We’ve all been there, haven’t we? You’re on the go and you pull out your iPhone to check a notification or make a call, and you need to enter your passcode because you’re wearing a mask. Yes, Face ID’s inability to unlock iPhones while wearing a mask is one of the biggest problems with using an iPhone in this pandemic. However, there is finally a way to use Face ID with a mask. Here’s how to use Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask.
How to use Face ID with a mask
While there have been plenty of tricks to make Face ID work with masks, none of them really work. At least not very reliably. But now with iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4, you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone.
To note: iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 are currently in developer beta stage, but the stable version should be released by the end of this month.
Use Apple Watch to Unlock iPhone
If you use an Apple Watch and a Mac, you probably already know that you can use your watch to unlock your laptop. Apple’s new feature brings much the same convenience to the iPhone. Here’s how to configure this feature.
- On your iPhone, go to Settings -> Face ID & Passcode and enter your iPhone passcode.
- Scroll down and you’ll see a new option called “Unlock with Apple Watch.” Simply turn on the toggle next to the Apple Watch you want to use to unlock your iPhone.
Activation may take a few seconds, please be patient. Make sure you’re wearing your Apple Watch and it’s unlocked.
To note: To use this feature, your Apple Watch must be password protected. This ensures that your iPhone cannot be unlocked when you are not wearing your Apple Watch.
Lock iPhone with Apple Watch
Once you’ve set up the feature, you can try using Face ID with a mask. As long as you’re wearing your Apple Watch and it’s unlocked, your iPhone will also be unlocked. However, if your iPhone is unlocked by someone else, you can still lock it with your Apple Watch.
When your iPhone is unlocked with an Apple Watch, your watch displays a notification letting you know. In the same notification, you will find a button that says “Lock iPhone”. You can just tap it and the iPhone will be locked again, and you will need to enter your passcode the next time you try to unlock your iPhone with Face ID.
Easily Use Face ID on iPhone with Mask
This is how you can use Face ID on iPhone with a mask. Unlike most weird tricks found on the internet, this is an Apple-designed feature that actually works all the time. Ever since I updated my iPhone to the latest beta, I have been using it constantly and it has never failed. So, are you going to use your Apple Watch to unlock iPhone with Face ID? Let us know in the comments.
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