What is Face ID on your iPhone and how do you set it up?

Roel21 JANUARY 2026

Content

What is Face ID?
Setting up Face ID on your iPhone
When does Face ID work and when does it not?
Setting up Face ID for apps
Can you set up multiple Face IDs at the same time?
Is Face ID secure?

A person in a yellow shirt holds a phone with a blue light on a blue-green background.

Nowadays you unlock many phones with your face. This is called Face ID or facial recognition. You then don’t need a passcode to use your phone. How do you set up Face ID and what exactly can you use this feature for?

What is Face ID?

A person holds a phone, wearing an earbud, and carrying a backpack in front of a building.

There are different ways to unlock your phone, for example with a passcode or fingerprint. Face ID makes it possible to unlock your phone by looking at the screen. First your facial features are scanned, with the focus on geometry and contours, after which the camera recognises you. The technology works on all iPhone models without a Home button. These include the iPhone X and newer devices. The iPhone SE, SE 2 and SE 3 do not have Face ID. Facial recognition also works on the iPad Pro. More and more Android phones also have facial recognition.

View all iPhones

Setting up Face ID on your iPhone

You set up Face ID on your iPhone by going to Settings. Then tap ‘Face ID & Passcode’ and choose ‘Set Up Face ID’. After that, follow the steps on the screen. During setup, your iPhone makes 2 scans of your face while you slowly move your head. This isn’t necessary if you have a physical disability that prevents you from doing this. In that case, tap ‘Accessibility Options’ during setup. If you are blind or partially sighted, you can indicate that you don’t want to use Face ID with your eyes open. To do this, switch off the option ‘Require Attention for Face ID’.

When does Face ID work and when does it not?

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With Face ID, an iPhone recognises your face, even if you look different. Do you wear a hat, glasses or make-up? Then the technology easily adapts. In the case of a bigger change, such as shaving off your beard, the device may ask you to enter your passcode. After that, Face ID adapts. You can even unlock an iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 while wearing a face mask. You can do this by going to ‘Face ID & Passcode’ in Settings and switching on ‘Face ID with a Mask’.

To use facial recognition, point the TrueDepth camera at your face or eyes. Hold your phone about 25 to 50 centimetres from your face. Face ID also works in the dark.

Differences between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 16

Setting up Face ID for apps

Facial recognition also allows you to make online purchases or payments easily. To see which apps on your phone use Face ID, go to Settings and select ‘Face ID & Passcode’. After entering your passcode, tap ‘Other Apps’. Move the switches to turn facial recognition on or off in apps. Want to disable facial recognition on your iPhone again? Then move all the switches to the left.

Can you set up multiple Face IDs at the same time?

Man wearing glasses and a blue shirt holds a black smartphone with a white wireless earbud in his ear.

If you share a device with, for example, a family member or your partner, you can set up an additional appearance in Face ID. To do this, go to the Face ID settings and tap ‘Set Up an Alternative Appearance’. You can add up to 2 faces to Face ID on your iPhone.

Is Face ID secure?

Because the camera makes a scan of your unique facial features, the chance of someone else unlocking your phone with Face ID is very small. In addition, after 5 failed attempts you must enter the passcode. You cannot open your iPhone via Face ID with a 2D photo, a mask or another technique. Your privacy is also safeguarded. According to Apple, Face ID data is properly encrypted and protected and is never stored in iCloud. Apps don’t get access to Face ID data.