Some iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max owners are reporting problems with Face ID just days after Apple’s latest flagship models went on sale.
Reports from early users describe several different issues, including Face ID failing when unlocking protected apps, devices freezing before restarting to the Lock Screen, and a “Face ID is Not Available” message appearing during setup.
Other users have reported inconsistent behavior with the Require Attention for Face ID setting. The number of reports remains limited, and there is currently no indication that every iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max is affected.
The reports are notable because Apple changed the TrueDepth system on this year’s Pro models. To create the smaller Dynamic Island, the infrared camera used by Face ID is now positioned beneath the display toward the top-left corner.
There is no evidence at this stage that the redesigned hardware is responsible for the reported problems. Apple has not identified a specific cause.
Apple’s current support guidance for Face ID recommends making sure iOS is up to date, checking that nothing is obstructing the TrueDepth camera, restarting the device and resetting Face ID if problems continue. The company also notes specific considerations for the new TrueDepth camera on iPhone 18 Pro models, including removing privacy screen protectors and avoiding extreme backlighting.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max launched on September 18 with iOS 27. The models introduce Apple’s redesigned Dynamic Island alongside the A20 Pro chip, new camera hardware and Siri AI.
With the devices only recently reaching customers, it remains unclear how widespread the Face ID problems are or whether they can be fully addressed through a future iOS 27 software update.
