How to set up Face Unloc on i-phone 7

Question

I bought an iphone 7 from our local phone shop a few months ago. Not the latest model, obviously, but probably quite adequate for my modest needs and not expensive in comparison with the latest models. The shopkeeper set it up for me and included what I think must have been a Face Unlock of some sort, because every time I looked at it, it unlocked.

At first, and in ignorance, I found this rather annoying, and somehow I managed to lose it, which I now find is even more annoying!

I have managed to get Touch ID to work OK, but it tends to stop working if I've been doing some DIY and my fingerprints have become worn, but I would like to get Face Unlock back again.

Googling for it says two things: Face Unlock isn't available on the I-Phone 7 (in which case what was unlocking my phone every time I looked at it?), and alternatively go to Settings>Face ID and Passcode etc, except that I don't get Face ID and Passcode, only Touch ID and Passcode.

I've tried searching the Apple Store for an App, but don't see anything that might be what I want.

So how do I get Face ID back to unlock my iphone, without having to eat humble pie and visit the shop again and get him to restore it?

Andy Burns · Accepted Answer

AFAIK only iPhones X, 11, 12 and 13 have the infra-red dot projectors to support face ID.

Chris Hogg · Answer

On Mon, 18 Apr 2022 14:05:02 +0100, Andy Burns     wrote:I have certainly see it said that Iphone 7 lacks a TrueDepth camera socan't use Face ID, in which case why was my phone unlocking every timeI looked at it? Perhaps it was never locked in the first place, and inmy inexperience I assumed it was locked, and it just came to lifeevery time I picked it up. Is that possible?

Jock · Answer

No iphone has both face id and touch id, it is always one or the other.

You can't it doesnt have the hardware to do it.

You will have to get the seller to repeat what he previously did.

You sure that it did actually lock when you first bought it ?

More likey he just set a long time before it locked and you didn't notice and an iOS update has reset the long lock time.

Jock · Answer

That's correct, the 7 doesn't have the hardware to do face id.And no iphone has both face id and touch id.

Jock · Answer

Yes, that is very likely what happened. iphones do light up the screen when you pick them up. That lets you see the time without unlocking for example.

Most likely an iOS update did restore the automatic lock after a certain time with the phone not being used.

charles · Answer

In article        Jock      wrote:which was hightly irritating when one had to wear a mask.

Jock · Answer

On Tue, 19 Apr 2022 02:50:33 +1000, charles     >  wrote:Not anymore, they fixed that by working on whatis above the mask, the eyes and forehead etc.

Chris Hogg · Answer

Thanks for all the replies. At least I can now stop looking for FaceID activation!

How to set up Face Unloc on i-phone 7

Join the Discussion

Didn't find your answer?