You’ll Lose FaceID if You Replace the iPhone 13 Screen GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO News > Phones

You’ll Lose FaceID if You Replace the iPhone 13 Screen

Thanks to a small chip attached to the bottom of the display

By Rob Rich Rob Rich News Reporter College for Creative Studies Rob is a freelance tech reporter with experience writing for a variety of outlets, including IGN, Unwinnable, 148Apps, Gamezebo, Pocket Gamer, Fanbolt, Zam, and more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on November 5, 2021 11:19AM EDT Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Fact checked by Jerri Ledford Western Kentucky University Gulf Coast Community College Jerri L. Ledford has been writing, editing, and fact-checking tech stories since 1994. Her work has appeared in Computerworld, PC Magazine, Information Today, and many others. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Phones Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Due to its construction, the iPhone 13 can lose FaceID functionality if the screen isn't replaced by Apple or an affiliate repair shop. iFixit has discovered that attempts to replace the iPhone 13's screen—a common smartphone repair—can completely disable FaceID. So unless your iPhone 13 is taken to an Apple store, a repair shop in Apple's Independent Repair Providers network, or a shop with more advanced tools, you're risking that functionality. Hillary Kladke / Getty Images The culprit is a small microcontroller chip paired with the phone's screen, which has to be synced in order to work properly. Apple has yet to provide independent repair shops with a way to replace or pair new screens and microcontrollers, making the process practically untenable for smaller businesses. Some shops can move the chip from the old screen to the replacement, but it's a much more labor-intensive process that requires micro-soldering. martin-dm / Getty Images According to iFixit, Apple support has said the issue would be addressed in a future iOS update. iFixit theorizes that Apple could update the software to issue a warning that FaceID can't be verified rather than lock it out entirely. This is just speculation, however, and relies on Apple deciding to make such a change. Currently, the only notable difference between iOS 15 and iOS 15.1 has been the addition of an error message stating that FaceID can't be activated.
Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What is the Newest iPhone? (2022) How to Remove or Replace a Phone's Glass Screen Protector iPhone 13 vs. iPhone 13 Pro: Which Phone is Right for You? iPhone 13: Release Date, Specs, Price, and News How to Replace a Dead iPad Battery How to Fix a Cracked Phone Screen How to Turn Off an iPhone 13 Can EV Batteries be Replaced or Upgraded? Where to Download iPhone Manuals for Every Model How to Replace the Memory (RAM) in Your Windows Computer Which iPhone Should You Buy? iPhone 13 Review: The Best Apple Phone for the Masses How to Fix it When iPhone Call Volume Is Low How to Use Apple Pay on iPhone 13 Everything You Need to Know About iPhone Touch Disease How Long Does an iPad Last? Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies