Alex Ruben
How To Disable Face ID on Your iPhone: A Complete Guide
Figured out how to get rid of Face ID on an iPhone? Sometimes it’s necessary — maybe you’re trading in the device, or just want to be sure that facial recognition isn’t accidentally unlocking your phone. Whatever the reason, disabling Face ID isn’t too complicated, but it’s kinda weird how many steps Apple throws in just to turn off something that seems simple. Be prepared to juggle a few menus and possibly enter your passcode a couple of times. By following this, you’ll be removing your face data from the device, which is good if you’re paranoid about privacy or sharing your phone temporarily.
How to Remove Face ID on iPhone
Access the Face ID settings
Start by unlocking the iPhone, then head over to Settings. Scroll down and find Face ID & Passcode. Tap that. Yeah, you’ll need to punch your passcode in for security purposes. If you’ve forgotten it, you’ll have to reset your passcode first, which is another story.
This part applies when Face ID is active and working, but you want to disable or reset it. Doing this ensures no one can unlock your phone with a glance. Expect to see your current face data wiped once you proceed.
Disabling Face ID by resetting it
In the Face ID menu, scroll down until you see Reset Face ID. Tap it, and a confirmation pop-up will appear. Confirm, and the facial data will vanish from the device. On some setups, this might feel a little abrupt or not obvious, but it’s the quickest way to essentially ‘remove’ Face ID from your iPhone. After this, Face ID shouldn’t work until you decide to set it up again, which is handy if you’re passing the phone around or dealing with a compromise.
Just so you know, this deletes all the stored face scans. No more facial unlock, and it’s kind of weird how quick that is — on one device it takes seconds, on another it takes a reboot, who knows? Because of course, Apple doesn’t make it so straightforward.
Optional: Set up Face ID again later
If you changed your mind or want to re-enable Face ID later, go back into Face ID & Passcode and tap on Set Up Face ID. Follow the prompts — just like the first time. You might be asked to do some head movements for better recognition. It’s not mandatory, but it’s kind of a little dance you do for the phone to memorize your face again.
This part is optional — you only do it if you’re planning to use Face ID again. Otherwise, the facial data isn’t stored anymore after reset.
More tips & common issues
If Face ID refuses to reset or keeps acting up, check if your iPhone’s got the latest iOS version installed. Sometimes software bugs cause weird behavior, and updating might fix that. Head over to Settings > General > Software Update and see if there’s anything pending.
Another thing to try: restart your phone. Sometimes, just rebooting clears out glitches and makes options like Reset Face ID work properly. Oh, and if you’ve restricted Face ID with Screen Time, you might need to lift those restrictions first. Just dive into Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and check if Face ID can be disabled there.
Shutting down Face ID isn’t the end of the world, but it’s a little more involved than just flipping a switch. Just remember, resetting it removes your facial data and disables the feature—so it’s kind of a “kill switch” for that biometric security. If doing this makes your life easier or more private, then so be it. Not the most elegant process, but it works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Face ID be re-enabled after resetting?
Yep, just go back into Face ID & Passcode and tap Set Up Face ID. Simple as that, and you can reconfigure it anytime.
What happens to my face data when I reset?
It gets completely deleted from the device — so no one can use your face to unlock your phone after that. Honestly, it’s kinda satisfying to wipe it clean in a way.
Is there a way to disable Face ID temporarily without resetting?
For the most part, you just turn it off by disabling features that require Face ID (like unlocking or Apple Pay). Or, if you want to keep Face ID but avoid accidental unlocks, just press the Side Button or lock the screen. Temporary restrictions can also be managed via Screen Time.