Iphone Face ID is a facial recognition system designed and launched by Apple Inc in 2017. Face ID securely unlocks your iPhone with a single glance. It unlocks your phone by using infrared and visible light scans to uniquely identify your face.
The technology of Face ID enables “true depth” camera system to capture accurate face data by projecting and analyzing over 30,000 invisible dots to create a depth map of your face and captures an infrared image of your face.
You can use Face ID to authorize purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store, and Apple Books, and payments with Apple Pay. You can also use apple’s Face ID to sign into their apps that supports it. Face ID automatically adapts changes in your appearance. When you are wearing makeup or growing facial hair.
It is also designed to work with hats, scarves, glasses, contact lenses, even sunglasses. It is a new way to secure the phone.
This article will let you know everything about apple face ID and iPhone face ID problems.
source: digital trends
What Is Face Id?
iPhone Face ID is a form of bio-metric authentication. Rather than a password a security pattern or authentication, bio-metrics are something you are. Instead of fingerprints, as with Touch ID, Face ID relies on the unique characteristics of your face.
Face ID is a facial recognition system that replaces Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint scanner. It uses camera system and sensors to scan your face to create a detailed 3D map of your face.
If the scan matches the data on file, the system will conduct a secure authentication check and perform actions like unlocking the phone or authorizing Apple Pay transaction.
Apple claims that its technology can overcome six different hurdles:
- Firstly, it scans your face accurately enough in order to recognize you later.
- It compares newly scan facial image with the stored one so it can recognize, anytime you bring your face in front of it in order to unlock.
- it scans your facial data in various lighting conditions and indoor, outdoor and low light situations.
- Update your facial details as you grow facial hair, change hairstyles, apply makeup, change your eyebrows to recognize you.
- Let you wear hats, scarves, contact lenses, gloves, and sunglasses, and still be recognized.
- It doesn’t allow a similar-looking person, a photograph, a mask, or other techniques to unlock your phone.
What Apple Devices Support’s Face Id?
Iphone Face ID was first introduced with iPhone X. Till now iPhone X, XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max supports this technology.
It won’t be wrong to say that, like Touch ID which started on the iPhone has been lately added to other devices like the iPad, Face ID will eventually appear on other Apple devices too.
Face Id Will Be Used For What?
Iphone Face ID is authorized to Apple Pay, App Store and iTunes purchases, and third-party apps that is currently relying on Touch ID.
Does Lighting Matter?
No, for iPhone face ID scanner lighting around you doesn’t matter. It uses infrared light to scan your face. Which makes it clear that will it work indoors, outdoors and even in a pitch-black room.
You can face trouble if direct sunlight hits the camera sensor. Intense sun could interrupt IR reader from getting a proper scan of your face. But any other synthetic light isn’t strong enough to effect it.
How To Set Up Face Id?
When setting up your iPhone for first time, you’ll be asked if you want to use Face ID. If you don’t choose it, you can still enable Face ID through the Settings app later.
The process of setting face ID is same regardless of when you are doing it.
iPhone Face ID utilizes an enrollment process simply like touch ID. All you need is to scan your face accurately so it can recognize you later.
Firstly you will need to go Settings > Face ID & Passcode and tap Enroll Face. Afterwards iPhone will use the front-facing camera to show your face inside a circle with green tick symbol around it.
You’ll be incited to move your head in a circle, while your facial image is being captured.
Apple claims the probability that someone else will unlock your iPhone with his fingerprint is 1 in 50,000 which is a pretty low number but iPhone Face ID’s chance of another face unlocking it, is 1 in 1,000,000 claimed by apple.
Apple clarified in its white paper, that If you have an evil twin, you should probably avoid Face ID. It also said that kids under 13 had a higher rate of false matches, because distinct facial features “may not have fully developed”.
Source: c net.
iPhone Face ID’s settings allow you to enable or disable this feature whenever you want, as well as add an alternate appearance (could be used to give your partner access to your phone).
How Does iPhone Face Id Works?
Until now, facial-recognition technologies have either been very easy to trick or overly sensitive to environmental and other factors, which made them very ineffective authentication factors.
Apple uses a combination of infrared emitter and sensor (which it calls True Depth) to paint 30,000 points of infrared light on and around your face.
The reflection of light is measured, which allows it to calculate depth and angle from the camera for each dot it constructs a depth map so It can capture all its curves and wrinkles in detail.
During initial setup of Face ID, that map is converted into a flat 2D infrared snapshots. Apple’s True Depth camera system is made up of many components.
Where are the Sensors of Face ID?
The notch is a dark strip at the top of the display on iPhone screen is where the sensors used by Face ID are located including the new True Depth camera system. These sensors include:
- Dot Projector: The dot projects over 30,000 invisible dots onto your face. then a map of structure and depth of your face is constructed by these dots. It builds a three-dimensional “unique facial map,” according to Apple.
- Infrared Camera: This camera reads the dots from the Projector and captures an image.
- Flood Illuminator: This is additional infrared light helps; it makes sure that the system works even in the dark.
Source: C net
The facial map captured by the infrared camera is matched against the data stored on your iPhone. This method of authentication takes milliseconds, which is as close to real-time as you can get.
Apple claims that system is smart and sensitive enough, to recognize you even if you change your haircut, wear glasses, grow or shave a beard, and age. But There are a few tricks in the system to ensure security:
- Your eyes must be open while unlocking your I phone using face ID, so another person can’t unlock your phone by pointing it your face when you are sleeping.
- You must be looking at the display for Face ID to work.
How Do I Unlock With Face Id?
The phone isn’t scanning all the time. You’ll be required to wake the phone for using Face ID authentication. You need to wake or tap the Sleep/Wake button or an app or Apple service that request authentication. Then you’ll look at the phone.
To avoid unintentional unlocking, Apple claims that Face ID is “attention aware.” If you’re not looking at the phone attentively it will not perform an unlock operation.
But this option can be turned off by a user as an accessibility list. With time, Apple will create temporary updates on your Face ID profile for good matches. But it also warns that these updates are only good for limited number of unlocks.
Interestingly, if you fail to unlock your phone with Face ID then you are asked immediately to enter your passcode successfully.
Things To Remember When Facing Face Id Problems On Your iPhone Device
- Double check and make sure that True Depth camera is not covered with anything like screen protector or phone case.
- Make sure that there is no dust, residue and dirt on front camera (True Depth camera) and clean it when needed.
- Ensure the visibility of your face and it’s features to the front camera and stay away from bright sunlight. Or reposition your iPhone so that sun isn’t directly behind you.
- Your face should be at least in the range of 10-20 inches form your iOS device. The closer, the better. Keep your device at arm’s length.
- Lastly, ensure that your iPhone is in portrait direction. The face scanning feature is only available in Portrait Mode for iPhone.
If you have followed above mentioned points and Face ID is still not working on your iPhone XS device, then check the remaining article. Hopefully, these techniques will help you fix the Face ID problems on your device.
Solution 1: Turn Off/On Face Id On iPhone
Firstly, try turning OFF/ON Face ID and refresh your device.
- For that Open Settings on your iPhone X → Tap Face ID & Passcode → Enter your iPhone Passcode. Under Use Face ID FOR section, turn off the switch next to each option.
If you are using Face ID with any third-party app, tap on those Apps and then against each app turn off the switch.
Reboot your device and turn on the Face ID. Try using Face ID again. Check if it’s working. If doesn’t, move on to next solution.
Solution 2: Charge Your iPhone
A lot of people are not aware with the fact that Face ID won’t work if the iPhone device has a low battery life. Same as installing applications or updates on your phone, it’s a must to have at least 50% battery to ensure the successful update.
However, Face ID doesn’t need that much battery life, make sure that you have enough battery life when using the feature. If your phone indicates 10% battery life or below the feature won’t work properly. Connect your phone to its charger and plug it in the power switch. While your iPhone is charging, try to use the feature again and look if it works without causing any problem. If the problem continues, troubleshoot your phone further.
Solution 3: Check And Manage Face Id Settings On Your iPhone XS
Face ID settings could have been changed since the release of iOS 13.
Simply cross check Face ID settings and manage them when ever needed.
Here are the steps:
- Launch the Settings app, From the Home screen,
- Select Face ID and Passcode and then check all other options under USE Face ID FOR section and make sure that you enable switch against each option.
Afterwards, check if you are already able to unlock your phone or sign into apps using Face ID.
Solution 4: Perform A Full System Reset
If Face ID problem is persistent even after doing the basics. The most advanced solution that you can perform to clear out such type of bugs is by doing a factory reset.
This option will erase everything from your phone’s memory, so ensure to back up your data.
After securing all important files, follow these steps to do a full system reset.
- Select Settings from the Home screen and tap on General.
- Scroll to and tap on Reset.
- Then select Erase all content & settings option.
- Continue, After Entering your device passcode
- Select the option to confirm the full system reset.
- Your phone will restart by itself after the reset. Once it is back on, proceed to set up your iPhone XS as new again.
What If Nothing Works
I’m sure the above solutions would resolve the Face ID problem on your iPhone X. But if they have failed to fix the issue; contact help for Apple or visit your local office for further assistance.
Winding Up
iPhone Face ID is a facial recognition system designed and launched by Apple Inc in 2017. Face ID securely unlocks your iPhone with a single glance. If you have experienced face id problems on few occasions; I claim that you can resolve the problems by the above-mentioned tricks. However, if nothing works out. Fortunately, Apple Support is always ready to help and resolve the issues.