➤ How to set up Face ID 🎮

After reading my guide on which iPhone to choose, you too have decided to buy an "iPhone" by opting for one of the models with a full-screen front and equipped with Face ID, Apple's facial recognition unlock method. Being your first experience with this technology, however, you don't have the slightest idea of how to activate and configure it in the best way. For this reason, you did some research on the web and ended up straight on this guide of mine. That's the way it is, right? Then let me tell you that you've come to the right place at the right time!

Face ID compatible devices

Prima di enter the live of this tutorial and spiegarti how to set up Face ID literally, it might be useful to know that facial recognition is available on iPhone X and later models and on the models of iPad Pro equipped with A12 Bionic chips or later. To be clear, on all iPhones / iPads not equipped with a Home button.

As for the configuration of Face ID, you should know that it can be done both during the first configuration of the device and later, using the Settings of iOS/iPadOS. In both cases, the procedure is simple and fast: all you need to do is frame your face with the iPhone/iPad front camera and scan it completely twice, to "capture" each side.

Once the configuration is complete, it is possible to choose in which circumstances to activate Face ID (e.g. to unlock the device, to download new applications, to use Apple Pay, etc.) and also use it with compatible third-party applications (e.g. 1Password or WhatsApp).

Also, as I will also explain to you shortly, it is possible to configure a alternative look to fine-tune the recognition of your face by the sensor.

Initial setup Face ID

You have purchased a new iPhone/iPad and have yet to do so first configuration? In this case, you should know that you can activate and set up facial recognition during the device configuration procedure, provided you choose manual configuration.

If this is your case and you are wondering How to set up Face ID on iPhone, all you have to do is turn on your "iPhone by", indicate the language to use and yours Country of residence, press on the option Configure manually and, in the new display screen, select the WIFI network to connect the device to.

After that, in the screenshot Date and privacy, fai tap sul pulsating Continue (for two consecutive times) and press on the option Start, to start setting up Face ID. At this point, frame your face with the iPhone camera (making sure it is within the frame visible on the screen) and move your head in a circular way, to allow it to scan all sides. Then press the button Continue, to start the second scan, and repeat the operation just described.

If you see the message on screen You have set up Face ID, it means that the scan of your face was successful and the activation of facial recognition was successful. If so, press the button Continue and finish setting up your iPhone. In this regard, my guides on how to set up iPhone and how to set up iPad may be useful.

I point out that, by pressing on the option Set later in Settings, you can also choose to postpone setting up Face ID and activate it later from Settings on iOS/iPadOS.

How to set up Face ID

If you didn't activate Face ID when you first set up your iPhone/iPad or you need to change the settings related to facial recognition, you'll be happy to know that you can do it from your device's settings.

To proceed, then take your iPhone / iPad, tap the icon rotella d'ingranaggio, to access the Settings of iOS/iPadOS, press on the item Face ID and codice and, if prompted, enter the unlock code device.

In the new screen that appears, select the option Set up Face ID and press pulsating Start, to start the setup. At this point, all you have to do is position your face in the frame visible on the screen and move your head slowly clockwise or counterclockwise, so that each side of your face is detected. After the first scan is complete, you will see a green circle and the message You have completed your first scan with Face ID.

At this point, tap the button Continue, to start the second scan, and repeat the procedure I just indicated. If all went well, you will see the messages You have completed the second scan with Face ID e You have set up Face ID. Premium, quindi, sul pulsating end, to complete the activation of Face ID, and that's it.

If you are unable to rotate your head as required, it will be useful to know that when setting up Face ID, you can activate the accessibility options that allow you to activate partial facial recognition.

If so, press on the option Set up Face ID, then on the voice Accessibility options e fai tap sul pulsating Use partial scan. Keep in mind, though, that Face ID works best when it can detect facial features from all angles.

After activating and configuring Face ID for the first time, you can also decide to configure an alternative appearance (e.g. wearing a hat). To do this, access the section again Face ID and codice, fai tap sull'opzione Set up an alternate appearance, award-winning Start and follow the instructions shown on the screen to scan your face again.

On the same screen, you can also choose when to use facial recognition by moving the lever relating to the options available in the box Use Face ID for da OFF a ON.

Unlock iPhone/iPad: by activating this option, the Face ID is used every time it is necessary to unlock your iPhone/iPad.
iTunes Store and App Store: If activated, Face ID authentication is required both to make purchases from the iTunes Store and to download applications (including free ones) from the App Store.
Apple Pay: Facial recognition is activated to complete a payment with Apple Pay.
Password entry: For entering passwords stored in iCloud Keychain.

Finally, I point out that from the section Face ID and codice you can check the applications with which you use Face ID (Other apps) and also toggle the option on/off Request to look at Face ID which, when activated, offers an additional level of security by verifying that you are actually looking at the device in use before unlocking it.

How to configure Face ID with mask

If you are wondering if it is possible configure Face ID with mask, you should know that facial recognition has been designed to work with clearly visible eyes, nose and mouth and, consequently, cannot be configured by wearing a mask or any accessory that covers most of the face.

However, with the release of iOS 13.5, Apple has made changes to facial recognition, whereby there is an immediate transition to the PIN entry screen if a masked face is detected.

For all Apple Watch owners, then, with the release of iOS 14.5 the possibility was offered to unlock the phone when wearing the mask if your smartwatch is worn on your wrist and the latter is unlocked. To activate this feature, just activate the lever next to the name of your Apple Watch on the menu Settings> Face ID and passcode of iPhones. It should be emphasized that the feature allows you to unlock the phone but not to authenticate in the apps.

Instead, all owners of iPhone 12 and later who have upgraded to iOS 15.4 can completely unlock the "iPhone by" with Face ID by wearing the mask and without using the Apple Watch. To configure this function, simply go to the section Settings> Face ID and passcode of iOS, type the unlock code of the device, bring up ON l'interruttore accanto alla voce Use Face ID with a mask, select the option Use Face ID with a mask, press the key Start and follow the face scanning procedure continuing as already explained in the previous step. Note that during the procedure it is not necessary to wear a mask.

As an alternative solution to all those already mentioned, you can try to configure Face ID by wearing the mask on half of your face (changing the side on which to wear the mask during the two sensor configuration steps) and see if, in this way , Face ID lets you unlock your smartphone even when wearing a mask.

However, I would like to clarify that this procedure does not always work and, above all, the security of the device is reduced since the only biometric factor available for comparison are the eyes. In short, you could be recognized by the iPhone wearing a mask, but with not very high success rates and even with the possibility that the phone does not recognize you when you are not wearing it.

In any case, if you want to try this solution, access the Settings of iOS/iPadOS, press on the item FaceID and code, enter the unlock code of the device and tap on the option Set up an alternate appearance.

At this point, fold the mask so that it only covers half of the face and press the button Startto start scanning. If you see the message Your face is not clearly visible, move the mask further until face scanning starts. Also complete the second scan keeping the mask on the same side of the face, on the button end and check that your face is recognized by Face ID both with and without a mask.

In case of failure, you can repeat the procedure by completely resetting the Face ID and, therefore, configuring your primary appearance with the mask. To reset the Face ID settings, just press the Initialize Face ID item in the menu Settings> Face ID and passcode.

You can try double scanning your face with the mask on only one side of your face and then setting up a alternative look moving the mask to the other side of the face. As mentioned, several attempts must be made, since there is no official guideline that suggests the right path to follow (I tried the suggestions of some researchers from Tencent's Xuanwu Lab, discovered through the 9to5Mac site, on an iPhone with iOS 13.4, but with less than optimal results).

In case of problems

How do you say? Did you follow the instructions I gave you in the previous paragraphs but, despite this, you were unable to configure Face ID? First, I advise you to check that the TrueDepth camera (the one located on the front of your iPhone / iPad) is not covered by any protective cases or films.

If even doing so you still see the message “Face ID configuration not available”the cause could be that the infrared light used by the TrueDepth camera is being blocked by an accessory you are wearing (e.g. sunglasses that block certain types of light). Also, make sure you are holding your device 25-50cm away from your face, and if you have an iPhone, note that Face ID only works when your device is in a vertical orientation.

If, on the other hand, you have successfully completed the Face ID configuration but the latter, in some circumstances, does not work as expected, you should know that facial recognition is not activated when the device has just been turned on or restarted, it is not unlocked for more than 48 hours, received a remote lock command, or five face recognition attempts were made, all unsuccessful.

If this doesn't apply to you, you can erase Face ID and set it up again to try to fix the issues. To do this, click on the icon rotella d'ingranaggio, to access the Settings of iOS/iPadOS, tap on the item Face ID and codice, type il unlock code of the device, press on the option Initialize Face ID (to “remove” any scans of your face) and select the entry Set up Face ID, to start a new configuration.

Despite the indications I have just given you, are you still having problems with Face ID? Then you just have to contact Apple support and request assistance. To do this, connected to the official Apple website, locate the section Tell us how we can help you e premi sull'opzione Get support.

At this point, type "Face ID" in the field Search for topics, select the option Face ID assistance and, in the newly opened page, choose the assistance channel you prefer among Talk to Apple Support now, to get telephone support, or Chat:, to connect you with an Apple representative via chat. Similarly, you can also do this using the Apple Support app. To find out more, I leave you with my guide on how to contact Apple.