5 tips to keep Face ID from ghosting you

Summary

Make sure everything is visible by removing obstructions within a short range of about 9.8 inches.
Help Face ID work in different scenarios by configuring an alternate appearance or adjusting to lifestyle changes.
If Face ID issues persist, try troubleshooting by checking for updates, restarting the device, or resetting Face ID as a last resort.

Face ID is one of the subtler things people tend to appreciate about upgrading from a device like 2022’s iPhone SE. As nice as Touch ID was, Face ID is often seamless — it’s automatic, and so quick these days that your iPhone 16 might be unlocked before you’re even aware it’s happening. That’s the goal, anyway.

In practice, Face ID occasionally runs into trouble. If it’s being problematic, though, there’s no need to go back to using a passcode full-time, since these tips should solve most or all of Face ID’s standard issues.

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1 Make sure your face is fully visible

Glasses are (sometimes) welcome

A man wearing Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses with facial recognition lines on his face

Face ID is excellent at adjusting to most temporary changes in appearance, such as blemishes or extra facial hair. That’s because it’s capturing eye, depth, and infrared data, rather than just scanning the surface of your skin. The technology even works in a pitch-black room.

Face ID should work with many pairs of glasses without any trouble, the main exception being sunglasses.

When Face ID fails, it’s most likely because something is obscuring your face. If you’ve got long hair, for example, make sure it’s brushed to the side. If you’re wearing a scarf or a mask, you may need to pull it down temporarily. Apple added support for masks in 2022, but if you haven’t set that up using Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Face ID with a Mask, the bottom of your face needs to remain uncovered.

As for the top half, Face ID should work with many pairs of glasses without any trouble. The main exception is sunglasses, since some pairs will block infrared light. No matter what kind of glasses you’re wearing, though, it’s worth taking them off briefly if detection keeps failing.

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2 Try adding an alternate appearance

Your iPhone can adapt to your lifestyle

A man wearing a trench coat and goggles.

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Some people need to radically alter their looks on a regular basis, and that can create havoc with Face ID, as adaptable as it is. The solution to this is going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up an Alternate Appearance on your iPhone or iPad. You’ll go through steps similar to the initial setup, so be sure you’ve got your second look ready to go.

The big catch is that you can only set up one alternate appearance, so make sure it’s a frequent one, like the safety gear you wear at work. Also, once your new look is in place, you won’t be able to use this method to add a loved one to Face ID.

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3 Bring your device closer to your face

Sometimes, the obvious answer really is the solution

A person holding an iPhone in an alleyway.

Faraz Arshad / Unsplash / Pocket-lint

Face ID is an inherently short-range technology. It’s not relying on the same camera you use to take selfies — it’s using a dedicated depth/infrared sensor array, and that array may not work well (or at all) beyond 50 centimeters or about 19.7 inches, which is roughly an arm’s length.

Your best bet is to get closer to 25 centimeters, a little over 9.8 inches.

Your best bet is to get closer to 25 centimeters, a little over 9.8 inches. That’s a distance many people hold their iPhone at, but it’s less common when using an iPad, particularly if you’ve stationed your tablet in a desktop setup. With either device, try leaning in a bit when you need to authenticate.

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4 Check for software updates and/or restart

A long shot, but not impossible

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“It just works” used to be an unofficial Apple slogan, but the company’s latest devices are so complex that bugs will inevitably spring up somewhere, sometime. A Face ID bug is unlikely — yet the possibility can’t be completely ruled out.

Begin by going to Settings > General > Software Update. If there’s a new version of iOS or iPadOS available, go ahead and install it as long as critical files are backed up. The process could take up to 30 minutes or more, depending on your internet connection, the size of the update, and your device’s processor speed. When it’s finished, your device will reboot.

If there’s no update available, it may be worth manually rebooting your iPhone or iPad anyway. There could be cache or process problems interfering with Face ID, and you might get lucky by returning to a clean slate.

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5 Try resetting Face ID

A last resort, but a good one

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This is the nuclear option, but it could be worth the hassle. It’s possible that the circumstances in which you first set up Face ID were less than ideal, in which case, starting from scratch could make detection more reliable. Make sure your face is completely uncovered — except perhaps for thin, transparent glasses — and looks the way it will most of the time you’re using your iPhone or iPad. If you don’t normally wear glasses, leave them off.

This is the nuclear option, but it could be worth the hassle.

You can initiate a reset by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and tapping Reset Face ID. Once that’s done, though, you’ll have to go back to the Face ID menu and hit Set Up Face ID.