Face ID Not Working for App Store? Here Is How to Fix It

Some users have reported that Face ID is not working when they want to install or purchase apps from the App Store. You can use Face ID to purchase apps, games and other content from the App Store. If you cannot authenticate your App Store purchase with Face ID, you will need to enter your Apple Account password. If Face ID works, you will only need to double-click the side button while glancing at your iPhone or iPad.

If Face ID is not working for the App Store, you will not see the double-click to install option. Instead, you will be presented with an Install button that you can tap to install the app.

If Face ID isn’t working for App Store transactions, it can create an inconvenience. Having to enter your Apple Account password can get annoying if you are downloading apps often.

I should note that this issue may also affect the iTunes Store; in other words, Face ID may not work with iTunes as well.

The first thing you should do if Face ID isn’t working on the App Store is to ensure that the App Store is allowed to use Face ID. You can check this by following these steps:

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
Enter your passcode to continue.
Then ensure that iTunes & App Store is enabled.

If it is off, turn it on. After turning it on, Face ID will work again. If this was already on, then see the steps below.

Steps to fix Face ID not working in App Store issue

In this article, I provide two possible fixes. Please try Fix 1 first, and if that is not helpful, move to Fix 2.

Fix 1: Sign out of Media & Purchases and then sign in

Sign out and then back into your Apple Account for Media & Purchases. Follow these step-by-step instructions:

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases.
Tap Sign Out.
Restart your device by turning it off and back on.
Return to Settings > [your name] > Media & Purchases.
Tap Sign In and enter your Apple Account credentials.

A prompt saying “This will sign you out of Apple services like the App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV, and more.”

Fix 2: Reset Face ID

The steps here involve disabling Face ID, resetting it and then setting up Face ID again. Here is how:

On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and then enter your passcode.
Disable Face ID for all apps and services: iPhone Unlock, iTunes & App Store, Contactless & Payments, Password AutoFill and others. Everything in the Use Face ID For section.
Now restart your iPhone or iPad, open the Face ID settings again and turn back on everything you just turned off. Check if Face ID can be used to buy or download apps. If not, continue.
Open the Face ID settings again and turn off everything again, everything under the Use Face ID For section. Then scroll down and tap the red Reset Face ID button.
After tapping the reset option, a new button will appear saying Set Up Face ID; tap that. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up Face ID again.
After setting up Face ID, turn on all of the features that you turned off.