Face ID Not Working on iPhone After iOS 13.1.1 Update? Here’s How to Fix It

If Face ID stopped working on your iPhone after updating to iOS 13.1.1, you’re not the only one. Whether your phone isn’t recognizing your face or not responding at all, there are a number of possible causes—most of which you can fix yourself. Here’s how to troubleshoot Face ID problems and get it working again.

1. Force Restart Your iPhone

A software glitch might be causing Face ID to fail. A force restart can refresh your system and clear temporary bugs.

Quickly press and release the Volume Up button.
Quickly press and release the Volume Down button.
Press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears.

Once the phone reboots, try unlocking it with Face ID again.

2. Clean the Front Camera

Face ID relies on the TrueDepth camera system. If the front lens is dirty, blocked, or fogged up, it may not detect your face properly.

Wipe the front of your iPhone gently with a soft, lint-free cloth.
Check that there are no screen protectors or cases interfering with the camera area.
Make sure your face is clearly visible and you’re not too close or too far from the screen.

3. Check Your Face ID Settings

Sometimes Face ID may be turned off for specific functions.

Open Settings.
Tap Face ID & Passcode.
Enter your passcode.
Make sure Face ID is enabled for the functions you want (iPhone Unlock, iTunes & App Store, Apple Pay, etc.).

4. Set Up a New Face ID

If Face ID can’t recognize your face at all, try resetting it and setting it up again.

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
Enter your passcode.
Tap Reset Face ID, then tap Set Up Face ID.
Follow the on-screen prompts to scan your face in the circle.

You can also use Set Up an Alternate Appearance if you want to register a second look or another person’s face.

5. Reset All Settings

A misconfigured setting from the update might be interfering with Face ID. This reset won’t delete your data, but it will erase Wi-Fi passwords, paired Bluetooth devices, and system preferences.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset.
Tap Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

After the reset, test Face ID again.

6. Erase All Content and Settings (Factory Reset)

Only do this if all else fails—and make sure you back up your data first.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

Set your iPhone up as new, and test Face ID before restoring your backup.

Still Not Working? It Might Be Hardware

If you’ve tried every fix and Face ID still doesn’t respond, it’s possible that the TrueDepth camera has a hardware issue. This could be due to accidental damage, moisture, or even a defect triggered by the update.

Your next step: Visit an Apple Store or authorized repair provider. They’ll run a hardware diagnostic and let you know if a repair is needed.