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You are here: Home / iPhone / Fix: A Problem Was Detected With the TrueDepth Camera

Fix: A Problem Was Detected With the TrueDepth Camera

By Madalina Dinita 25 comments Last updated July 11, 2023

If Face ID stopped working, most likely this is because your iPhone has detected a problem with the TrueDepth camera. If you go to Settings, and tap Face ID and Passcode, you’ll notice the device says Face ID has been disabled due to an unknown TrueDepth camera issue. Let’s explore how you can troubleshoot this problem.

iPhone Detected a Problem With the TrueDepth Camera

Enable Airplane Mode, Restart and Update the Device

Put your iPhone into Airplane Mode, wait for 30 seconds, and then turn it off. Wait again for another 30 seconds, and then turn on the device. Check if the error persists. Hopefully, resetting your connection to Apple’s servers solves the problem.

If you still can’t use Face ID, go to Settings, tap General and select Software Update. Update your iPhone to the latest iOS version, and restart it. Check if Face ID works as expected.

Set up Face ID in Airplane Mode

Other users said they solved the problem after resetting Face ID while in Airplane Mode.

  1. Go to Settings and select Face ID & Passcode.face-ID-and-passcode
  2. Then select Face ID and tap the Delete Face option.
  3. Restart your iPhone, enter your passcode, and go back to Settings.
  4. Put the device in Airplane Mode, and set up Face ID again.
  5. Then turn Airplane Mode off and check the results.

Reset iPhone Settings

Erase all of your iPhone’s settings, and check if this method solves the problem.

  1. Go to Settings, and select General.
  2. Select Reset iPhone, and tap Reset All Settings.
  3. Confirm your choice, enter your passcode, and tap Reset All Settings.iphone-reset-all-settings
  4. Wait until your iPhone finishes clearing all of your settings.
  5. Your iOS device should restart automatically.
  6. Check if you’re still getting the same TrueDepth error message.

Restore Your iPhone via iTunes

Try restoring your iPhone using iTunes. If this is a software-related issue, restoring your device should strike the software problem off the list. Some users suggested not using the backup option when restoring your device. Sometimes, your backup can get corrupted. If you use corrupted backup data to restore your device, the problem won’t go away.

restore iphone

Try restoring your iPhone as new without your backup. If the issue persists, this indicates your hardware is the culprit. Rest assured, if setting up your iPhone as new doesn’t solve the problem, you can always use the backup to restore your data.

As Apple explains, if your iPhone malfunctions, iOS may automatically disable the TrueDepth camera for safety reasons. Of course, you’ll still be able to use your device. It’s just that you might not be able to use Face ID. But you can still use your passcode.

Well, the bad news is that your iPhone may sometimes fail to recognize your passcode. If you’re locked out, the only option you got left is to go to the nearest Apple Store or authorized repair center.

Go to Apple Store

If you suspect the TrueDepth camera issue is caused by faulty hardware, book a Genius Bar appointment. Hopefully, Apple’s skilled technicians will be able to fix the problem.

Unfortunately, many users received an answer they did not expect to get in a million years:

The same thing happened to me, went to the Apple Store and they say we need to pay to replace the phone and there’s nothing they can do to solve this problem. Awesome that we update and they make us pay for the problems it causes.

Many users preferred to stick to the good old passcode than pay hundreds of dollars to get a new device. They disapproved of Apple’s solution calling it an upselling strategy. Comment down below if the Genius Bar technician said you needed a new phone to get rid of the TrueDepth error.

Conclusion

If your iPhone’s TrueDepth camera stopped working and you can’t use Face ID anymore, reset Face ID, enable Airplane Mode, and set up Face ID in Airplane Mode. Additionally, reset your iPhone settings and restore your device via iTunes. If nothing’s working, book a Genius Bar appointment.

Did you find other ways to troubleshoot your TrueDepth camera issues? Do share your ideas in the comments below. Your solutions may save the day for many fellow iPhone users experiencing the same problem.

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Reader Interactions

Write a Comment Cancel reply

Show 25 Comments

  1. akhilesh says

    August 12, 2023 at 1:50 AM

    my face id issue for a truedepth camera give me solution on mail

    Reply
  2. Jack Vopal says

    July 19, 2023 at 7:35 PM

    website helped a lot and saved me a trip to the apple store, thanks!

    Reply
  3. Paul Durand says

    June 6, 2023 at 12:18 PM

    Well I have done everything in this and the camera is still not working. It looks like it will be cheaper to get a new phone

    Reply
  4. Kayla Voskuil says

    December 22, 2022 at 1:50 AM

    Thank you so much for your tips! My Face ID completely stoped working so I tried to reset it but it wouldn’t take my face. I went to apple and they told me it was my True depth camera that needed to be repaired and that it was going to cost $270! I left apple with the plan of never using face ID again because I was not going to pay that amount for something that I didn’t break! I found your website and tried the airplane mode trick and it worked!!! Thank you so much!!!

    Reply
  5. Nikhil Karuppasamy says

    December 11, 2022 at 12:39 AM

    I have a 14 pro and I got the msg.

    HERES HOW I FIXED IT!
    (Do note I had no physical damage to my phone)

    I switched my phone over to airplane mode and removed the SIM card tray and took the sim out and closed the tray, restarted my phone and put the Sim back in and it worked. I don’t live in the US so I have the SIM card tray. But it stopped working whenever I mess with smth in the Face ID and passcode section in settings and have done this a couple of times.

    Good luck!

    Reply
  6. James J Bowles says

    October 11, 2022 at 2:36 PM

    My iPhone 12 pro max has a never been damaged and has never been worked on. I fail to see why out of nowhere I would get a Truedepth camera fault. I’ve gone through all the steps above and nothing worked.

    Reply
  7. John says

    June 14, 2022 at 9:07 AM

    After trying to reset several times, I set up Face ID in airplane mode and that took care of the problem, great advice! FYI I do believe water started the problem. Battery had also been replaced about a month ago. Just for added information

    Reply
  8. mark says

    June 6, 2022 at 11:52 AM

    This happened after having my battery replaced and the IOS updated. My camera works fine and the phone has been well taken care of. I am not replacing it until something else fails, it will not be another iPhone when I do replace it.

    Reply
  9. Laura L says

    May 25, 2022 at 8:53 AM

    Oh my gosh! Thanks for this article. Putting the phone into airplane mode before cycling power did the trick to get faceID working again. Really wish Apple’s help had offered this nugget of information instead of saying I needed to bring the phone in! They just recommended cycling power and/or making sure the phone is up to date.

    Reply
    • Kim says

      November 18, 2022 at 11:09 PM

      what do u mean by cycling power?

      Reply
  10. Nazy says

    May 12, 2022 at 7:39 AM

    My iPhone XR is updated and I have restart my phone including all the procedures stated it but there is still problem with true depth camera,,,why?

    Reply
  11. CEB says

    May 9, 2022 at 7:58 AM

    Had a similar problem with my XS. iPhone message told me that the TrueDepth camera had been disabled and that i should head to the apple store. Genius technicians told me it would be £400+ for a repair or I could trade it in. Even more frustrating that it was a week out of it’s 2 year warranty and there was nothing they could do – not best pleased.

    Reply
  12. Netia says

    May 2, 2022 at 12:43 AM

    Phone was working perfectly until I updated. Then I was told a non-genuine device had been detected (my screen which I had replaced a month prior), that there was a problem with my true depth camera, and that face id had been disabled. Took the phone to Apple only to be told I needed to buy a new device for some $400 and change. So frustrating when there was absolutely no problems with the phone before the upgrade.

    Reply
  13. Steve Moore says

    April 13, 2022 at 3:43 PM

    I was told by Apple to buy new phone.

    Reply
  14. Marc says

    March 2, 2022 at 6:10 PM

    Apple told me I needed to replace my phone. Very disappointed this feature stopped working when my phone got wet. Very disappointed with apple, I was going to buy an M1 laptop and media creation workstation but I will stick with Windows.

    Reply
  15. VBarot says

    January 16, 2022 at 2:47 AM

    My Face ID stopped working, I booked an appointment with the Genius Bar and they said they simply can’t do anything and that I would have to pay to replace my phone. My phone is only 4 years old, in pristine condition , smells like an upselling strategy to me.

    Reply
  16. Amer says

    January 7, 2022 at 2:14 AM

    Having problem with my face ID since 2 week but it was cost myself I put my phone in the water since then the iphone give me a chance to set it up once and I was having trouble with it still then I reserted face ID from one screen came there is problem found in the truedept camera up to now .

    Reply
    • Anders Karlsson says

      January 15, 2022 at 12:12 PM

      Same here, dropped mine in the hot tub, did not work after that, it is supposed to handle 30 min under water……

      Reply
  17. Rotem says

    December 30, 2021 at 4:33 PM

    Same problem after updating my iPhone XS version.

    Reply
  18. Moises Manuel Andre says

    December 16, 2021 at 12:56 PM

    Having problem with my face ID since 2 week but it was cost myself I put my phone in the water since then the iphone give me a chance to set it up once and I was having trouble with it still then I reserted face ID from one screen came there is problem found in the truedept camera up to now .

    Reply
  19. Mohamed 3enab says

    December 13, 2021 at 8:24 PM

    I have the same problem my face id doesn’t work now when I was at 14.7 was working well now no at 15.1 i talk to support he said it will work on 15.2 now they said to me go to store for repair it ..

    Reply
  20. Fenwick says

    December 12, 2021 at 1:13 PM

    Face ID just stopped working after 15.1 update on iphone 11

    Reply
  21. Nantte says

    December 4, 2021 at 3:38 PM

    My true depth camera stopped working last week. I had installed 15.1 recently. The apple store told me it couldn’t be fixed and recommended a new one, just as you said.
    I tried your first fix and when i turn it back on it and go to Settings and select Face ID & Passcode.face-ID-and-passcode
    Then select Face ID and tap the Delete Face option I don’t see the option for Delete Face. If I try to set up Face ID it says the camera as been disabled.

    I have not tried Resetting it yet.

    Reply
  22. Dishit says

    November 24, 2021 at 5:26 AM

    Apple said I need yo replace my phone, even though after updating my phone to latest IOS my face Id stopped working. This is the one type of ripoff to customers by apple the same they did couple years ago by slowing iphone and required to change battery. That’s how they become the worlds most valuable company by ripping off the customer.

    Reply
  23. Alyssa says

    November 16, 2021 at 8:35 PM

    I had a pretty deep scratch on my fairly new IPhone 12 pro max. I noticed the screen wasn’t working right in the area of the scratch. I have Apple care plus, so I made an appointment through AppleCare at Best Buy’s geek squad service center to get the screen repaired. Walked in expecting to pay $30, only for them to tell me they were getting fault codes in my true depth camera as well as the area of the screen that was scratched and that the whole phone would need to be replaced. My Face ID hasn’t been an issue at all for me. It works flawlessly, as well as with my mask on when I’m wearing my watch. I don’t get it. They said it’s Apple’s policy that they have to replace the entire phone if the TrueDepth camera is failing. I don’t even understand how it could be failing considering I have legitimately NEVER dropped it and am really careful with my phone. I definitely think it’s annoying that I’m having to pay $100 for a refurbished replacement when I just paid $1,300 for this phone 3 months ago and the TrueDepth “failure” isn’t even affecting my ability to use Face ID. Seems sketchy to me. I’ll be calling Apple to complain.

    Reply

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