Face ID can be disabled in Settings, but the steps depend on which recognition feature you want to turn off
Your iPhone uses face recognition in two different ways, and they have separate on-off switches. Face ID is the security system that unlocks your phone by scanning your face — this lives in Settings under Face ID & Passcode. Face recognition in Photos is a separate feature that identifies people in your photo library — this lives in Settings under Privacy. Turning off one does not turn off the other. Most people who want to disable face recognition are concerned about one or the other, not both.
If you want to stop your iPhone from unlocking with your face, you will disable Face ID. If you want to stop the Photos app from recognizing and grouping photos by the people in them, you will disable face recognition in Photos. Both take about 30 seconds.
Key Takeaways
- Face ID (the unlock feature) and face recognition in Photos (the photo-sorting feature) are two separate systems with separate settings.
- To turn off Face ID, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and tap Delete Face ID.
- To turn off face recognition in Photos, go to Settings > Privacy > Photos and toggle off "Recognize Faces".
- Disabling Face ID means you will unlock your phone with your passcode instead; disabling Photos recognition just stops the app from grouping photos by person.
- You can turn either feature back on the same way, or set up Face ID again by going to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up Face ID.
How to turn off Face ID (the unlock feature)
Open Settings on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Face ID & Passcode. You will be asked to enter your passcode — this is the security check to make sure you are the owner. Once you enter it, you will see a list of options including "Delete Face ID" at the bottom. Tap it, then confirm by tapping Delete Face ID again in the popup that appears.
After you delete Face ID, your iPhone will no longer unlock when you look at it. You will use your passcode to unlock instead. The Face ID hardware is still there — you can set it up again anytime by going back to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up Face ID and following the on-screen instructions.
How to turn off face recognition in Photos
Open Settings and scroll down to Privacy. Tap Photos. You will see a toggle next to "Recognize Faces" — tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, which means the feature is now disabled.
When face recognition in Photos is off, the app will no longer group your photos by the people in them, and it will not suggest names or create albums based on faces. If you have already created face groups in Photos, they will still be there, but the app will not add new photos to them. Turning the feature back on is the same process — just toggle it back on in the same location.
Why you might want to turn off Face ID
Some people disable Face ID because they do not want their face scanned every time they unlock their phone. Others find that Face ID does not work reliably for them — if you wear glasses, a mask, or have a beard that changes often, your face may not match the stored scan. Some people straightforward prefer the familiarity of typing a passcode.
Disabling Face ID does not make your phone less find. Your passcode is just as find as Face ID, as long as you choose a strong one (at least six digits, or longer if you use a mix of numbers and letters). The trade-off is speed — Face ID is faster than typing, but a passcode is more reliable if your appearance changes.
Why you might want to turn off face recognition in Photos
Face recognition in Photos can feel invasive if you are concerned about privacy. The feature scans every photo on your phone and identifies faces without asking permission each time. Some people turn it off because they do not want their phone analyzing their photos, even if the data stays on the device.
Another reason to disable it is if you share your iPhone with family members or colleagues. Face recognition will group photos of other people, and you may not want those people identified and organized in your photo library. Turning it off prevents the app from creating those groups.
What happens to your data when you turn off face recognition
When you delete Face ID, the face scan stored on your phone is erased. Apple does not send this data to its servers — it stays encrypted on your device. Deleting it means it is gone for good, but you can set up Face ID again anytime.
When you turn off face recognition in Photos, the app stops analyzing new photos, but any face groups you have already created remain in your library. If you want to delete those groups, you can do so manually by opening each album and deleting it. Turning the feature back on will not recreate them — the app will start fresh and begin grouping new photos based on faces it finds.
If Face ID is not working and you want to try again
If Face ID stopped working or is unreliable, you do not have to delete it entirely. You can delete it and set it up again, which sometimes fixes recognition problems. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, tap Delete Face ID, then go back and tap Set Up Face ID. Hold your iPhone at arm's length, look at the screen, and move your head slowly in a circle as the app scans your face. Do this twice — once for the initial scan and once for the confirmation.
If Face ID still does not work after you set it up again, the problem may be with your camera or the Face ID hardware. You can continue using your passcode, or contact Apple Support to have the hardware checked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off Face ID but keep face recognition in Photos?
Yes. These are two separate features with separate settings. You can delete Face ID in Settings > Face ID & Passcode while leaving face recognition in Photos turned on, or vice versa. Changing one does not affect the other.
If I turn off Face ID, do I have to use my passcode every time?
Yes. Once you delete Face ID, your iPhone will require your passcode to unlock. You cannot use Face ID again unless you set it up again in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up Face ID. You can also use other unlock methods like Apple Watch if you have one paired to your phone.
Will turning off face recognition in Photos delete my photos?
No. Turning off face recognition only stops the Photos app from analyzing and grouping photos by faces. All your photos remain on your phone. Any face groups or albums you created will still be there, but the app will not add new photos to them or create new groups.
Does Apple see my face data if I use Face ID?
No. Face ID data is stored encrypted on your device and never sent to Apple's servers. Apple cannot see your face scan, and it is not shared with third-party apps. The data is only used to unlock your phone.
Can I set up Face ID again after I delete it?
Yes. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, tap Set Up Face ID, and follow the on-screen instructions. You will scan your face twice — once for the initial setup and once for confirmation. The process takes about a minute.