iPhone 17 Pro Max Unlocking with Face ID not working when phone is semi near your face?

[FAILGATE]

I have the iPhone 17 Pro Max on iOS 26 and when unlocking the phone with Face ID it does not unlock on the first go most the time.

Also when I’m laying in bed it is so hard to unlock the phone with Face ID, I have to extend my arm all the way out for it to work.

Is everyone also experiencing this? Why unlocking the phone with Face ID not working when you have the phone near your face like 15cm away? I hate having to keep extending my arm out all the way to unlock my phone. This is not normal right? Why hasn’t Apple done anything to fix this?

 

[Apple_Robert]

If you haven't been holding the phone at a weird angle and what you described is accurate, you should set up Face ID again. That behavior is not normal.

 

[MarkX]

Holding your phone 15cm from your face is a tad close! Maybe you need glasses?

Screen distance was released in ios 17, it states that holding your phone or ipad closer than 30cm increases the risk of eye strain and myopia.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I have the iPhone 17 Pro Max on iOS 26 and when unlocking the phone with Face ID it does not unlock on the first go most the time.

Also when I’m laying in bed it is so hard to unlock the phone with Face ID, I have to extend my arm all the way out for it to work.

Is everyone also experiencing this? Why unlocking the phone with Face ID not working when you have the phone near your face like 15cm away? I hate having to keep extending my arm out all the way to unlock my phone. This is not normal right? Why hasn’t Apple done anything to fix this?

15cm or about 6” away from your face is not far enough away to unlock your phone. You don’t have to extend your arm out all the way but at 6” away, I don’t see how your eyes can focus on the screen anyway.

This IS normal and Apple has nothing to fix!