A bug in iOS 26 is causing a key iPhone feature to malfunction, but a fix is available.

You don't want to be without this feature on your iPhone, so read this story and see if the "fix" will work for you.

Ironic events occurred with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. From June through September, the iOS 26 beta had just one problem. For about three days in the summer, the iPhone didn't ring for incoming calls. An update quickly fixed this. However, the stable iOS 26 version caused Face ID to stop working.

My wife, who has an iPhone 16 Pro Max, prefers a passcode to Face ID. I was thinking about the usefulness of Face ID, and how I'd struggle to use a passcode instead. Then Face ID failed.

I shut down and restarted the iPhone, but the problem persisted. I tried to reset Face ID, which requires disabling Stolen Device Protection in Privacy & Security. With this enabled, sensitive actions need biometrics like Face ID or Touch ID. It also delays verification by an hour for extra-sensitive actions and requires a second biometric check.

I couldn't reset Face ID, as a notification appeared asking me to try again later.

Many iPhone users have reported Face ID issues after the iOS 26 update on the Apple Community Discussions site. I wondered if the issue was related to a rumored iOS 26.0.1 update with build number 23A35_, reportedly posted on X. Apple is also expected to release the first iOS 26.1 beta this week.

Restarting the iPhone didn't allow a Face ID reset. A forced restart was needed, requiring specific actions.

After turning the iPhone back on, I reset Face ID successfully. With Face ID working, Stolen Device Protection should be re-enabled in Privacy & Security.

While Face ID issues may not bother everyone, biometric verification is important considering the personal data on phones. Matching a face or fingerprint can prevent stolen app credentials and wiped financial accounts. Biometrics, such as fingerprints, facial features, and iris patterns, are the best protection for smartphone users.

In other news, "Iconic Phones: Revolution at Your Fingertips," a coffee table book about the 21st century's technological revolution, will be released in a few months. Follow the link for more details.