[iOS 26] Eye Tracking Not Working/Showing? Here's the Fix

Wendy Wu
Last updated: Sep 5, 2025

Is the Eye Tracking feature not working or missing from Settings on your iPhone or iPad? Don’t worry—we’ve prepared some solutions for you. Check them out below.

Eye Tracking is a feature built into iOS 18 and later. If it doesn’t appear in Settings, doesn’t work, or works inaccurately on your iPhone, you’ve come to the right place. This guide explains why iOS Eye Tracking may not work or show up and provides effective solutions.

[iOS 26] Eye Tracking Not Working/Showing? Here's the Fix

Why Is Eye Tracking Not Showing or Working on My iPhone?

Here are the most common reasons why Eye Tracking may not appear in Settings or may not work properly:

  • Eye Tracking is only available on iPhone 12 and later models.
  • Your iPhone hasn’t been updated to iOS 18 or later.
  • Some new features may not roll out immediately in all countries or regions.
  • Certain apps or system conflicts may interfere with Eye Tracking.
  • A dirty lens, hardware malfunction, or blocked camera can prevent tracking.
  • Inadequate or uneven lighting can affect camera accuracy.
  • If your iPhone isn’t placed on a stable surface, tracking may fail.
  • If your face is too close, too far, or not properly aligned, calibration can fail.
  • Skipping or incorrectly following the setup process may cause the feature not to work.
  • System glitches in beta or early versions of iOS may cause instability.
  • Other Accessibility features (like Switch Control or VoiceOver) might interfere with Eye Tracking.
  • If your iPhone is running low on storage or background processes are overloaded, performance may drop.

iOS 18 Eye Tracking Issues and Fixes

If Eye Tracking isn’t responding on your iPhone or iPad, don’t worry—here are some tips to troubleshoot.

1. Eye Tracking Not Showing in Settings

  • Check whether your iPhone model supports Eye Tracking: only iPhone 12 and later support it.
  • Check your iPhone's compatibility.
    iOS 18 compatibility
  • Update your iPhone to the latest version:

Related Article: How to Download and Install iOS 26

2. Eye Tracking Not Accurate or Tracking Failed

  • Make sure the front-facing camera is working properly and has a clear view of your face in good lighting.
  • File a bug using Feedback Assistant, update to the latest iOS 18 beta, or wait for the official release.
  • Open the Eye Tracking feature directly instead of using search.
  • Place your iPhone on a stable surface (or use a stand), about 1 foot away from your face.

3. Eye Tracking Not Working

Bug 1: Screen Flickering

If your screen flickers or Eye Tracking feels inaccurate:

  • Reset Eye Tracking settings (turn off and re-enable).
  • Restart your iPhone.
  • Use Eye Tracking together with hand gestures for better control.

Bug 2: Cannot Return to Previous Screen

  • Enable Dwell Control and focus your eyes on the Back option.
  • Move your eyes to the Back option and blink to confirm.
  • Swipe up on the screen to exit.

Bug 3: Cannot Exit During Setup

  • Restart or force restart your iPhone.
  • Complete the Eye Tracking setup before trying to exit.

Bug 4: “Bring Your Face Into View” or “Follow the Dot” Keeps Popping Up

  • Place your iPhone on a stable surface about 1 foot away.
  • Ensure the front-facing camera has enough light and can clearly see your face.
  • Make sure you follow the calibration dots correctly.

Keeping your iPhone updated is recommended, as newer versions often fix earlier bugs and improve performance.

How to Make Eye Tracking More Accurate

1. Set It Up Correctly

  • Position your face within the camera’s view.
  • Look at each dot carefully during setup to calibrate.
  • Turn on AssistiveTouch and customize it to include Dwell and Scroll.
  • Keep your head steady for more accurate tracking.

2. Customize Your Eye Tracking Settings

  • Snap to Item: Highlights the item you’re looking at.
  • Dwell Control: Acts when you focus your eyes on an item.
  • Zoom on Keyboard Keys: Enlarges the key you’re focusing on.
  • Auto Hide: Reduces cursor visibility when inactive.
  • Blink to Confirm: Confirms an action with a blink.

How to Turn Off Eye Tracking on iPhone

If you find Eye Tracking unnecessary, you can turn it off easily:

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Go to Accessibility > Eye Tracking.
  3. Toggle off the Eye Tracking switch.
  4. Tap Yes to confirm.

Bonus: Fix Common iOS System Issues with Ease

For other iOS issues, try BuhoRepair, a professional all-in-one iOS system repair tool. It can fix problems such as Eye Tracking not working, Screen Time not working, and many more.

BuhoRepair also supports both iOS upgrades and downgrades, allowing you to easily roll back to a previous version or update to the latest official or beta release.

Conclusion

Now you should have a clear understanding of why Eye Tracking may not be working on your iPhone and how to fix it. Hopefully, these tips will help you get it running smoothly on your iPhone.

Did you find this post useful? If so, don’t hesitate to share it with others!

Wendy Wu is a tech enthusiast with a deep passion for all things iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Wendy is always on the lookout for Apple products and is committed to providing Apple users with some of the latest information and useful tips.