Where to find and disable Face ID

Face ID is the facial recognition system that unlocks your iPhone and authenticates payments and app access. You can turn it off entirely, or keep it on but disable it for specific functions. The setting lives in your phone's security menu, and the steps differ slightly depending on which iPhone model you have.

All iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and newer, except the SE models) store the setting in the same place. Open Settings, then tap Face ID & Passcode. You'll be asked to authenticate with your face or passcode before you can see the options. Once you're in, you'll see toggles for different uses of Face ID.

If you want to turn off Face ID completely, you cannot do that from Settings. Instead, you must restart your phone in a specific way: press and hold the volume up button and the side button together until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off your phone. When you restart it, Face ID will be disabled until you authenticate again with your passcode. This is a temporary measure — Face ID will re-enable once you unlock the phone normally.

Key Takeaways

  • You can disable Face ID for specific functions (like Apple Pay or app passwords) without turning off the entire system by toggling individual options in Settings.
  • To temporarily disable Face ID completely, force restart your iPhone by holding volume up and the side button until the power slider appears.
  • After a force restart, Face ID stays off until you unlock your phone with your passcode, then it re-enables automatically.
  • If you want Face ID off permanently, you'll need to disable it for each function individually rather than switching off a master toggle.
  • Your passcode remains your backup unlock method whether Face ID is on or off.

Turning off Face ID for specific functions

You don't have to choose between Face ID on or off. You can keep it enabled for unlocking your phone but turn it off for payments, app passwords, or other uses. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, authenticate, and you'll see toggles for iPhone Unlock, Apple Pay, and Password AutoFill. Each one can be switched on or off independently.

The most common reason to do this is security. If you're concerned about someone unlocking your phone with your face while you're asleep or without your knowledge, turn off iPhone Unlock and keep your passcode as the only unlock method. You can still use Face ID for Apple Pay and app passwords if you want the convenience for those functions.

If you turn off Apple Pay, you'll need to enter your passcode or use another payment method when you want to pay with your phone. Turning off Password AutoFill means apps and websites won't use your face to confirm you're the account holder — you'll type your password instead.

What happens when you disable Face ID

When Face ID is off, your passcode becomes your only unlock method. This means every time you want to unlock your phone, you'll type in your six-digit code (or longer if you set a custom one). It's slower than Face ID but more secure if you're worried about unauthorized access.

Apps that relied on Face ID to confirm your identity will ask for your passcode instead. This includes banking apps, password managers, and any app that uses biometric authentication. You won't lose access to anything — the app will just use a different verification method.

If you've set up Face ID for Apple Pay, turning it off means you'll need to authenticate payments with your passcode or use a different payment method. Your card information stays in your Wallet; you're just changing how you confirm the payment.

Re-enabling Face ID after you turn it off

If you disabled Face ID temporarily by force restarting your phone, it will turn back on automatically the next time you unlock your phone normally with your passcode. You don't need to do anything — just unlock as usual and Face ID will be active again.

If you turned off Face ID for specific functions in Settings, you can turn those functions back on the same way. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, authenticate, and toggle the functions back on. You can do this one at a time or all at once.

If you want to set up Face ID again from scratch — for example, if you've changed your appearance significantly or you want to register a different face — go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up Face ID. Your phone will walk you through the setup process, which takes about a minute.

Why you might want to disable Face ID

Some people turn off Face ID because they wear glasses, a mask, or other face coverings regularly and find it frustrating when the phone doesn't recognize them. If that's your situation, you can improve Face ID's accuracy by adding an alternate appearance in Settings — this teaches your phone to recognize you with glasses or a mask on. You don't have to disable it entirely.

Privacy is another reason. Face ID data is stored on your phone's secure chip and never sent to Apple or anyone else, but some people prefer not to use facial recognition at all. If that's your choice, your passcode is just as secure and works on every iPhone model.

You might also disable Face ID if you're concerned about someone accessing your phone while you're asleep, unconscious, or unable to resist. A passcode requires you to actively type something, which is harder to force someone to do without your cooperation.

Troubleshooting Face ID problems before you disable it

If Face ID isn't working well, try these steps before you turn it off. First, make sure your front camera lens is clean — wipe it gently with a soft cloth. Second, check that your face is fully visible and well-lit when you're trying to unlock. Face ID works best in normal lighting and struggles in very bright sunlight or complete darkness.

If Face ID keeps failing, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and look for a message that says "Face ID is unavailable" or similar. If you see that, your phone may need a restart. Hold the volume up button and side button until the power slider appears, drag to turn off, wait a few seconds, then press the side button to turn it back on.

If Face ID still isn't working after a restart, you can set it up again. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up Face ID and follow the on-screen steps. This often fixes recognition problems without requiring you to disable the feature entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Face ID on my iPhone SE?

No. The iPhone SE uses Touch ID (fingerprint recognition) instead of Face ID. If you have an SE and want to disable biometric unlock, you can turn off Touch ID in Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and use your passcode only.

Does turning off Face ID make my phone more secure?

Not necessarily. Face ID is encrypted and stored only on your phone's secure chip. A strong passcode is equally secure. The choice between them is more about your personal comfort and what you're protecting against — for example, someone unlocking your phone while you sleep versus someone forcing you to unlock it.

Will Face ID work if I'm wearing sunglasses?

It depends on the sunglasses. Dark sunglasses that block infrared light (which Face ID uses) will prevent it from working. Regular sunglasses usually work fine. If you wear sunglasses often, add an alternate appearance in Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Add Alternate Appearance to teach your phone to recognize you with them on.

What if I forget my passcode and Face ID is my only unlock method?

This is why Apple requires you to set a passcode when you set up Face ID — it's your backup. If Face ID fails repeatedly, your phone will ask for your passcode. If you've forgotten it, you'll need to use Find My iPhone or visit an Apple Store to reset your phone.

Can I disable Face ID just for payments?

Yes. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, authenticate, and toggle off Apple Pay. Face ID will still unlock your phone and work for app passwords, but you'll need your passcode to confirm payments.