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What exactly do I need to buy to get the TrueDepth camera working for Face ID? I thought just the camera but after reading I’m totally confused and don’t know if it’ll work at all. Please dumb it down.
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Apple has paired a couple of assemblies to the logic board, presumably for security purposes to ensure that Face ID can't be hacked. One of these is the front camera, meaning only Apple can pair a new front camera with your existing logic board.
So the short answer is that there isn't any part you can buy to fix your Face ID if it isn't working; replacing any part of the Face ID system with one that isn't matched to the logic board disables Face ID.
The only thing an average person can do outside of taking the phone to Apple for repair is to replace all three parts together with ones salvaged from an original phone. Here's what's needed:
- Logic Board
- Front Facing Camera (Paired to that logic board)
- Proximity Sensor / Earphone (Paired to that logic board)
That being said, there are other repairs that can be made if Face ID stops working, but they generally require skill in microsoldering; not something just anyone can do. For example, the flex cable that connects the front camera to the logic board can get damaged and it is possible to replace it; it's just that it's very difficult without precise equipment and a particular set of skills.
UPDATE as of 3/5/23
I'd like to amend my previous statements as to the repairability of the TrueDepth camera system. As it turns out, the front facing camera, which is a part of the TrueDepth system, is not a part of the Face ID system. Since the camera itself is not paired to the logic board, it can be replaced and still have Face ID be functional. However, it is only sold by Apple as the front camera assembly, including the infrared camera and the dot matrix connector. Replacing it requires you to use brute force to open up the metal bracket holding the camera and replace the camera alone with a replacement part, leaving the other components intact.
crwdns2934105:0crwdne2934105:0
That's a spot on answer Jerry.
So is Apple likely to change this in the future? It would also seem unsafe since it could use unsafe IR. Even Apple says it could damage your eyes or skin.
@ahawkua I don't have any inside information on whether Apple will change this situation or not. My personal opinion is no, they're not going to revise their policy on locking the Face ID components to the motherboard. Too much profit for them since they're the only ones who can do that repair, plus they are keeping the technology proprietary.
The only thing I can see that could have any effect on the situation would be the passage of Right to Repair legislation; if that happens Apple could possibly be forced to revise their policies, but don't hold your breath; I don't see much significant progress for at least a couple of years (just my own opinion).
So I read your update on the repairability of FaceID. Does that mean you can get FaceID to work if you replace the IR camera or the dot projector with third-party or aftermarket FaceID parts and get FaceID to work? Wouldn't that be dangerous since it could use IR that isn't safe and could burn your eyes and skin? I mean I remember Apple saying on a FaceID safety page that it could cause injury to your skin and eyes. From what I read of what you said now Apple allows people to replace the FaceID parts that aren't the original and genuine parts and instead use aftermarket or third-party FaceID parts like a dot projector or the IR camera. I guess that means they no longer pair those parts to the logic board anymore. Is that right?
@ahawkua No, you cannot replace the IR camera or the dot projector with either genuine Apple or aftermarket parts and still have Face ID working. The front camera, which is part of that same assembly, is not paired to the logic board and is on a separate flex cable so it can be replaced, but it takes cutting open the metal frame that holds it.
The IR camera is just that, a camera. It reads light but does not project it, so neither it nor the regular camera can cause injury in any way. Theoretically a bad dot projector could, but the power levels used are so low that it's highly unlikely unless that dots were all concentrated on a single spot, in which case Face ID is not going to be working.
As many people have said to you already, if the Face ID system is working on any given iPhone, then you have a 99.9% chance that the parts are all the original Apple components and have not been replaced.
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Hi Jennifer,
So tell us what's going on with the phone that you feel you need to replace the front camera. It sounds like your Face ID stopped working; what were the circumstances? Was any kind of repair done on your phone, did it get dropped or wet - what happened? It doesn't usually just stop working randomly.
Also, there's a possibility it could be a software issue that may be fixable without taking it to Apple, so if we have details this group might be able to help.
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 Jerry Wheeler crwdne2934271:0
So is Apple likely to change this in the future? It would also seem unsafe since it could use unsafe IR. Even Apple says it could damage your eyes or skin.
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 Austin G crwdne2934271:0
@ahawkua you seem really paranoid about face id. If it bothers you, you can disable it in settings and use a pass code. It's crap anyway. If it fails that's it.
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 [deleted] crwdne2934271:0
@strongbow It's not that I'm paranoid. I just want to make sure it's safe. I know a lot of people who have bought refurbished iPhones from online places like Decluttr, Amazon Renewed, etc and I have even thought about buying a refurbished iPhone in the future. However I worry about safety because if FaceID works and uses third-party or aftermarket FaceID parts like the dot projector and IR camera it could cause injury to your eyes and skin. Since the third-party or aftermarket FaceID parts haven't been properly tested for safety. Even Apple mentions on one of their FaceID safety pages that using FaceID with FaceID parts that are third-party or aftermarket could cause injury to your eyes and skin. Below Jerry said now you can use third-party or aftermarket FaceID parts like the dot projector and IR camera. I don't know how FaceID would work, but he (Jerry) just amended his post saying now FaceID would work with aftermarket or third-party FaceID parts. I'm autistic so I worry about these things.
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 Austin G crwdne2934271:0
@strongbow
Part 2.
I want to get a refurbished iPhone in the future from Amazon Renewed. I also want to make sure that the friends, family and many of the other people in the world that has a refurbished iPhone is safe and their eyes or skin doesn't get damaged or injured if the FaceID parts in their phones aren't the original and genuine FaceID parts.
crwdns2934271:0crwdnd2934271:0 Austin G crwdne2934271:0
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