Face ID has been a source of frustration for many people for the past two years due to the fact that it does not operate with a face mask, but that is changing with iOS 15.4, an update that is presently available to developers and public beta testers.
Face ID with a Mask is now available in iOS 15.4, allowing you to unlock your iPhone with Face ID even while your face is hidden, making Face ID as handy with a mask as it is without one. Also WhatsApp Is Working on Message Reactions for the iPhone and Android
How Face ID With a Mask Works
face ID scans your eye region to validate your identification while the bottom part of your face is hidden by a mask. Face ID with a mask, according to Apple, identifies the “unique traits” surrounding the eye area rather than the complete face while you’re wearing a mask.
Face ID operates the same way it does while you’re wearing a mask as it does when you’re not. Swiping up on the iPhone’s display unlocks it with a Face ID scan. Face ID with a mask is also interchangeable with conventional Face ID, so your phone works the same way whether you’re wearing a mask or not.
Face ID with a mask is nearly identical to conventional Face ID in almost every manner, save for a few extra setup steps and the fact that it does not operate with sunglasses. There are also some additional restrictions with unlocking angles because Face ID with a Mask requires a clear view of your eyes before it will unlock.
Face ID with a Mask Setup
When you update to iOS 15.4, you’ll be requested to complete a Mask setup procedure with built-in Face ID. It’s the same as the original Face ID setup procedure, only you’ll be prompted to perform a 3D facial scan.
If you neglect this step, you can always turn it back on later. Open the Settings app, go to Face ID & Passcode, verify with a passcode, and enable “Use Face ID With a Mask.”
You’ll need to go through an additional setup step if you use glasses.
Adding Glasses
Because Face ID with a Mask scans the eye area, glasses that you wear must be entered individually. If you wear many pairs of glasses, you’ll need to scan each one separately.
To begin the process of adding your glasses, Open the Settings app, go to Face ID & Passcode, enter a passcode, and then touch “Add Glasses.”
After that, you’ll need to put on your spectacles and perform another Face ID scan, which is the same as any other Face ID scan in that you spin your head in a circle to scan from numerous angles.
No Sunglasses Support
While conventional Face ID works when you wear most sunglasses, Face ID with a Mask does not. Face ID with a Mask requires direct eye contact to function, since sunglasses cover the eyes.
Sunglasses must be removed to authenticate when wearing a mask.
Face ID with a Mask Authentication
Face ID works the same way when you wear a mask as it does when you don’t. You can use Face ID to unlock your iPhone, authenticate Apple Pay transactions, and utilise it in place of a passcode for third-party apps. This is in sharp contrast to the “Unlock With Apple Watch” function, which was included to iOS 14.5 last year but does not allow for transaction authentication.
Device Limitations
Only the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models support Face ID with a Mask. It is designed to work with the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
It is incompatible with previous iPhone models and the iPad. Apple has not said if there is a physical barrier that prevents the Face ID mask unlock from working with previous iPhone models.
Security Implications
Apple claims that Face ID is “most accurate” when configured for full-face recognition exclusively, however it is unclear whether a partial facial analysis has any security consequences.
We haven’t been able to get an iPhone to unlock by someone else wearing a mask in tests, but that doesn’t imply it can’t happen, especially in families where the region around the eyes may be similar.
Apple has not offered further details on how the Face ID with a Mask feature differs from conventional Face ID, although it has not expressly said that it is less secure.
Face ID Apple Watch Unlock
Face ID with a Mask does not replace the pre-existing Unlock with Apple Watch function, and the two may be used simultaneously, but the iPhone does default to Face ID with a Mask, so there’s no point to leave it switched on unless you want not to use Face ID with a Mask.
Unlock with Apple Watch used to be the sole option for unlocking the iPhone while wearing a mask, but it is now more limited and does not function with third-party applications or Apple Pay transactions. It is still the sole choice for individuals who own an iPhone 11 or earlier.