iPhone requiring pin to unlock with face unlock enabled

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Level 1

6 points

iPhone requiring pin to unlock with face unlock enabled

I'm not certain of the exact symptoms here. I upgraded to an iPhone 14 Pro Max recently. For some reason I need to keep entering my PIN *sometimes* to unlock the phone. I have Face ID enabled to unlock the phone. It seems like if it's been sitting unused for some period of time (I'm not certain what that period is) it'll require my PIN to allow Face ID.

I've looked through settings but I don't see anything about an idle or session timeout or anything. What am I missing?

iPhone 14 Pro Max

IOS: 16.4.1 (20E252)

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Apr 11, 2023 11:05 AM

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Answer 1

Phil0124

Level 10

214,465 points

Apr 11, 2023 11:12 AM in response to curlybrian

Yes, The iPhone will require your pin / passcode if certain conditions are true:

About Face ID advanced technology - Apple Support

The device has just been turned on or restarted.
The device hasn’t been unlocked for more than 48 hours.
The passcode hasn’t been used to unlock the device in the last six and a half days and Face ID hasn't unlocked the device in the last 4 hours.
The device has received a remote lock command.
After five unsuccessful attempts to match a face.
After initiating power off / Emergency SOS by pressing and holding either volume button and the side button simultaneously for 2 seconds.(even if power off is not actually completed)

*If using an Exchange email account from a business or education institution it may apply additional requirements to the passcode entry time frames via a profile.

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Answer 2

curlybrian Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 11, 2023 11:36 AM in response to Phil0124

Hi thanks for the response.

None of those conditions are true here.

The phone has been turned on and used since the last reboot.
The device has been unlocked within the last 48 hours
The passcode has been used less than 6.5 days ago and the device has been unlocked by Face ID in the last 4 hours.
I'm assuming a remote lock would come from Find My? In that case, no remote lock has been issued by me.
The unlock attempts are the first attempt, there have not been 5 failures.
No power off or SOS performed.

It seems like the idle time before it requests the PIN again is something in the 15 minute range.

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Answer 3

Phil0124

Level 10

214,465 points

Apr 11, 2023 11:49 AM in response to curlybrian

How are you trying to unlock it? If it brings up the passcode option, it normally means it cannot identify the face it seeing more than 5 times.

Try going to Settings ➜ Passcode & FaceID and setting it jump again, you may even want to setup an alternate appearance if your face changes for some reason to make sure to identifies you every time.

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Answer 4

curlybrian Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 11, 2023 11:53 AM in response to Phil0124

When it prompts for a PIN I have simply picked up the phone and activated the screen. There is no indicator of Face ID attempting to identify me. The screen just opens by requesting a PIN to activate FaceID.

I already disabled FaceID, exited, and reenabled it. No change.

My facial appearance is the same. I'm just sitting here and it wants a PIN sometimes. No changes are being made in the meantime.

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Answer 5

curlybrian Author

Level 1

6 points

Apr 11, 2023 11:37 AM in response to curlybrian

In fact it just did it again. I had previously unlocked it about 15 minutes ago. None of the conditions are true still.

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iPhone requiring pin to unlock with face unlock enabled

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