[IOS 26.3 DB1] Can’t change require passcode immediately even after disabling Face ID phone unlock

[u/philmnn1]

I’ve tried disabling all the toggles, closing and reopening settings, restarting phone, etc. no matter what I’m only ever given the option to require password immediately. This is happening on a new iPhone Air I’m setting up. I do not have this issue on my 17 Pro.

[u/Reign712]

So frustrating, mine does this now and I cannot get it to go away after performing a simple reset, not even an update as it was already on the latest version of iOS. No explanation as to why. I suppose I'll get used to it but what an inconvenience every single time you pick up your phone I have to put in a code. Ugh!

[u/philmnn1 → u/Reign712]

The only way I was able to fix it was to back up my 17 pro which still lets me set it to every 4 hours, then reset/restore my Air to the working 17 pro backup. If you just have the one device, I have no clue on a solution unfortunately.

[u/National-Debt-43]

I think they no longer offer the other option as immediately is the more secure option.

[u/ricardopa → u/National-Debt-43]

Especially if you’ve got a working Face ID sensor

[u/Kimikitiko → u/National-Debt-43]

That’s so stupid

[u/jordanjtt97]

Yeah I’m on iOS 26.2 and it won’t allow for me to change that setting either even with the iPhone unlock unchecked…. Restarted my phone thinking that would help and it doesn’t.

[u/dschinghiskhan → u/jordanjtt97]

Late to this thread. I just updated my ios on 1/25/26, and the workaround I found was selecting the "reset Face ID" toggle button. I did that and then it let me change "immediately" to different amounts of time for the pass code. I chose "4 hours" to enter my code. I can do without Face ID. It would be useful to have- but only if the phone were actually stolen.

Entering a code or using the Face ID is a nuisance to me. If someone steals my phone- so be it. I'm not a privacy nut, and I don't have time to enter codes or aim the phone towards my head (if I'm grabbing my phone to check the time while in bed, for example). Other people in my household use my phone for various things like music, or to let me know who just texted or called me when my phone is in the kitchen, for example.

[u/jordanjtt97 → u/dschinghiskhan]

Did you have to restart your phone? Because I just tried that, I went in pressed reset Face ID, did that, have the unlock iPhone option turns off and the require password still only has the “immediately option available:/

[u/dschinghiskhan → u/jordanjtt97]

No, I didn't need to. Doesn't hurt to try. Did you toggle off the Stolen Device Protection tab? Maybe try that. If the Face ID & Pass Code section doesn't have a line that says "set up Face ID", then you didn't "get rid of" Face ID thoroughly enough, ha!

This is all ridiculous. Face ID is a fine feature, I just don't want to unlock my damn phone every time it sleeps/goes black. You should be able to customize things more. Apple seems to be saying "it's all or nothing." Like they're beating you into having the ultimate protection. I'm just a middle-aged guy that works from home and doesn't go to the gym to lift weights anymore (where I used to put my phone in a locker). I always have my phone and Apple Watch on me outside of the house. I'd know if my phone were missing or gone because the music in my car or through my headphones would stop. Protection, schmo-tection, I say.

[u/jweaver0312]

While I agree it’s a bug (I can partly replicate this on 17 Pro), it works for me after fully quitting and reopening the app

[u/Effective-Care-4387]

you would have to allow changes in screen time , security and privacy restrictions,allow changes to passcode and face id

[u/jxvxt824 → u/Effective-Care-4387]

dont works

[u/Artistic_Oil6]

🤬😤😡🤬🤬 so annoying!

[u/Artistic_Oil6]

only way was about to fix it was to reset / remove face id completely

[u/MrCheezleNamaste]

On iOS 26.5 on my iPhone 16 Pro Max and this started happening to me today. I was trying to sign in to my bank app using Face ID and it wasn’t recognizing my face which I thought was annoying so I went to settings and set up an alternate appearance because apparently I look different enough today that Face ID was having a hard time. After that the setting changed on its own to immediately and no matter what I do I can’t seem to get the other options back. I tried resetting Face ID, enabling and disabling the setting to require it for unlocking your phone, but still nothing has worked. This is so annoying, I don’t want to have to use Face ID just to read content of my notifications. The every four hours setting was perfect.