Face ID fails to set up on iPhone 18 Pro Max with prescription glasses

Adama1471 wrote:

Strange! No screen protector on at all. My other half has prescription glasses & I tried initiating a scan whilst wearing her glasses. This worked fine (although I couldn’t see much lol). So the issue seems to be with my own glasses. But I haven’t changed glasses since I had the 16 Pro Max. So it seems there must be a problem between the new under the screen sensor & my glasses. So frustrating! I’m not sure even a software fix would solve this…

It was a rumor that the new Pro models would have under the screen Face ID sensors, but they don't. Face ID uses the same tried and true True Depth camera, which has been used the last few years. So it's not the True Depth Cameras since it worked just fine your other halfs glasses on. It must be something with your glasses, I just have no clue what that could be

See if anything in this link helps --> If Face ID isn't working on your iPhone or iPad Pro - Apple Support

If nothing helps, schedule an appointment at your Apple Store Genius Bar to see what they might recommend.

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Adama1471 wrote:

Issues with Face ID on brand new iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Upgraded from a iPhone 16 Pro Max. Having trouble setting up Face ID when I’m wearing my prescription glasses. They have anti glare but are clear & don’t dim in sunlight etc. Each time I initate a Face ID scan, it starts the scan but then exits & say’s ’Face ID’ unavailable.

Ive tried the ‘add glasses’ prompt but it still does the same thing. I know turning off ‘require attention for Face ID ’ in the settings does help, but you lose the extra security. When I take my glasses off, it scans just fine. This is incredibly frustrating as it’s a brand new model, wish I had kept my 16 Pro Max now.

Anyone having the same issues? Thanks.

Two of us with iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, both wearing anti-glare prescription glasses and neither had any issue setting up Face ID on either phone. Do you by chance have a privacy (dark) screen protector or for that matter any screen protector on the phone? If yes, your screen protector may be causing this. We do have high quality FLOLAB screen protectors on our phones and they didn't cause any issues, but some can.

Strange! No screen protector on at all. My other half has prescription glasses & I tried initiating a scan whilst wearing her glasses. This worked fine (although I couldn’t see much lol). So the issue seems to be with my own glasses. But I haven’t changed glasses since I had the 16 Pro Max. So it seems there must be a problem between the new under the screen sensor & my glasses. So frustrating! I’m not sure even a software fix would solve this…