needed. (example: iPhone Unlock, Apple Pay, iTunes & App Store, etc)

After making necessary changes, check if Face ID is already working on selected options. If not, continue troubleshooting your iPhone X device.

Second solution: Reset Face ID and then set up again.

If the first option fails to fix the Face ID issue on your iPhone X, it would be better to reset the Face ID. This can be done by deleting the currently saved image for your Face ID, and setting up a new one.To reset Face ID, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app from Home.
2. Then select Face ID and Passcode.
3. Scroll down to and tap on Reset Face ID. Doing so will delete saved Face ID on your device.

After resetting the Face ID, set up new Face ID using these steps:

1. Go back to Settings.
2. Select Face ID and Passcode.
3. If prompted, enter your device passcode.
4. Then tap on Set Up Face ID.
5. Hold your iPhone in portrait orientation, then position your face in front of the camera.
6. Then tap on Get Started and position your face inside the frame.
7. Gently move your head completing the circle for face scanning and then tap Continue.
8. Then slowly move your head again to complete the circle for the second time.
9. Then tap Done.

By then, you need to enable this feature again on your iPhone X. Then see if the problem has already been corrected.

Third option: Force restart iPhone X to fix Face ID that is not working after iOS 13.3.

Minor software glitches can also be to blame. And these glitches can be eliminated by restarting your iPhone X. Thus, refreshing its operating system. To get this done, follow these steps:

1. Press and quickly release the Volume Up button.
2. Press and quickly release the Volume Down button.
3. Finally, press and hold the Side or Power button and release when the Apple logo appears.

Remember that you can’t carry out a soft reset to address Face ID issue as simultaneously pressing and holding down the power and either volume button will prompt Face ID to quit working. So, you need to carry out force restart (hard reboot) instead. Make sure to check if Face ID is already working once your iPhone X is completely back on.

Fourth solution: Reset all settings.

Automatic settings alteration due to the iOS update could have triggered Face ID function to fail. This is actually the downside of installing major software update on iOS device. Even so, we still strongly recommend users to regularly update their iOS when available. But to ensure that settings misconfiguration isn’t halting Face ID to work properly, try resetting all settings on your device using these steps:

1. Go to Settings from Home.
2. Select General.
3. Scroll down to and tap Reset.
4. Then select Reset all settings option.
5. If prompted, enter your device passcode.
6. Then select the option to confirm all settings reset.

This reset will not result to a complete data loss, so creating back-up beforehand is not yet necessary. Your iPhone will reboot by itself after the reset and restores default values and options. By then, start customizing your phone’s settings and ensure the Face ID feature will be enabled. Don’t forget to check if the facial recognition system is back to its working state.

Fifth solution: Restore your iPhone X to factory default settings.

Face ID could have been halted by major software glitches and tough iOS bugs which the basic troubleshooting tweaks can’t manage to fix. Thus, a more-advanced solution is needed to be carried out. Before you restore your iPhone to factory default, backup your saved files with either iCloud or iTunes. Once done, perform a factory reset using these steps:

1. Open the Settings app from the Home screen.
2. Then tap on General.
3. Scroll to and tap on Reset.
4. Then select Erase all content & settings from the given options.
5. Enter your device passcode to continue.
6. Then select the option to confirm factory reset on your iPhone X device.

Alternatively, you can also reset your iPhone X to factory default via iTunes. This method is ideal especially if your phone screen becomes unresponsive. This option will also require you to have either a Mac or Windows computer with the latest iTunes software installed. Then connect your iPhone X to the computer using the Apple-supplied USB or lightning cable and follow these steps:

1. Launch iTunes on the computer and wait until it recognizes your iPhone X device.
2. Then select your iPhone X in iTunes.
3. If needed, click the option to back up your iOS device with iCloud or iTunes.
4. Then click on the Reset button to restore your iPhone X to factory default settings.
5. Click Restore to confirm.

It may take a couple of minutes for iTunes to restore your iPhone X and re-install new software, so make sure not to unplug your iPhone from the computer. Instead, wait for the process to be completed. Then once you are on the Welcome Screen, follow the onscreen instructions to set up your iPhone X as new again.

Still having Face ID issue on your iPhone X?

If you have exhausted the given solutions above to no avail, you might need to contact Apple Support to escalate the issue. Don’t forget to provide detailed information for them to determine the root cause of the problem, then provide you with the appropriate diagnosis. Thank you for reading!