Face ID not working on iPhone XR

[ChefWifeLife]

I’ve had this iPhone a long while but never replace until it’s dead.

Yesterday my phone was on a table in the garden while I was with the kids. Fast forward and now my Face ID won’t work at all, nor portrait mode on the camera.

I’ve had a look online and it suggests that it’s to do with the in depth camera. Other than the screen getting a small amount of water spray on it from the kids playing I can’t think of anything else that would have damaged it.

I’ve put the phone in rice overnight and no change. Cleaned the front of the phone and cameras with an alcohol wipe and replaced my screen protector.

Any top tips greatly appreciated as I won’t repair this phone for this problem as it’s very old and the battery is waning. Thanks in advance.

I had a problem like this with my XR once and a reset actually sorted it.

support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/iphone/iph8903c3ee6/ios

@Ellemeg82 Thanks for the quick reply. If you reset does that mean you lose your messages and photos etc?

The method that @Ellemeg82 linked is for a full restart

It isn’t a factory reset etc so you won’t lose any data. It will fully shut down and restart ensuring active software is reset

Ok I’ve tried this a couple of times and no joy. And still this screen when I go to the Face ID page.

Hi - I had same problem. If you look directly at your iPhone - at the very top in the middle is a very small camera Looks a bit like a slit! If you get a soft cloth, give it a clean to get rid of any debris. Then you will need to set up facial recognition again - it worked for me and took five mins - worth a try!

@Julsey07 I thought the slit thing was a microphone lol 😂 it does look pretty grubby despite my effort to clean. I’ll try again and report back

Ok tried that and no joy 😞

So after cleaning, did you go into settings, Face ID & passcode and then Reset Face ID and film a new image?
i actually went and spoke to an Apple rep in John Lewis and he did if for me - are you near any Apple Shops or John Lewis shops? Best of luck as I know I couldn’t get into any Apps and was really panicking 😂

@Julsey07 so when I go into the Face ID settings it is grey and I can’t even select the setup face ID button. I’m nowhere near a John Lewis 😬

Does your phone need another IOS update? X

I think it’s buggered OP

@dontknowwhatswrong no it’s had the most recent update.

@Aposterhasnoname i fear you may be right 😞

The little camera on the right is definitely clouded over so I’m thinking condensation, but it comes and goes. When I try and put the camera on portrait mode it’s all hazy, it almost looks like the camera has cataracts. Any ideas on how to improve the condensation inside?

So I put the phone out in the sun and the camera has gone back to its normal colour with no white over the front. But no change in the use of Face ID other than the camera not having a haze over it anymore.