The latest version of the iPhone operating system allows you to use Face ID authentication with a mask, provided you have at least an iPhone 12.
iOS 15.4 ushers in a new feature that now comes a bit late. Even as the requirement to wear a mask begins to ease, the latest version of the iPhone operating system allows you to use Face ID when you are masked.
In just over two years of the pandemic, the use of facial recognition authentication on the iPhone had become a real pain: unable to unlock an iPhone or validate a purchase, the iPhone’s authentication system was unusable in many circumstances.
And even if iPhone owners have gotten used to having to enter their unlock code over the months. The hack of reconfiguring multiple appearances in Face ID by taking turns masking each half of the face worked sporadically, but the results were far too random for day-to-day use.
To try to alleviate this problem a bit, Apple had then devised a solution allowing Face ID to be used with a mask, but unfortunately it required having an Apple Watch to work.
It finally took two years for iOS 15.4 to arrive and be able to make Face ID work without removing your mask. On one condition, however, to have an iPhone 12 or a higher model.
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1. Enable using Face ID with a mask
If you have just updated your iPhone, iOS 15.4 should ask you directly on restart if you want to Use Face ID with a mask. If you skipped this step, you can always come back to it.
To do this, open the iPhone Settings, go to the Face ID and code menu and type your code to authenticate yourself. Once you enter the menu, enable the option Face ID with a mask.
2. Set up Face ID
In the window that appears, select the first option Use Face ID with a mask.
Then press the Start button, then set up Face ID as you usually would: place your face in the frame and slowly rotate it to complete the circle shown in green.
Note that you don’t need to wear a mask to set up using Face ID with a mask.
Apple specifies that the Face ID function is more precise when it is configured only to recognize a face in its entirety. Indeed, when you wear a mask, Face ID no longer analyzes your entire face, but only focuses on the features around your eyes to authenticate you.
3. Add glasses
If you’re a glasses wearer and have multiple pairs, you’ll need to set up multiple appearances in Face ID with each of the pairs you’re likely to wear while masked. Attention Face ID with a mask only works with prescription glasses. Sunglasses are not supported.
To do this, in the Face ID and Passcode menu, under the Face ID with mask option you just enabled, tap Add glasses and then tap Continue.
Then place your face in the frame and slowly move your head to complete the circle as you usually do to set up Face ID. Your appearance with a pair of glasses is now saved for use with Face ID with a mask.