To turn off Face ID for recently deleted photos, open the Settings app, scroll to Photos, and toggle off the “Use Face ID” option. This removes the biometric requirement for accessing the Recently Deleted album, so you can open it instantly without scanning your face or entering a passcode.
How to turn off Face ID for recently deleted photos
The exact setting lives inside your iPhone’s Photos preferences, not in the Face ID & Passcode menu. Here is the single, correct path:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Photos.
- Locate the option labeled Use Face ID (or “Use Touch ID” on Touch ID devices, or “Use Passcode” on some iOS versions).
- Toggle this option off.
When you flip the switch, your iPhone may prompt you to authenticate with Face ID or your device passcode to confirm the change. That confirmation is a one-time step; after you approve it, the Recently Deleted album will no longer require any authentication.
What this setting actually controls
This single toggle locks and unlocks both the Recently Deleted and Hidden albums in the Photos app. Since iOS 16, both albums are locked by default with Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode. Turning off “Use Face ID” removes that requirement for both albums at once, there is no separate switch for each one. If you only want to speed up access to Recently Deleted, this is the setting to change, but be aware that Hidden photos will also become immediately accessible without authentication.
This is different from the whole-app lock introduced in iOS 18. Locking the entire Photos app with Face ID is a separate feature that protects every photo in your library, not just the Recently Deleted and Hidden albums. If you want to keep the rest of your photos protected but skip the prompt for these two folders, the Photos setting is the one you need. If you want to remove the lock from the entire app, you would adjust that separately in the Photos settings as well.
For most people, the reason to disable this is convenience, you’re tired of scanning your face every time you want to empty the Recently Deleted folder or check a hidden image. That speed is the main benefit of using and managing Face ID this way. Others may want to remove someone’s Face ID from the phone because they share the device and don’t want the biometric prompt to block access to these albums. Whatever your reason, the toggle is quick to change and just as easy to turn back on later if you change your mind.
Once you disable “Use Face ID,” you will no longer be asked to authenticate when opening Recently Deleted or Hidden. The albums will appear immediately when you tap them, and you can delete or restore photos without any additional step. If you later want to re-enable the protection, return to Settings > Photos and toggle “Use Face ID” back on, the same confirmation prompt will appear, and the lock will be restored for both albums.
