If you’ve recently found that Windows Hello Facial Recognition on your PC is no longer functional in dimly lit environments, you’re not alone in this experience. Microsoft has made a subtle yet significant adjustment to the feature, aimed at addressing a security vulnerability that has inadvertently affected its usability in dark rooms.
This change was quietly introduced in the release notes for the April 2025 Patch Tuesday updates for both Windows 11 and Windows 10, as highlighted by Windows Central. The company stated, “After installing this update or a later Windows update, for enhanced security, Windows Hello facial recognition requires color cameras to see a visible face when signing in.”
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The update is linked to a Windows Hello Spoofing vulnerability, which allowed attackers to exploit the system due to inadequate detection of adversarial input perturbations. Initially rated as “important” by Microsoft, the company later discovered that the vulnerability was already being exploited in the wild.
Previously, Windows Hello Facial Recognition could identify users in low-light conditions thanks to a camera designed for near-infrared (IR) imaging. This technology bears resemblance to Apple’s Face ID, which also functions effectively in the dark.
Interestingly, some users have reported a workaround: by disabling the webcam in the Windows Device Manager, it is still possible to make Windows Hello Facial Recognition operational in dark settings. While this method is not particularly user-friendly, it does allow the device’s IR sensors to authenticate users in low-light conditions.
Windows Hello Facial Recognition represents a significant advancement in authentication technology, building upon Microsoft’s earlier innovations with Kinect face recognition on the Xbox 360. It is unfortunate that the company felt compelled to limit this functionality on Windows 11 and Windows 10 PCs in the name of enhanced security.
