Use Face ID on your iPhone or iPad Pro

Face ID lets you securely unlock your iPhone or iPad, authenticate purchases, sign in to apps and more, all with just a glance.

Some of the ways Face ID works on iPhone: setting up the feature, unlocking the phone and authenticating purchases

Set up Face ID

Unlock with Face ID

Make purchases with Face ID

Sign in with Face ID

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Set up Face ID

Make sure nothing is covering the TrueDepth camera or your face. If something is obstructing your nose or mouth, such as glasses or a face mask, you may be asked to temporarily remove these items during the setup process.

You can also use Face ID with face masks if you use iPhone 12 or later with iOS 15.4 and later. Face ID works best when your iPhone or iPad is approximately 10–20 inches from your face.

To set up Face ID:

  1. Go to Settings, then tap Face ID & Passcode. If asked, enter your passcode. If you didn’t set a passcode, you’ll be asked to create one to use as an alternative way to verify your identity.

  2. Tap Set Up Face ID.

  3. Hold your device in portrait orientation, position your face in front of your device, then tap Get Started.

  4. Position your face inside the frame and gently move your head to complete the circle. If you're unable to move your head, tap Accessibility Options.

  5. When you finish the first Face ID scan, tap Continue.

  6. Gently move your head to complete the circle for a second time.

  7. Tap Done.

    The beginning of the Face ID setup process

To choose features that you want to use Face ID with or reset Face ID, go to Settings, then tap Face ID & Passcode.

Need help with Face ID? Learn which iPhone and iPad models support Face ID.

You can’t use Face ID in landscape mode with Face ID with a Mask turned on.

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Unlock your iPhone or iPad with Face ID

  1. Raise to wake or tap to wake your iPhone or iPad.

  2. Swipe up from the bottom of the Lock screen.

  3. If you're using an iPhone, hold it in portrait orientation, then glance at it.

    Unlocking iPhone using Face ID

On iPad or iPhone 13 or later, you can hold your device in either portrait or landscape orientation. If it's in landscape orientation, make sure your finger isn't covering the TrueDepth camera. Then glance at the screen. If you're wearing a face mask that covers your mouth and nose, you'll be asked to enter your passcode after swiping up.

To turn this feature on or off, go to Settings, then tap Face ID & Passcode, then tap iPhone Unlock or iPad Unlock.

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Use Face ID to make purchases

You can use Face ID to authenticate purchases with Apple Pay and in the iTunes Store, App Store and Book Store in Apple Books.

Use Face ID with Apple Pay

To make a purchase in a store:

  1. Make sure that you're using an iPhone.

  2. Make sure Apple Pay is set up and turned on in Settings > Face ID & Passcode.

  3. To use your default card, double-click the side button. To use a different card, double-click the side button, tap your default card, then choose another card.

  4. Glance at your iPhone to authenticate with Face ID. If you're wearing a face mask that covers your mouth and nose, but Face ID with a mask isn't set up, tap Pay with Passcode and enter your passcode instead.

  5. Hold the top of your iPhone near the contactless reader.

  6. Wait for Done and a tick to display.

To make a purchase within an app or on a website in Safari:

  1. Tap the Buy with Apple Pay button or choose Apple Pay as the payment method. Confirm your payment information. To choose a different card to pay with, tap the Next button > next to your card.

  2. Double-click the side button, then glance at your iPhone or iPad.

  3. Wait for Done and a tick to display.

Use Face ID in the iTunes Store, App Store, and Book Store in Apple Books

To use Face ID to purchase content from the iTunes Store, App Store and Book Store, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and make sure that iTunes & App Store is turned on. Then follow these steps:

  1. Open the iTunes Store, App Store or Book Store, then tap something that you want to buy.

  2. When asked to pay, double-click the side button, then glance at your iPhone or iPad. If you’re wearing a face mask that covers your mouth and nose but Face ID with a mask isn’t set up, tap Pay with Passcode and enter your passcode instead.

  3. Wait for Done and a tick to display.

    Confirming a purchase in the App Store on iPhone

You may be asked to enter your Apple ID password for the first purchase you make in the iTunes Store, App Store or Book Store.

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Sign in with Face ID

You can use Face ID to sign in to certain apps and autofill usernames and passwords for websites in Safari.

Sign in to apps

You can use Face ID to sign in to apps that support signing in with Touch ID:

  1. Open the app and tap sign in.

  2. If asked, allow the app to use your username or password.

  3. Glance at your iPhone or iPad to sign in.

To see and control which apps use Face ID to sign in, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and tap Other Apps.

If you're using an app that supports Face ID but you're not asked to use Face ID to sign in, then you may need to manually sign in to the app first.

Autofill passwords in Safari

You can use Face ID to autofill saved usernames and passwords for websites in Safari:

  1. Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and turn on Password AutoFill.

  2. Open Safari and go to a website.

  3. Tap the sign in field. If you see your username or password appear above the keyboard, tap it.

  4. Glance at your iPhone or iPad to autofill your username and password.

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