✔️ 2022-04-01 00:15:03 – Paris/France.
Apple will now allow you to unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask.
James Martin/CNET
When you're in a public place that requires you to wear a mask and need to use Face ID, pulling your mask down to get into your iPhone can be uncomfortable. Instead, you probably just type in your password. However, thanks to iOS 15.4, you can finally use Face ID and keep your mask on.
As long as you have an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 15.4, you can now go to your phone's settings and enable a new feature that uses the features around your eyes to authenticate that it's really you so you can finally use Face ID while still wearing a mask.
However, if you have an older iPhone model or just don't want to update to iOS 15.4 just yet, there is another way to unlock your iPhone with a mask, using your Apple Watch . Check out both methods below. For more, here's everything we know about iOS 16 so far, and these are the new iOS 15.4 emoji.
How to use Face ID with a mask
This new feature is exclusive to iOS 15.4 and is only available on iPhone 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13, 13 Mini, 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. Once updated, you'll see the option to use Face ID with a mask on the home screen, but you can also do the following to enable the new feature:
1. On your iPhone, open the Settings application.
2. Then go to Face ID and password and enter your password.
3. Enable Face identification with a mask.
4. On the next page, choose the Use Face ID with a mask option.
5. Finally, remove your mask, if you have one, and set up Face ID.
If you go to your Face ID & Passcode settings on iOS 15.4, you can configure Face ID to work with a mask.
Nelson Aguilar/CNET
The feature will mention that your face should match your existing Face ID appearance, so you won't be able to set it up on someone else's phone, for example. Although it scans your entire face, the Use Face ID with Mask feature focuses on authenticating the unique features around your eyes. Once this is set, you will be able to unlock your iPhone while masked (and unmasked).
How to use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone
If you don't have iOS 15.4 or an iPhone 12 or 13, you can still unlock your iPhone with a mask while using your Apple Watch. For this to work, you need to be running iOS 14.5 or later and WatchOS 7.4 or later. To configure the feature:
1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. To select Face ID and password and enter your password.
3. Scroll to Unlock with Apple Watchfind your Apple Watch and activate the function.
Now, when you're wearing a face covering, all you have to do is hold your phone like you normally would to unlock it with Face ID. You'll feel a haptic tap on your wrist, letting you know your watch has been used to unlock your phone.
Make sure your watch is nearby when setting up unlock with Apple Watch.
Screenshot by Jason Cipriani/CNET
The alert on your watch is more than just an acknowledgment that your phone has been unlocked, however. It includes a button to lock your phone, in case it has been unlocked by someone else. It's a safety feature to make sure someone else doesn't pick up your phone and unlock it while wearing a mask. Although this is unlikely to happen, it is a reassuring alternative to protecting your data.
Lift your phone and in no time it's unlocked thanks to your watch.
GIF by Jason Cipriani/CNET
Don't have an Apple Watch? Check out the best Apple Watch deals here. And if you have one, you might be interested in these 12 Apple Watch settings you'll want to change right away.
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