Face ID breaking for some iPhone owners — what you need to know

FaceID
(Image credit: Future)

If you didn't have enough of a reason to switch to iOS 16, then perhaps this new iOS 15 bug might motivate you.

The iOS 15.7.1 Release Candidate seems to have disabled Face ID for certain users (via MacRumors). Users u/CockroachLate on Reddit and realviraj on Twitter and commenters on their posts have reported the iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max as affected models, so whether other iPhone models with Face ID are affected is unclear for now.

It seems like you can't fix it by resetting Face ID either, as that just continually asks the user to reposition the phone higher or lower, and then pops up with a "Face ID Is Not Available" warning that can't be worked around. That leaves inputting your PIN or password as the only way to unlock these affected iPhone models for the time being.

A screenshot from the iOS 15.7.1 Release Candidate that shows the Face ID Not Available error

(Image credit: u/CockroachLate and Reddi)

Users with any of the iPhone 12 or iPhone 13 models mentioned above are likely best updating their software to iOS 16, rather than sticking with iOS 15. If you're running an iPhone 7, iPhone SE (2016) or an older model, you won't be able to escape iOS 15.7.1 as Apple only offers iOS 16 for the iPhone 8 and newer. 

The best you'll be able to do is wait for the official release as it will hopefully have this bug fixed, although since none of these models offer Face ID, hopefully whatever coding error won't have a negative effect. Definitely do not try and download the release candidate for yourself either, unless you have a spare iPhone lying around that you don't mind being the victim of potentially dodgy coding.

Ideally though, you'd upgrade your iPhone to iOS 16 if you can. The latest revision of the iPhone operating system comes with lots of useful new additions. You can now customize your lock screen in completely new ways, unsend emails or texts, lift subjects out of a photo and get better typing feedback thanks to a new haptic keyboard option. 

TOPICS
Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.

Read more
iOS 18 home screen customization features
Apple will no longer allow users to downgrade from iOS 18.3 — here’s why
The initial splash screen that displays when opening up Apple Visual Intelligence for the first time. It reads "Visual Intelligence with Camera Control - Learn about the objects and places around you and get even more information about what you see. Images from your camera are not stored on iPhone or shared with Apple."
The iPhone 15 Pro is getting one of the best iPhone 16 Pro features for free soon
Passwords app on iPhone next to iOS 18 logo
iOS 18.4 just got a handy security upgrade that will make your life easier
Apple iPhone 16 held in the hand.
iOS 18.3.1 — update your iPhone right now to fix critical zero-day vulnerability
Apple Intelligence logo on iPhone
iOS 18.3 switches on Apple Intelligence without asking — here’s how to turn it off
The camera assembly on the Google Pixel 9
The latest Google Pixel update is breaking fingerprint scanners — but there may be a fix
Latest in iPhones
iPhone 16 with Apple Intelligence logo for iOS 18.1
iOS 18.4: All the newest Apple Intelligence features coming to your iPhone
Apple maps logo on iPhone screen
I avoided Apple Maps for trip planning — but these iOS 18 features are changing my mind
New emojis with iOS 18.4 beta release.
iOS 18.4 beta brings 8 new emoji to your iPhone — here's all the new options
An image of an iPhone screen showing the Safari app icon in the center
I got tired of Safari revealing my web searches in iOS 18.4 — this setting fixes that
iPhone Flip Concept
Foldable iPhone delays — there’s a bigger problem going on at Apple
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air — new survey could be bad news for Apple's super thin iPhone
Latest in News
(L-R) Yura Borisov as Igor, Mark Eydelshteyn as Vanya, Karren Karagulian as Toros and Mikey Madison as Anora "Ani" Mikheeva in "Anora"
Hulu top 10 movies — here's what you need to stream right now
Nintendo Switch 2
Nintendo Switch 2 tipster may have just leaked release month and launch plans
Disney Plus logo
Disney Plus upgrade just fixed one of my biggest problems with the home page
Tom Hiddleston as Robert Laing in "High Rise" now streaming on Netflix
5 best Netflix movies in March you haven't watched yet
iPhone 16 with Apple Intelligence logo for iOS 18.1
iOS 18.4: All the newest Apple Intelligence features coming to your iPhone
Maria Debska in "Just One Look" now streaming on Netflix
3 best Netflix shows in March you haven't watched yet