How to update your Face ID enrollment

To change your Face ID on an iPhone, you go into Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and select either "Reset Face ID" or "Set Up an Alternate Appearance." Reset Face ID deletes your current scan entirely and lets you enroll a new face from scratch. Set Up an Alternate Appearance keeps your existing Face ID but adds a second face — useful if you want the phone to recognize you in different conditions or if someone else in your household needs their own scan.

The process takes about 30 seconds per face. You'll be asked to move your head in a circle while the camera maps your facial features. The phone needs good lighting and a clear view of your face — avoid sunglasses, heavy makeup changes, or extreme angles. If you're changing your Face ID because your appearance has changed significantly (surgery, major weight loss, aging), you may want to reset and re-enroll rather than add an alternate, since the original scan might not work as reliably.

Key Takeaways

  • Reset Face ID in Settings > Face ID & Passcode to delete your current scan and enroll a completely new face.
  • Set Up an Alternate Appearance adds a second face to your existing Face ID without removing the first one.
  • The enrollment process requires good lighting and takes about 30 seconds per face scan.
  • If your appearance has changed significantly, resetting and re-enrolling usually works better than keeping an outdated scan.
  • You need your passcode to access Face ID settings, so have that ready before you start.

Step-by-step: Reset Face ID completely

Open Settings on your iPhone and scroll down to find Face ID & Passcode. Tap it, then enter your passcode when prompted. Scroll down to the bottom of that screen and tap "Reset Face ID." The phone will ask you to confirm — tap "Reset Face ID" again. Your old scan is now deleted.

Next, tap "Set Up Face ID" on the same screen. Position your face in the center of the circle shown on your screen, about 10 to 12 inches away. Keep your face still and let the camera scan you. You'll see a message saying "Move your head slowly in a circle" — follow that instruction. The phone is mapping the contours of your face from multiple angles. When the first scan is complete, you'll be asked to do it again. This second pass improves accuracy. Once both scans finish, you'll see "Face ID is now set up."

Step-by-step: Add an alternate appearance without deleting the first

Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and enter your passcode. Scroll down and tap "Set Up an Alternate Appearance." The enrollment process is identical to the first setup — position your face in the circle, hold still, then move your head in a circle twice. When it's done, your iPhone will recognize both faces.

This is the right choice if you want to keep your existing Face ID working while adding a second one. Some people use this to add a scan with glasses, or to let a family member unlock the phone with their own face. The phone doesn't distinguish between the two — it just unlocks if either face matches.

When Face ID stops recognizing you

If Face ID worked before but now fails repeatedly, the problem is usually that your appearance has changed enough that the old scan no longer matches. This happens after surgery, significant weight loss or gain, growing or shaving facial hair, or straightforward aging over several years. The fix is to reset and re-enroll, since the phone can't update an existing scan — it can only store a snapshot of what you looked like when you set it up.

Before you reset, try using your passcode to unlock the phone a few times. Each time you unlock with your passcode after a failed Face ID attempt, the phone learns your current appearance and may improve its recognition. If that doesn't help after a few days, reset Face ID and enroll again.

Lighting and positioning matter

Face ID works best in moderate to bright lighting. If you enroll in dim light, the phone may struggle to recognize you in bright sunlight later, or vice versa. Ideally, enroll in the lighting conditions where you'll use your phone most often. If you use your phone in very different lighting — bright outdoors and dim indoors — adding an alternate appearance scanned in the opposite lighting can help.

Hold the phone at a natural distance, roughly where you'd normally look at it. Don't tilt it too far up or down. The camera needs to see your whole face clearly, so remove sunglasses, hats, or anything that covers your eyes or forehead during enrollment.

Troubleshooting a Face ID that won't enroll

If you see an error message during setup, the most common cause is poor lighting or the camera being blocked. Make sure you're in a well-lit room and that the front camera lens is clean. If the phone says "Face ID is not available," restart your iPhone and try again. Hold down the power button and volume button together, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then power back on.

If Face ID still won't set up after a restart, there may be a hardware issue with the front camera. You can still use your passcode to unlock the phone, but you'll need to visit an Apple Store or authorized repair shop to have the camera checked. Face ID relies on specific hardware that can't be repaired at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have more than two faces set up?

No. Your iPhone stores one primary Face ID and one alternate appearance — two faces total. If you need a third person to unlock the phone, they'll need to use the passcode instead, or you can remove one of the existing faces and enroll theirs.

Will resetting Face ID affect my passcode?

No. Your passcode stays the same. Resetting Face ID only removes the facial scan. You can still unlock with your passcode anytime, and Face ID will work again once you re-enroll.

What if I change my appearance with makeup or a wig?

Face ID recognizes the underlying structure of your face, not makeup or hair. Heavy makeup changes or a wig might cause occasional failures, but the phone should still recognize you most of the time. If you wear a wig daily, you could add it as an alternate appearance so the phone learns both versions of you.

Can someone else unlock my phone if I set up their face?

Yes. If you add someone else's face as an alternate appearance, they can unlock your phone with their face just as easily as you can. Only set up a second face for someone you trust completely.

Does Face ID work if I'm wearing a mask?

On iPhone 12.1 and later, Face ID can recognize you while wearing a mask, though it's less reliable than without one. On older iPhones, Face ID won't work with a mask covering your nose and mouth. You'll need to use your passcode instead.