Where to find and disable Face ID on your iPhone

Facial recognition on iPhone is called Face ID, and it unlocks your phone by recognizing your face. You can turn it off entirely, or keep it for unlocking but disable it for specific apps and payments. Most people find the settings in one place: Settings > Face ID & Passcode.

When you open that menu, you'll see a list of what Face ID currently does — unlock your iPhone, approve purchases in the App Store and Apple Pay, and fill in passwords. Each one has a toggle switch next to it. Turning off the toggles removes Face ID from those tasks without deleting your face data from the phone.

If you want to remove Face ID entirely and go back to passcode-only unlocking, you can do that too. Scroll to the bottom of the Face ID & Passcode menu and tap "Reset Face ID". This erases your face from the phone's recognition system. You'll need to set up a passcode if you haven't already, because your iPhone requires one or the other.

Key Takeaways

  • Face ID settings live in Settings > Face ID & Passcode, where you can turn off specific uses without erasing your face data.
  • You can disable Face ID for payments and app passwords while keeping it for phone unlocking, or turn it off completely.
  • Resetting Face ID erases your face from the phone, so you'll need a passcode to unlock it instead.
  • If you have an older iPhone without Face ID, you have Touch ID (fingerprint) instead, which uses the same settings menu.
  • Turning off Face ID does not delete any photos or videos on your phone — it only affects how you unlock and authenticate.

Turning off Face ID for specific tasks

You don't have to choose between all-or-nothing. The Face ID & Passcode menu lets you keep facial recognition for unlocking your phone but turn it off for payments, app passwords, or both. This is useful if you want the convenience of Face ID for opening your phone but don't want it authorizing purchases.

Open Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, and enter your passcode. You'll see toggles for "iPhone Unlock", "Apple Pay and Stores", and "Password AutoFill". Turn off whichever ones you don't want to use. When you turn off "Apple Pay and Stores", Face ID will no longer approve purchases — you'll type your password instead. When you turn off "Password AutoFill", Face ID won't fill in saved passwords in Safari or apps.

These changes take effect when ready. The next time you try to make a purchase or fill a password, your phone will ask for your passcode instead of scanning your face.

Completely removing Face ID from your iPhone

If you want to stop using facial recognition altogether, you can erase your face data from the phone. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and scroll down. You'll see "Reset Face ID" at the bottom. Tap it, then confirm. Your face is now deleted from the phone's recognition system.

After you reset Face ID, your iPhone will unlock only with your passcode. You can set up Face ID again later if you change your mind — just go back to the same menu and follow the setup steps. The phone will ask you to position your face in a circle and move your head slowly to create a new facial map.

Resetting Face ID does not affect your photos, messages, or any other data. It only removes the facial recognition feature. Your passcode remains active and is the only way to unlock your phone until you set up Face ID again.

What happens when you disable Face ID for payments

When you turn off "Apple Pay and Stores" in the Face ID menu, your phone stops using facial recognition to authorize money. This affects Apple Pay (contactless payments at stores), purchases in the App Store, and in-app purchases. Instead of scanning your face, you'll need to enter your Apple ID password or use your passcode.

This is a common choice for people who share their phone with family members or who feel uncomfortable with facial recognition handling payments. Turning it off doesn't delete your payment methods — they stay saved in Apple Pay. It just changes how you confirm you're the person making the purchase.

The change applies only to payments. You can still use Face ID to unlock your phone and fill passwords if you leave those toggles on. Each task is independent.

Why someone might want to turn off facial recognition

People disable Face ID for different reasons. Some don't want their face stored on the device at all, even encrypted. Others find it unreliable in certain conditions — Face ID can struggle in very bright sunlight, when you're wearing sunglasses, or if your face has changed significantly since you set it up. Some people straightforward prefer the familiarity of typing a passcode.

Privacy concerns are also common. While Apple encrypts Face ID data and stores it only on your phone (not on Apple's servers), some people prefer not to use biometric authentication at all. Turning it off is a straightforward choice that doesn't require any special knowledge.

If Face ID isn't working well for you, you can also try re-setting it up. Sometimes deleting and recreating your facial map improves accuracy. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, tap "Reset Face ID", then set it up again from the beginning.

The difference between Face ID and Touch ID

Newer iPhones use Face ID (facial recognition), while older models use Touch ID (fingerprint recognition). Both live in the same settings menu: Settings > Face ID & Passcode. If you have an older iPhone, you'll see "Touch ID & Passcode" instead, but the toggles work the same way.

You can turn off Touch ID the same way you turn off Face ID — by toggling off specific uses or by resetting it entirely. The process is identical. If you're upgrading from a Touch ID phone to a Face ID phone, you'll need to set up Face ID during the initial setup, but you can skip it and use passcode-only if you prefer.

What to do if Face ID stops working after you disable it

If you turned off Face ID and now want to use it again, you can set it up without losing any data. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and look for "Set Up Face ID" or "Add Face ID". Follow the on-screen steps to position your face in the circle and move your head slowly. The phone will create a new facial map and ask which features you want to use it for.

If Face ID was working before but suddenly stopped, try these steps: restart your iPhone, make sure your face is clean and visible, check that you're not wearing a mask or heavy sunglasses, and try setting it up again. If it still doesn't work, you can contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store. In the meantime, your passcode will still unlock your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off Face ID delete my photos or personal data?

No. Disabling Face ID only removes the facial recognition feature. Your photos, messages, contacts, and all other data stay on your phone. Face ID is just one way to unlock your device — turning it off doesn't touch anything else.

Can I use Face ID for unlocking but not for payments?

Yes. In Settings > Face ID & Passcode, you can toggle off "Apple Pay and Stores" while keeping "iPhone Unlock" on. This lets you unlock your phone with your face but requires your passcode for purchases.

What if Face ID doesn't recognize me anymore?

Face ID can struggle if you've grown a beard, changed your hairstyle, or are wearing sunglasses. Try resetting it: go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, tap "Reset Face ID", then set it up again. If it still doesn't work, restart your iPhone or contact Apple Support.

Is my face data stored on Apple's servers?

No. Face ID data is encrypted and stored only on your phone. Apple does not send it to their servers or share it with apps. When you reset Face ID, the data is deleted from your device.

Can I set up Face ID for multiple people on one iPhone?

No. One iPhone can only have one Face ID set up at a time. If you want another person to unlock the phone, they would need to use the passcode or you would need to reset Face ID and set it up for them instead.