iPhone 13 Face ID breakdown issue to be fixed, says Apple

iPhone 13 Face ID breakdown issue: Apple will roll out a new software update which will enable your Face ID in iPhone 13 even after screen replacement by a third-party.

iPhone 13 Face ID breakdown issue: Users still can avoid Face ID malfunctioning while preferring Apple retail stores for screen replacement. (Amritanshu Mukherjee / HT Tech)

iPhone 13 FaceID breakdown issue to be fixed by Apple! The company says it will release a software update that will not require you to transfer the microcontroller to maintain FaceID working after a third party screen replacement, the company told The Verge. Repair specialists noticed soon after the iPhone 13's release that replacing the screen would disable Face ID unless you also moved over a tiny control chip from the original screen.

But, why is Face ID so important? The iPhone users who are using the Apple smartphone since iPhone X will understand how convenient it is to unlock the phone, sign in to applications, and make digital purchases just by using Face ID. Crashed Face ID would be quite inconvenient as you have to rely on a PIN for unlocking and authenticating measures.

What is the issue with iPhone screen replacement?

A week ago, iFixit reported that third party screen repairs on the recently launched iPhone 13 will make Face ID ineffective. This is due to the inclusion of a tiny control chip in the flex cable linking the phone's screens, which connects each display to its own motherboard.

That means, non-Apple repair stores or shops will have to desolder the little chip from the broken screen and then re-solder it on the replacement display which will make the procedure time consuming and will require special equipment that most repair shops don't have. On the other hand, Apple-authorized repair shops have the access to a software tool that can make a phone accept a new screen.

Is there any way out?

The only possible way for now is to go to the Apple Store or authorized retailer for screen replacement, as they have required a software tool to not let the Face ID break during the replacement. Though, it is not possible for everyone to go to the Apple repair store for screen replacement and might prefer third-party repair shops.

In such a situation, the news that Apple may release a software update to remove the Face ID limitation, as unauthorized repairs or third-party repair stores will not break Face ID after the update. It will eliminate the need for repair shops to transfer the old Face ID microcontroller to a new screen. However, Apple hasn't announced it officially yet.