facial recognition is not working

ImGHOST 0 Reputation points
2026-10-16T12:13:48.3966667+00:00

how to turn on face lock its not available to my windows 11 it mentioned

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers
0 comments

3 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. DaveM121 (2) 16,755 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-10-16T12:32:40.3833333+00:00

    1

    Windows Hello Facial Recognition is more secure than most of the facial recognition technologies used on devices these days and it requires a webcam with Infrared capability, did the Hello Facial Recognition ever previously work on your system?

    2

    I need to check your system and hardware, click your Start Button, then just type msinfo and press Enter, please provide a screenshot of the resulting System Information window.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Bulldog 4,955 Reputation points
    2026-10-16T12:24:52.58+00:00

    Do you have the special type of IR camera that facial recognition requires?

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments

  3. AI answer

    2026-10-16T12:14:07.33+00:00

    Windows Hello facial recognition is only available when Windows detects a Hello-compatible infrared camera. A regular webcam can work for video calls but still cannot be used for face sign-in.

    Try this:

    1. Open Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.
    2. Check whether Facial recognition (Windows Hello) appears under Ways to sign in.
    3. If it does appear, select Set up.
    4. If it is missing or unavailable:
      • Confirm the device has a Windows Hello-compatible IR camera.
      • If using Surface, make sure Windows and firmware are fully updated. In the Surface app, expand Help & support and check for updates, or install updates through Windows Update.
      • If using an external or third-party camera on Windows 11, version 24H2 or newer, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Additional settings and check Enhanced sign-in security. External camera modules are not supported with Enhanced sign-in security enabled. Turning it off allows non-ESS devices to be used.

    If facial recognition was working before but now does not recognize the face reliably:

    1. Sign in with a PIN or password.
    2. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Facial recognition (Windows Hello).
    3. Select Improve recognition and re-scan the face.
    4. Make sure the camera is clean, lighting is even, and remove accessories that block the face.

    If Windows shows We couldn't find a camera compatible with Windows Hello Face, the device may not support facial recognition. Some Surface models, including Surface Laptop 13-inch (2nd Edition), Surface Laptop 13-inch (1st Edition), and all Surface Laptop Go models, do not support Windows Hello facial recognition and must use another sign-in method such as fingerprint or PIN.

    If the camera hardware is blurry or still fails after updates and setup, that can indicate a camera hardware problem and the device manufacturer should be contacted.

    References:

    Windows Hello doesn't recognize me, or I get an error message when I try to sign in](https://support.microsoft.com/surface/setup/troubleshoot-problems-with-windows-hello-on-surface#windows-hello-doesn't-recognize-me,-or-i-get-an-error-message-when-i-try-to-sign-in)

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.