Reset Face ID Greyed Out: How to Fix It

When Reset Face ID is greyed out, first allow passcode and Face ID changes in Screen Time, then check whether a management profile controls the device. Restart and update the device before returning to Face ID & Passcode to reset and enroll your face again.

Why is Reset Face ID greyed out?

The Reset Face ID option can be unavailable when the device does not permit changes to Face ID or its passcode. The cause is usually a restriction, an organization-controlled policy, a temporary software problem, or a condition that requires Apple support or service.

Common causes of a greyed-out Face ID reset button include:

• Screen Time is set to prevent Passcode & Face ID changes.
• A parent or guardian controls Screen Time through Family Sharing.
• A work or school mobile device management profile enforces security settings. Mobile device management, or MDM, lets an organization configure and restrict enrolled devices.
• The iPhone or iPad needs to be restarted or updated.
• The system has detected a problem that prevents Face ID setup.

A covered or dirty TrueDepth camera can stop Face ID from recognizing a face, but it does not normally explain why Face ID settings are greyed out. Clean the camera area and remove anything covering it while troubleshooting.

How do I check Screen Time and Content Restrictions?

If the iPhone Reset Face ID option is greyed out, review the Screen Time setting that controls changes to the passcode, Touch ID, and Face ID. A Screen Time passcode is separate from the passcode used to unlock the device.

1. Open Settings and tap Screen Time.
2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. If prompted, enter the Screen Time passcode.
4. Scroll to Allow Changes To.
5. Tap Passcode & Face ID.
6. Select Allow.
7. Return to Settings, tap Face ID & Passcode, and enter the device passcode.

If a parent or guardian manages the device through Family Sharing, that person may need to make the change from their own device. Do not guess the Screen Time passcode repeatedly. If it was forgotten, use the Screen Time passcode recovery choices shown by the device.

If Passcode & Face ID already says Allow, or Content & Privacy Restrictions is off, continue to the management-profile check.

How do I check for a work or school management profile?

An organization-managed iPhone or iPad may make Face ID settings greyed out because its security policy controls passcode or biometric changes. The device owner cannot override an administrator-enforced restriction.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.
3. Tap VPN & Device Management.
4. Look for an installed profile under Mobile Device Management.
5. Tap the profile, then review More Details and the listed device rights or passcode requirements, if those choices appear.

If no profile is listed, the device is not showing an installed MDM profile in that location. If a work or school profile is present, contact the organization’s administrator and explain that Reset Face ID is unavailable. Only the administrator can confirm whether policy permits the setting to be changed.

Do not remove a management profile merely to enable Face ID. Removing a profile can affect organization-controlled settings, data, and access, and removal itself may be blocked.

How do I restart and update the iPhone or iPad?

A restart clears temporary system conditions that may leave the Reset Face ID option greyed out. Use the normal shutdown sequence before checking for an update.

1. Open Settings, tap General, scroll down, and tap Shut Down.
2. Drag the power-off slider and wait for the device to turn off.
3. Press and hold the side button on an iPhone, or the top button on an iPad, until the Apple logo appears.
4. Enter the device passcode after startup.
5. Open Settings, tap General, and tap Software Update.
6. If an update is offered, back up the device, connect it to power and Wi-Fi, and follow the onscreen installation instructions.
7. After the update and restart finish, return to Settings and open Face ID & Passcode.

If the device is frozen, use Apple’s model-specific force-restart instructions instead of guessing a button combination. A normal restart or software update does not erase enrolled Face ID data.

How do I reset Face ID and set it up again?

Once the restriction is removed and Reset Face ID is available, resetting deletes the stored Face ID appearance data. It does not remove the device passcode.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Face ID & Passcode.
3. Enter the device passcode.
4. Tap Reset Face ID.
5. Tap Set Up Face ID, then tap Get Started.
6. Hold the device in a natural position, place your face inside the frame, and follow the onscreen directions to complete both scans.
7. After enrollment, confirm that the Face ID features you want to use are turned on.

Keep the TrueDepth camera unobstructed during enrollment. If a full circular head movement is difficult, tap Accessibility Options during Face ID setup. This provides an enrollment method for people with physical limitations, although consistent positioning may be needed when using Face ID.

What if Reset Face ID is still unavailable?

If you still cannot reset Face ID after checking restrictions, management, restart, and updates, avoid erasing the device or changing unrelated security settings. Record any exact warning shown in Settings and whether the camera works normally.

• Use Apple Support’s guided help to review the Face ID problem and any available diagnostic steps.
• Tell support whether the problem began after an update, repair, impact, or liquid exposure.
• If head movement or vision affects enrollment, ask about Face ID accessibility options and continue using the device passcode when needed.
• If the camera is not working or Face ID setup cannot be completed, arrange an assessment through Apple or an authorized service option.

Apple advises that only a trained technician should service the TrueDepth camera system. Diagnostics may identify a software or hardware issue, but they do not guarantee that Face ID can be enabled. An administrator restriction must be handled by the organization that manages the device.