From iOS 14.5, a face mask is no longer an obstacle for Face ID. With a new function you can quickly unlock your device, although you do need an Apple Watch.
iOS 14.5: Using Face ID with masks
Face masks have been a regular part of the street scene for over a year, and it will remain so for a while. Annoying for people with an iPhone with Face ID, who now always have to enter their PIN code because the camera does not recognize the face.
That is why Face ID is ready to recognize faces with masks from iOS 14.5 using an Apple Watch. It must be running on watchOS 7.4 or later for this to work. A number code must also be set on your Apple Watch. Then follow the steps below to activate the function:
Set up Face ID with a mouth mask in five steps
Setting up and using Face ID with a mouth mask: that’s how you do it
- Open the Settings app;
- Go to ‘Face ID and access code’;
- Enter your access code;
- Under ‘Turn off code’ and ‘Change passcode’, choose ‘Unlock with Apple Watch’;
- Set the switch behind your Apple Watch to green.
For example, Face ID works with a mouth mask
After going through the steps above, Face ID works as follows. As soon as you pick up your iPhone, the camera will scan your face. When the device sees that you are wearing a mouth mask, your Apple Watch is activated. Do you have it on and is it unlocked? Then the iPhone will be unlocked as if you were using Face ID. A notification appears on your Watch screen that your iPhone was opened successfully.
iOS 14.5 does more than make Face ID with a mouth mask possible. For example, the update adjusts numerous emoji and more are added, your iPhone supports the latest game controllers and several annoying bugs have been fixed. Want to learn more about what iOS 14.5 has to offer? Then check our overview with all functions and improvements at a glance.