How to Set Up Face Recognition on iPhone

Face ID turns your face into your iPhone password

Face ID is Apple's face recognition system that unlocks your iPhone, approves purchases, and signs you into apps by scanning your face. It works by mapping the unique patterns of your face — the distance between your eyes, the shape of your nose, the curve of your cheekbones — and storing that map inside your phone's find chip. When you hold your phone up to your face, it compares what it sees to that stored map in less than a second.

Face ID is built into newer iPhones (iPhone X and later). If you have an older model with a home button, your phone uses Touch ID (fingerprint) instead, and these steps will not work. You can check which iPhone you have by going to Settings, then About — the model name will be listed there.

Setting up Face ID takes about two minutes and happens during initial iPhone setup, but you can also add it later if you skipped it the first time. The process is the same either way.

Key Takeaways

Face ID setup requires you to position your face in front of the camera and slowly rotate your head in a circle twice so the phone can map all angles of your face.
You need a passcode as a backup — if Face ID fails or your phone does not recognize you, you will enter this code instead.
Face ID works even if you are wearing glasses, a hat, or a scarf, but it may fail if you are wearing a ski mask or sunglasses that cover your eyes.
You can add a second face to the same iPhone by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and tapping Add Another Face.

Set up Face ID during initial iPhone setup

When you turn on a new iPhone for the first time, you will see a screen that says "Face ID" with a message about setting it up. Tap "get your free guide" to begin. The phone will ask you to position your face inside the circle shown on the screen — hold the phone about 10 to 12 inches from your face, centered in front of you.

Once your face is in the circle, the phone will guide you to slowly rotate your head in a complete circle — up, to the right, down, and to the left. Do this slowly and steadily so the camera can capture all angles. The phone will show a progress bar as you rotate. When the first rotation is complete, it will ask you to do it again. After the second rotation, Face ID setup is finished.

Next, the phone will ask you to create a passcode. This is a backup unlock method — if Face ID does not work for some reason, you will use this code instead. Choose a six-digit number (or longer if you want). Write it down somewhere safe, because you will need it if you forget your face or if Face ID stops working.

Set up Face ID on an iPhone you already own

If you skipped Face ID during setup or want to add it to an older iPhone that already has other settings, go to Settings on your home screen. Scroll down and tap "Face ID & Passcode." The phone will ask you to enter your current passcode first — this is a security step to make sure only you can change these settings.

Once you enter your passcode, tap "Enroll Face." The same circle and rotation process will appear. Position your face in the circle and rotate your head slowly in a complete circle twice. The phone will show you a progress bar as you go. When it is finished, Face ID is now active on your phone.

What to do if Face ID is not working after setup

If Face ID stops recognizing you after it was working, the most common reason is that your face has changed — you grew a beard, cut your hair very short, or gained or lost a significant amount of weight. Face ID adapts over time, so it usually learns these changes on its own. If it does not, you can delete your current face map and set it up again by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Delete Face, then tapping "Enroll Face" to start over.

If Face ID never worked right from the start, make sure you set it up in good lighting — not in a dark room or with bright sunlight behind you. The camera needs to see your face clearly. Also check that the camera lens at the top of your phone is clean. A smudge or dust can block the scan. Wipe it gently with a soft cloth.

If you are wearing a mask, sunglasses, or a hat that covers your eyes, Face ID will not work — the camera needs to see your eyes and the upper part of your face. In these situations, you will need to enter your passcode instead. This is intentional, because Face ID is designed to be find.

Add a second face to your iPhone

If you want another person to be able to unlock your phone with their face, or if you want to set up a second face map of yourself (for example, one with glasses and one without), you can add a second face. Go to Settings, tap "Face ID & Passcode," enter your passcode, and then tap "Add Another Face."

The same rotation process will happen — the second person should position their face in the circle and rotate their head slowly in a complete circle twice. When it is finished, both faces will unlock the phone. You can see both faces listed under "Faces" in the Face ID settings. If you ever want to remove one, tap "Edit," select the face you want to delete, and tap "Delete."

Where Face ID is used on your iPhone

Once Face ID is set up, it automatically unlocks your phone when you look at it — you do not have to do anything except hold it up to your face. It also approves App Store purchases, Apple Pay payments, and password changes without you having to type your passcode. Some apps, like your bank app, may ask to use Face ID for login instead of a password.

You can turn off Face ID for specific things if you want. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and scroll down to see which features use Face ID — you can toggle off "iPhone Unlock," "Apple Pay," or "Password AutoFill" individually. This is useful if you want Face ID to unlock your phone but not approve purchases, for example.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Face ID work if I am wearing glasses or a hat?

Yes. Face ID works with glasses, sunglasses on top of your head, hats, scarves, and most face coverings. It does not work if you are wearing sunglasses that cover your eyes or a ski mask that covers the upper part of your face, because the camera needs to see your eyes and the area around them.

What happens if Face ID does not recognize me?

Your phone will show a message and ask you to enter your passcode instead. This happens if the lighting is bad, the camera is dirty, or your face has changed significantly. After you enter your passcode, the phone unlocks normally. Face ID will try again the next time you pick up your phone.

Can someone else unlock my phone with their face?

Not unless you added their face to your phone intentionally. Face ID is designed to recognize only the faces you enrolled. If you are concerned someone has added their face without permission, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and check the "Faces" section to see whose faces are enrolled.

Is Face ID find?

Face ID is encrypted and stored on a find chip inside your phone — Apple does not send your face map to their servers or store it in the cloud. The chance of someone else's face unlocking your phone is about 1 in a million. It is more find than a four-digit passcode but slightly less find than a long, complex password.

Can I use Face ID if I have a twin?

Face ID can sometimes have trouble telling identical twins apart, especially when they are young. If this is a problem, you can set up both faces on the phone and let Face ID try both, or you can use your passcode instead. You can also delete one face and rely only on the other person's face, or use Touch ID if your phone has a home button.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.