How to Add an Alternate Appearance to Face ID in iOS

[MacRumors]

When the iPhone X launched, there was no option to record multiple faces like there was to enter in multiple fingerprints with Touch ID, but that's something Apple changed in iOS 12 and later.

Now you can add a second face to Face ID, which is useful if you have a job where your face dramatically changes, such as with a surgeon's mask or protective goggles.

Face ID can learn to overcome items like hats, sunglasses, and scarves, recognizing you anyway, but having the option for a second face while you're wearing frequently worn items makes sure Face ID works more seamlessly.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down to Face ID & Passcode and tap it.
3. Enter your passcode.
4. Choose the "Set Up an Alternate Appearance."

From there, you can set up Face ID as you did when you first purchased and set up your iPhone X for the first time.

The iPhone will walk you through the steps of positioning your face in the camera and then moving your head in a circle.

Once your alternate appearance has been entered, there's no option to delete it. To re-add an appearance, you will need to tap the "Reset Face ID" button that has replaced the "Set Up Alternate Appearance" option.

Be aware, there's no confirmation screen when you tap the "Reset Face ID" option. Once it's tapped, all of your Face ID data is cleared.

Article Link: How to Add an Alternate Appearance to Face ID in iOS

 

[justperry]

Be aware, there's no confirmation screen when you tap the "Reset Face ID" option. Once it's tapped, all of your Face ID data is cleared.

As it should be, iOS and macOS/OS X got to verbose to my liking, bit like Windows, if I say delete then delete the damn thing.

 

[ThomasJL]

Why not just bring back Touch ID? Whatever alleged inconvenience bezels are, the trade-off for the inclusion of Touch ID, not having to deal with the troubles of Face ID not working under certain conditions, and elimination of that hideous notch are well worth it.

 

[dominiongamma]

Why not just bring back Touch ID? Whatever alleged inconvenience bezels are, the trade-off for the inclusion of Touch ID, not having to deal with the troubles of Face ID not working under certain conditions, and elimination of that hideous notch are well worth it.

Greasy fingers, wet fingers kind of made Touch ID difficult to use, Face ID seems better

 

[m0sher]

Alternate face ID with sun glasses coming up!

 

[jmgregory1]

Why not just bring back Touch ID? Whatever alleged inconvenience bezels are, the trade-off for the inclusion of Touch ID, not having to deal with the troubles of Face ID not working under certain conditions, and elimination of that hideous notch are well worth it.

I think the only thing Apple could do to make FaceID better, would be a setting to allow full access to the home screen without having to swipe up. It's not like there aren't the same number of conditions when TouchID doesn't work - wearing gloves, wet fingers, etc.

 

[ghostface147]

I think the only thing Apple could do to make FaceID better, would be a setting to allow full access to the home screen without having to swipe up. It's not like there aren't the same number of conditions when TouchID doesn't work - wearing gloves, wet fingers, etc.

I agree in a little. Sometimes I just want to glance at the lock screen to see who emailed me or sent me a text. Yes it is unlocked with FaceID automatically, but then I'd lose what I'm looking at if it unlocked straight to the home screen. So if I want to unlock and go to the home screen, out of habit I just swipe up as soon as I want to use the phone and it unlocks and goes home.

 

[billybobfred]

Why not just bring back Touch ID? Whatever alleged inconvenience bezels are, the trade-off for the inclusion of Touch ID, not having to deal with the troubles of Face ID not working under certain conditions, and elimination of that hideous notch are well worth it.

There are many features that make Face ID a much better form of authentication. For one, Face ID is far more secure than Touch ID ever was. The massive amount of saved screen space is also a factor. As for the notch, I think that will go away as tech improves and lets them hide the sensors and camera under the screen.

 

[Blizzardman]

Greasy fingers, wet fingers kind of made Touch ID difficult to use, Face ID seems better

And for me a very unique scenario where FaceID is MUCH better is trying to use my phone while having my Ski gear on. I have gloves which work with touchscreens but it was always a hassle with TouchID.

 

[jmgregory1]

I agree in a little. Sometimes I just want to glance at the lock screen to see who emailed me or sent me a text. Yes it is unlocked with FaceID automatically, but then I'd lose what I'm looking at if it unlocked straight to the home screen. So if I want to unlock and go to the home screen, out of habit I just swipe up as soon as I want to use the phone and it unlocks and goes home.

Totally agree. It is nice to glance and see texts / emails / notifications and not have to swipe if I don’t need to interact.

Maybe Apple could program in a double blink to open to the home screen, or something like that.

 

[KazKam]

This is a hack for adding another "identity" to Face ID. One of the things I liked about Touch ID was being able to register one of my fingers on the phones of my other family members (since I'm their IT support specialist) and being able to easily unlock. I also was able to put my wife's fingerprint on mine.

Face ID may be technically more secure, but I find it a helluva lot less convenient for my use cases, and in several cases, a downright nuisance.

 

[MrGimper]

Still not sold on FaceID. I still prefer the fact I have to perform a deliberate action of putting the correct finger on the home button for TouchID to work. I don't like the idea that my phone can decide to unlock itself without me knowing just because my face may be in front of it.

 

[mingravity]

Greasy fingers, wet fingers kind of made Touch ID difficult to use, Face ID seems better

well if your fingers are greasy/wet unlocking ur phone is of little use anyways
[doublepost=1535113784][/doublepost]

There are many features that make Face ID a much better form of authentication. For one, Face ID is far more secure than Touch ID ever was. The massive amount of saved screen space is also a factor. As for the notch, I think that will go away as tech improves and lets them hide the sensors and camera under the screen.

there is already tech to embed touchID under screen, why not use it?
[doublepost=1535114044][/doublepost]

I agree in a little. Sometimes I just want to glance at the lock screen to see who emailed me or sent me a text. Yes it is unlocked with FaceID automatically, but then I'd lose what I'm looking at if it unlocked straight to the home screen. So if I want to unlock and go to the home screen, out of habit I just swipe up as soon as I want to use the phone and it unlocks and goes home.

u made a good point. I always wondered the downside of the alternate way (assuming swipe is part of unlock), why not activate faced on swipe up gesture at which point u land on home screen. that way faceID is not always active and u only activate it post swipe up gesture.

 

[ckurt25]

This is a hack for adding another "identity" to Face ID. One of the things I liked about Touch ID was being able to register one of my fingers on the phones of my other family members (since I'm their IT support specialist) and being able to easily unlock. I also was able to put my wife's fingerprint on mine.

Face ID may be technically more secure, but I find it a helluva lot less convenient for my use cases, and in several cases, a downright nuisance.

Why not share your passcode with a family member? My wife and I had each others finger prints on our old iPhones and we knew each others passcode. Now we only use the passcode. I might go into my wife's phone once a month and her into my phone less frequently.

 

[NomadicTy]

I still cannot unlock mine with sunglasses on.

 

[AmpSkillz]

When the iPhone X launched, there was no option to record multiple faces like there was to enter in multiple fingerprints with Touch ID, but that's something Apple changed in iOS 12.

With iOS 12, you can add a second face to Face ID, which is useful if you have a job where your face dramatically changes, such as with a surgeon's mask or protective goggles.

Face ID can learn to overcome items like hats, sunglasses, and scarves, recognizing you anyway, but having the option for a second face while you're wearing frequently worn items makes sure Face ID works more seamlessly.

1. Open the Settings app.
   
2. Scroll down to Face ID & Passcode and tap it.
   
3. Enter your passcode.
   
4. Choose the "Set Up an Alternate Appearance."

From there, you can set up Face ID as you did when you first purchased and set up your iPhone X for the first time.

The iPhone will walk you through the steps of positioning your face in the camera and then moving your head in a circle.

Once your alternate appearance has been entered, there's no option to delete it. To re-add an appearance, you will need to tap the "Reset Face ID" button that has replaced the "Set Up Alternate Appearance" option.

Be aware, there's no confirmation screen when you tap the "Reset Face ID" option. Once it's tapped, all of your Face ID data is cleared.

Article Link: How to Add an Alternate Appearance to Face ID in iOS 12

I was so happy when the alternate face feature came out because I do work in surgery and wear a surgical mask The majority of the time I’m at work. Ever since I bought the iPhone X I’ve been unable to auto unlock my phone without entering in my password while I’m at work (as I could so easily do with touch ID even through rubber gloves) and it’s my biggest complaint about the iPhone X by far.

Unfortunately the alternate face feature does not let you add a face that is Partially obscured by a surgical mask as it is incorrectly suggesting in this article...

 

[McG2k1]

The lack of Touch ID is probably enough to make my family switch to a competitor in the next round. However this change at least makes it possible for me to give one of the faceid phones to my kids. Now both our faces can be used.

 

[AVEGA]

So can someone please test this out for couples who want to share access to the phone . Like have husband and wife , wife and wife , husband and husband, etc (two totally different faces) and see if it works. Or is this an alternative version of same face Only

 

[AmpSkillz]

So can someone please test this out for couples who want to share access to the phone . Like have husband and wife , wife and wife , husband and husband, etc (two totally different faces) and see if it works. Or is this an alternative version of same face Only

Yes absolutely you can have two different people, that is primarily what it was made for.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

There are many features that make Face ID a much better form of authentication. For one, Face ID is far more secure than Touch ID ever was. The massive amount of saved screen space is also a factor. As for the notch, I think that will go away as tech improves and lets them hide the sensors and camera under the screen.

There are two potentially competing tenets at work here that IMO should be discussed separately.

1. Is FaceID more SECURE than TouchID? I'll leave that to people more knowledgable that I am, but suspect the answer is yes.

2. Is FaceID more USABLE/USEFUL than TouchID? That's a very different discussion. Having used both I am still a huge face of TouchID... but would be OK with FaceID too. It's just not my personal preference. This is going to be a mostly subjective topic. How to solve it? Why not have both! Sure, it adds to the cost, but given that we're anticipating $1200-ish for a top-of-the-line Xs Plus anyway... does that really matter?

 

[Blazer5913]

So pumped about this! As a surgical resident it’s so annoying to try and log onto my iPhone X in the OR either before or after a case, while wearing surgical masks. I completely forgot about this minor detail before purchasing the iPhone X and it has been a huge inconvenience... great great news!

 

[Mr. Chewbacca]

I am totally going to set my morning face. The phone never recognises me in the morning when I first wake up. Now I will tell it to remember that ugly pre-coffee face of mine.

 

[Piggie]

I am totally going to set my morning face. The phone never recognises me in the morning when I first wake up. Now I will tell it to remember that ugly pre-coffee face of mine.

What about your "O" face

 

[inscrewtable]

Why not just bring back Touch ID? ...

Because there are 40 million people who will not want Touch ID to return and there's only 83 people who do want it back. So the retooling costs divided by the 83 people who would want it, would make it so expensive that there'll only be 3 people worldwide who would take up the option.

 

[AmpSkillz]

So pumped about this! As a surgical resident it’s so annoying to try and log onto my iPhone X in the OR either before or after a case, while wearing surgical masks. I completely forgot about this minor detail before purchasing the iPhone X and it has been a huge inconvenience... great great news!

It does not work with a surgical mask as I mentioned above ;-)