You Can Finally Use Face ID Without Removing Your Mask
Face ID is a great feature of the iPhone, i.e. when your iPhone can see your face. While wearing a mask helps protect you and those around you from COVID, it also prevents you from unlocking your phone with your face. Apple has added a workaround for those of us with an Apple Watch , but what about those of us who don’t have the company’s smartwatches?
You no longer need to own an expensive Apple Watch on top of an expensive iPhone just to send a quick message to your masked friend. Apple now allows you to unlock your iPhone by covering your face, subject to two conditions.
First, you have an iPhone 12 or newer. This includes iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max. Any iPhone older than this, i.e. iPhone 11 and earlier, does not support this new Face ID mask feature. Of course, you can always use this feature if you have an Apple Watch.
The second requirement is iOS 15.4. This update introduces several new features for iPhone, including an update to Face ID and over 30 new emoji. However, the update hasn’t been released yet. To install iOS 15.4 on your iPhone and subsequently access mask-enabled Face ID, you need to enroll your iPhone in the iOS 15.4 beta. We have a complete guide on how to do this here .
How to unlock an iPhone with a mask
So, your iPhone has been updated to iOS 15.4. When it boots up again, look for a splash screen that automatically appears asking if you want to set up Face ID with a mask. Agree to this pop-up, then follow the on-screen instructions to scan your face again. Note. If you wear glasses, you will need to additionally scan your face for each pair of glasses you wear in order for the feature to be as accurate as possible.
From now on, you will be able to unlock your iPhone with Face ID whether you are wearing a mask or not. However, you should be aware that this feature makes Face ID less secure than before. Apple doesn’t specify how much this option compromises Face ID’s security (there’s a one in a million chance of this feature), but it’s worth knowing about before you dedicate all your time to it.
However, no protection method is perfect. I’m happy to take a small risk so my iPhone unlocks whenever I look at it again. I suspect most people (at least most people who still wear masks) feel the same way.