How To Reset Your iPhone Without Face ID in iOS 17/18

How to Reset Your iPhone Face ID Without Showing Your Face

If you’ve ever tried to reset Face ID on an iPhone, you know it’s usually a straightforward process—but what do you do if your face isn’t available anymore? Maybe you’ve had a temporary injury, lost weight, or just don’t want to show your face again for privacy reasons. Well, I ran into this myself and figured out a way to wipe the old Face ID data *without* going through the facial scan. Here’s what finally worked for me, and hopefully it helps you too.

Why You Might Need to Reset Face ID Without Using Your Face

Normally, resetting Face ID means removing the existing data and then scanning your face again. Easy enough—until you can’t actually do the scan anymore. Maybe your face is injured, or you’re just not comfortable showing it. Sometimes, after resetting, your iPhone refuses to recognize your face or the setup process gets…weird. So knowing how to delete Face ID info so you can set it up later without the face scan can be a lifesaver. It’s more about erasing the stored face data from the device, then re-initializing it from scratch later on.

This isn’t just about a simple “reset”—it’s about fully removing that face data. A lot of people don’t realize that resetting Face ID involves deleting biometric data—and that doing it without a facial scan is possible. Just be aware: if your device has any restrictions or profiles, these might block or complicate the process. Also, doing a reset clears your Face ID data, so you’ll want to have your passcode handy.

Getting Ready to Reset — Things to Check First

This part is kinda crucial. Before you jump into resetting Face ID, make sure your device isn’t connected to any VPNs or management profiles—those can interfere with biometric setup. I originally wasted some time trying to reset Face ID with VPN active, and the options stayed grayed out. So, in Settings > VPN, just disconnect if needed. Also, check Settings > General > VPN & Device Management—if there’s anything there, especially profiles from work or school, disable or remove them temporarily.

Another thing that helped was turning off location services or restricting access in privacy settings. Basically, get rid of any factors that might block the Face ID reset process. It might sound trivial, but these little things can hold up the whole process.

Resetting Network Settings Can Help Too

Here’s a trick that I stumbled upon—resetting network settings. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings. It resets Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular configs, which can trigger some background system refreshes responsible for biometric functions. It’s not an officially recommended step just for Face ID, but in my case, it helped clear out some weird lingering glitches. Fair warning: this erases Wi-Fi passwords and VPN configs—you’ll need to re-enter those afterward.

Once it’s done, restart your phone, then navigate to Settings > Face ID & Passcode again. Hopefully, this refresh allows you to access the reset options.

Finding and Using “Reset Face ID” in Settings

Next, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode. You’ll need to enter your device passcode—no skipping this step. Once inside, look for the Reset Face ID button. Sometimes, it’s not right at the top; it might be tucked away near the bottom or within some hidden submenu. Tap it, and you’ll be asked to confirm. That totally deletes your face data from the device, in case you weren’t sure.

This is the critical step—you’re removing the face profile, which frees you up to set it up fresh later. That said, you can skip the actual face scan if you’re not up for it right then. The device will still be in a state to recognize your fingerprint or passcode for unlocking, which is handy if you’re temporarily unable to scan your face.

Going Through with or Without the Face Scan

After resetting, your iPhone prompts you to set up Face ID again. If your face isn’t there, or you’re just not comfortable showing it, you can skip the facial scan—at least temporarily. The setup wizard usually offers an option to do that. You’ll then be able to unlock your phone with your passcode instead, which is actually pretty useful in cases where the face doesn’t work or you want to keep things private for now.

Extra Tips for Smooth Operation

If Face ID still acts funny after the reset, try resetting all settings: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings. It clears preferences, Wi-Fi passwords, and other small quirks, without deleting your actual data. In some cases, a complete factory reset is needed, but that’s more involved and requires a backup first. Usually, resetting Face ID plus network settings sufficed for me.

Final Thoughts & Summary

Basically, if you’re looking to wipe your Face ID data without exposing your face again, the trick lies in going into Settings > Face ID & Passcode, then hitting Reset Face ID. Make sure VPNs, profiles, and network settings are tidy beforehand, and remember: this deletes the stored biometric data—so you can’t use Face ID until you set it up again.

Hope this helps — it took me way too long to figure out how to do this properly. The whole process isn’t super obvious, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty straightforward. Just be ready for a few false starts or dead-ends, especially with profiles or restrictions in place. Good luck, and don’t forget to back up first if you’re doing a full reset or messing around with device settings. Anyway, hope this saves someone else a weekend!