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iPhone Face ID RepairJohannesburg, Pretoria & Gauteng
👤 JCID Method · All Face ID Models · From R1,500 · Honest Assessment
Face ID repair at iAssist uses the JCID tag on flex method — restoring Face ID where the fault is in a repairable TrueDepth component. One critical limitation: the infrared camera is cryptographically paired to the device at the Apple factory. If the IR camera itself has failed, Face ID cannot be recovered — by any repair shop. We diagnose the specific component before charging anything, and there is no charge if IR camera failure means Face ID is unrecoverable.
Silvamonte, Johannesburg — serving all Gauteng with R300 collection & delivery. Free diagnostic before any work begins.
10+Years experience
4.9★Google reviews
FreeDiagnostics
6-monthWarranty
R300Gauteng pickup
How we do it
Face ID relies on a TrueDepth camera system — infrared camera, flood illuminator, and dot projector — calibrated at the Apple factory and cryptographically paired to the logic board. Face ID cannot be restored simply by replacing the TrueDepth module: the repair requires the JCID tag-on flex method (reusing the original dot projector flex on a new flex board), preserving the original pairing.
Face ID failure after a screen replacement at another shop is the most common presentation we see. The TrueDepth flex is fragile and easily torn during screen removal if the technician is not experienced with iPhone Face ID models. In most cases iAssist can restore Face ID using the JCID method. Complete failure after liquid damage may require IR camera or dot projector module replacement with programmer-level reconfiguration.
Face ID not available — after screen repair elsewhere
Most common presentation. TrueDepth flex torn or damaged during screen removal at another shop. JCID method restores Face ID on most units.
Move Higher / Lower loop
Known dot projector degradation on iPhone 12 and 13 series. JCID tag-on repair resolves in most cases without full module replacement.
Face ID not available — out of nowhere
Spontaneous failure without prior repair. Could be dot projector failure, IR camera fault, or flex cable fatigue. Assessed under magnification.
Face ID after liquid damage
Water ingress can corrode the TrueDepth connections or flood illuminator. Assessed after ultrasonic board clean — Face ID restoration attempted where possible.
Touch ID repair — iPhone 8, SE 2020, SE 2022
These models use Touch ID rather than Face ID. Home button replacement without programmer pairing disables Touch ID permanently. JCID method retains original Touch ID function.
Passcode required after reboot
Normal behaviour — Face ID requires passcode after restart by design. If Face ID never activates after unlock: true Face ID failure requiring diagnosis.
Our iphone face id repair process
TrueDepth diagnostic
Specific TrueDepth component identified — dot projector, IR camera, flood illuminator, or earpiece/sensor flex.
JCID assessment
JCID programmer reads flex cable data to determine if authentication data is intact and recoverable.
Flex repair / replacement
Repairable flex components repaired or replaced. JCID writes correct authentication data to new flex.
Face ID setup test
Full Face ID registration tested. No charge if IR camera failure means recovery is impossible.
Pricing
Select your iPhone model
Select your model for exact pricing on this repair — every tier, every model.
iPhone Face ID Repair — pricing by model
All prices include parts, labour, and a 6-month warranty. Confirmed in writing after free diagnostic. Click any model for the full repair price list.
| Model |
Tier / option |
Price (incl. labour) |
| iPhone 8 & SE series |
| iPhone 8 |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone SE (2020) |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone SE (2022) |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone X · XS · XR series |
| iPhone X |
JCID tag-on |
R1,200 |
| iPhone X |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone XS |
JCID tag-on |
R1,400 |
| iPhone XS |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone XR |
JCID tag-on |
R1,300 |
| iPhone XR |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone XS Max |
JCID tag-on |
R1,500 |
| iPhone XS Max |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 11 series |
| iPhone 11 |
JCID tag-on |
R1,600 |
| iPhone 11 |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 11 Pro |
JCID tag-on |
R1,600 |
| iPhone 11 Pro |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max |
JCID tag-on |
R1,600 |
| iPhone 11 Pro Max |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 12 series |
| iPhone 12 |
JCID tag-on |
R1,800 |
| iPhone 12 |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 12 |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 12 mini |
JCID tag-on |
R1,800 |
| iPhone 12 mini |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 12 mini |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 12 Pro |
JCID tag-on |
R1,800 |
| iPhone 12 Pro |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 12 Pro |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max |
JCID tag-on |
R2,000 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 13 series |
| iPhone 13 |
JCID tag-on |
R2,500 |
| iPhone 13 |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 13 |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 13 mini |
JCID tag-on |
R2,500 |
| iPhone 13 mini |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 13 mini |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 13 Pro |
JCID tag-on |
R2,800 |
| iPhone 13 Pro |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 13 Pro |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max |
JCID tag-on |
R2,800 |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 14 series |
| iPhone 14 |
JCID tag-on |
R2,500 |
| iPhone 14 |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 14 |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 14 Plus |
JCID tag-on |
R2,500 |
| iPhone 14 Plus |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 14 Plus |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 14 Pro |
JCID tag-on |
R3,500 |
| iPhone 14 Pro |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 14 Pro |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max |
JCID tag-on |
R3,500 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 15 series |
| iPhone 15 |
JCID tag-on |
R3,800 |
| iPhone 15 |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 15 |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 15 Plus |
JCID tag-on |
R3,800 |
| iPhone 15 Plus |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 15 Plus |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 15 Pro |
JCID tag-on |
R3,800 |
| iPhone 15 Pro |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 15 Pro |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max |
JCID tag-on |
R4,500 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 16 series |
| iPhone 16 |
JCID tag-on |
R4,800 |
| iPhone 16 |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 16 |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 16 Plus |
JCID tag-on |
R4,500 |
| iPhone 16 Plus |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 16 Plus |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 16 Pro |
JCID tag-on |
R6,000 |
| iPhone 16 Pro |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 16 Pro |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max |
JCID tag-on |
R6,500 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 16e |
JCID tag-on |
R4,200 |
| iPhone 16e |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 16e |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 17 series |
| iPhone 17 |
JCID tag-on |
R6,000 |
| iPhone 17 |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 17 |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 17 Air |
JCID tag-on |
R6,000 |
| iPhone 17 Air |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 17 Air |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 17 Pro |
JCID tag-on |
R6,500 |
| iPhone 17 Pro |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 17 Pro |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max |
JCID tag-on |
R6,500 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
| iPhone 17e |
JCID tag-on |
R5,500 |
| iPhone 17e |
IR camera replacement |
R7,500 |
| iPhone 17e |
Face ID IC (board level) |
Assessment + quote |
Why choose iAssist for iphone face id repair?
Free diagnostic
We confirm the exact fault before quoting. No charge if we can't fix it.
6-month warranty
Parts and labour carry a full 6-month warranty. Written quote before work begins.
Component-level repair
Micro-soldering means we fix what other shops call unrepairable.
170 reviews · 4.9★
Johannesburg's most reviewed specialist Apple repair centre.
OEM-grade parts
No cheap aftermarket parts. OEM-quality components on every repair.
Nationwide courier
R300 insured collection across Gauteng. Nationwide courier available.
Three ways to get your iPhone to us
Walk in, arrange Gauteng collection, or ship from anywhere in South Africa. Every repair starts with a free diagnostic and written quote.
In person
Drop it off at the workshop
Walk in to our Silvamonte workshop any business day. Free parking, free diagnostic on the spot. Most screen and battery replacements can be completed while you wait or same day.
Shop 4, Silvercrest Centre
11 Swemmer Rd, Silvamonte, Johannesburg
Mon–Fri 09:00–17:00 · Sat 09:00–13:00
Gauteng · R300
Door-to-door via Eliz Courier
Eliz Courier & Messenger Services collects and returns your iPhone across Joburg, Pretoria, Centurion, and the East Rand. R300 round-trip. WhatsApp us to book — usually within 24 hours.
WhatsApp to book collection →
Nationwide
Ship via The Courier Guy
Anywhere in South Africa — Cape Town, Durban, PE, Bloem, Polokwane. We arrange Courier Guy collection from your door, your iPhone ships to us insured, gets repaired, and returns via the same courier.
WhatsApp to arrange courier →
Common questions
iPhone Face ID Repair — frequently asked questions
Can Face ID be repaired after it stops working?
In many cases yes — using the JCID tag on flex method. If the fault is in the earpiece/sensor flex, dot projector, or flood illuminator, Face ID can be restored. If the IR camera has failed, Face ID cannot be recovered by anyone — it's cryptographically paired at the Apple factory.
What is the JCID tag on flex method?
JCID is a specialist tool that reads and writes TrueDepth authentication data to the flex cable. When a flex is replaced or repaired, JCID transfers the authentication data from the original, allowing Face ID to re-authorise.
My iPhone shows 'Face ID is not available' — what does that mean?
The TrueDepth system cannot find one or more components. Most commonly the earpiece/sensor flex is torn, disconnected, or corroded — the most repairable Face ID fault. Free diagnostic identifies the specific component.
My iPhone 13 Pro Face ID asks 'Move Higher or Lower' constantly — is that fixable?
Often yes. The 13 Pro has a known fault where the dot projector lens becomes loose. We can re-seat and re-glue the lens, restoring Face ID. JCID applied after lens work.
Face ID stopped after a screen replacement at another shop — is that fixable?
Possibly — the most common cause is a torn earpiece/sensor flex during the replacement. JCID can often restore Face ID. Free diagnostic first.
Why does Face ID cost more to repair on newer models?
The TrueDepth system on newer models is more sophisticated and the JCID process more complex. iPhone 15 and 16 series also require additional time for sandwich board architecture.
Is there any way to bypass Face ID if it can't be repaired?
No. If Face ID is permanently unavailable, a passcode unlocks the device. All other functions continue normally.
Do iPhone 8, SE 2020, and SE 2022 have Face ID?
No — these use Touch ID via the Home button. Face ID repair doesn't apply to them.
