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Komondor2240's avatar
Komondor2240
Iron Contributor
Sep 04, 2025

Windows 11 facial recognition fails to work after restart

After initial setup, Windows Hello facial recognition functions normally. However, following a system restart, it fails to recognize the user (the infrared camera shows no response). Re-enrollment is...
islacorvens's avatar
islacorvens
Copper Contributor
Sep 04, 2025

That sounds like Windows Hello is failing to initialize the IR camera after reboot, which is often a driver or firmware issue. A few things you can try:

Update your camera drivers and system firmware/BIOS from the laptop manufacturer’s site—OEM updates usually fix Hello reliability problems.

In Device Manager, remove the IR camera and let Windows reinstall it on restart.

Run Windows Update and check Optional updates—camera and biometric driver patches sometimes hide there.

If the issue persists, try disabling and re-enabling Windows Hello in Sign-in options, then reset TPM (only if your organization allows it).

If re-enrollment only fixes it temporarily, it’s most likely a driver-level bug—so checking for the latest OEM updates or opening a support case with the vendor would be the next step.

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