Face ID is Apple’s incredibly advanced facial recognition system, offering a seamless way to unlock your iPhone, authenticate Apple Pay transactions, and log into banking apps. While it is highly secure and convenient, there are specific situations where a physical passcode is vastly superior. For example, if you frequently wear heavy facial coverings, sunglasses that block IR light, or if you simply prefer the absolute legal protection of a memorised alphanumeric passcode (which cannot be legally compelled in many jurisdictions, unlike biometric data), you may want to turn the cameras off.
This guide explains how to completely disable Face ID on your iPhone, forcing the device to rely entirely on your physical passcode for all authentication.
Turn Off Face ID via Settings
Disabling Face ID does not erase your biometric data immediately (unless you specifically reset it), but it does completely deactivate the TrueDepth camera array from attempting to scan your face.
- Unlock your iPhone and open the main Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap on Face ID & Passcode.
- You will be immediately prompted to enter your current physical passcode to access this menu.
- At the very top of the screen, look for the section titled “Use Face ID For”.
- You will see four green toggle switches. To completely disable the system, toggle all of them to the Off position:
- iPhone Unlock: Stops Face ID from unlocking your device.
- iTunes & App Store: Forces a password entry for downloads.
- Wallet & Apple Pay: Requires your passcode to authorize payments.
- Password Autofill: Stops Face ID from automatically filling saved passwords in Safari.
Operating an iPhone Without Biometrics
Once all four switches are disabled, the TrueDepth camera will power down. Your iPhone will now behave exactly like an older iOS device without a home button.
When you swipe up on the lock screen, you will immediately be presented with the numerical keypad (or alphanumeric keyboard) to enter your passcode. Whenever you attempt to use Apple Pay at a register, double-clicking the side button will instantly bring up the “Pay with Passcode” prompt.
Note: If you want to take it a step further and ensure your facial data is completely purged from the secure enclave chip, stay on the “Face ID & Passcode” menu and tap the red text that says Reset Face ID. This will permanently delete your mathematical facial map.