Face ID Not Working on iPhone 12 Mini After iOS 14.4 Update? Here’s How to Fix It

by

If Face ID suddenly stopped working on your iPhone 12 Mini after updating to iOS 14.4, you’re not alone. Several users have reported that Face ID either doesn’t respond or fails to recognize their face. The good news? It’s usually a minor glitch that you can fix yourself.

Here are all the best ways to troubleshoot and (hopefully) fix Face ID issues on your iPhone 12 Mini.

Force Restart Your iPhone

Sometimes, all your iPhone needs is a fresh restart to clear out system glitches that may be interfering with Face ID.

Here’s how to do a force restart:

  1. Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
  2. Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
  3. Immediately press and hold the Side button until you see the Apple logo.
  4. Release the button when the logo appears.

Once your iPhone boots back up, try using Face ID again.

Check for Face ID Settings and Restrictions

Face ID might be disabled for certain actions without you realizing it.

To check:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap Face ID & Passcode.
  3. Enter your passcode when prompted.
  4. Make sure Face ID is enabled for iPhone Unlock, iTunes & App Store, Wallet, and other features you want.
  5. Also scroll down and make sure Attention Aware Features is enabled.

Reset Face ID and Set It Up Again

If Face ID data got corrupted during the update, resetting it can help.

To reset and set it up again:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Face ID & Passcode.
  3. Enter your passcode.
  4. Tap Reset Face ID.
  5. Once it’s reset, tap Set Up Face ID.
  6. Follow the on-screen steps to register your face again.

Clean the TrueDepth Camera

Dirt, dust, or a smudged screen protector can interfere with Face ID.

  • Use a microfiber cloth to gently clean the front-facing camera area (the notch at the top of the screen).
  • Make sure nothing’s blocking the camera — including your phone case or screen protector.

Update to the Latest iOS Version

Sometimes bugs in early versions of iOS get fixed in minor patches.

  • Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
  • If an update is available, download and install it.

Reset All Settings

If Face ID still won’t work, try resetting all settings. This won’t delete your data, but it will reset things like Wi-Fi passwords and layout preferences.

To do it:

  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
  3. Select Reset All Settings.
  4. Enter your passcode and confirm.

Factory Reset (Last Resort)

If none of the above works, a factory reset can eliminate stubborn firmware bugs.

Before you do this, back up your data. Then:

  1. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
  3. Follow the prompts to reset your iPhone.

Once it’s wiped, set it up as new and test Face ID before restoring your backup.

Leave a Comment