How to Unlock Your iPhone With Your Apple Watch When Wearing a Mask

[davidjschloss]

AHHH! I just tried it and it works! I would prefer not to get the haptic feedback and notification on the watch, but IT WORKS!!!

While my son wouldn't try to unlock my phone without asking ,I know a lot of kids who try to unlock their parent's phones. In that situation I'm good with the haptic feedback. It's only mildly annoying with the watch, but it'll sure let me know if my phone is on the table and one of my friends tries to unlock it to mess with it. (Like the time I unlocked my friend's phone and changed autocorrect to type the word "nose" every time they typed their son's name. So I got a text that said "Would [my son] like to come over and play with nose. No not nose, nose. Nose. What did you do to my phone?"

 

[Weaselboy]

Moderator Note:

Quite a few posts debating COVID-19 and the efficacy of mask wearing have been removed. If you would like to discuss those topics, please use the Politics, Religion, and Social Issues forum.

 

[Zaft]

Been using this since the morning. Works well and is nice to have. I wouldn’t say it’s worth buying an Apple Watch for, but it’s nice for current owners.

 

[krspkbl]

i'm a healthcare (nhs) worker so wearing a mask most of the day. as soon as i saw that apple was testing this feature in a beta it was enough to convince me to get an Apple Watch. well, i was considering getting a watch but this sealed the deal for me. also i don't usually opt into beta software but i'll ride any bugs out. being able to have my phone unlock with a mask is worth it.

unlocking seems very reliable! it might be a tiny bit slower to unlock (i have no idea) but it's perfectly fine to use.

thanks apple!! ♥️

 

[Unregistered 4U]

That means anyone who has access to you while you sleep with your watch can slip on a mask and unlock your phone.

I expect some “security researcher” to be blasting this across the internet any day now.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Interesting feature. I have sleep apnea. I wear a CPAP mask. This feature DOES NOT work with that type of mask.

I guess the "machine learning" only looks for certain types of masks?

Would be nice if it worked for ANY situation where your face is obscured. That's how I thought it would work, anyway.

It WOULD be nice if FaceID could work without your face.

 

[slvrscoobie]

mines been sitting on "verifying" for like 2 hours now - Come on!

 

[Suckfest 9001]

“You'll need to re-enter your passcode if you remove your watch and the first time you set it up each day.”

this kind of stuff is why I never get excited anymore when apple adds some new feature that the competition has had for like half a decade. Apple’s implementation of almost everything that makes your life easier is always hokey and needs hoops jumped through and misunderstands how users use their phones. Last time I got excited by an announcement that seemed like Apple was finally opening up to power users was the Shortcuts Automation stuff. Oh wow I can finally have my phone automatically send out a message when I get in my car after work how sick is that?

No. It gives you a popup notification that you have to press on every single time to kick off the action. Lmao “automation”

apple does not understand power users whatsoever and for all the market research they do they don’t seem to have a clue what users actually want

 

[BellsWhistles]

Just bring back Touch ID, ya idiots.

I agree 100+
Face ID sucks at so many moments. We look like a blind tool, while trying to make a purchase.

BRING BACK TOUCH ID - through the display if needed. But bring it back.

 

[Zaft]

I

“You'll need to re-enter your passcode if you remove your watch and the first time you set it up each day.”

this kind of stuff is why I never get excited anymore when apple adds some new feature that the competition has had for like half a decade. Apple’s implementation of almost everything that makes your life easier is always hokey and needs hoops jumped through and misunderstands how users use their phones. Last time I got excited by an announcement that seemed like Apple was finally opening up to power users was the Shortcuts Automation stuff. Oh wow I can finally have my phone automatically send out a message when I get in my car after work how sick is that?

No. It gives you a popup notification that you have to press on every single time to kick off the action. Lmao “automation”

apple does not understand power users whatsoever and for all the market research they do they don’t seem to have a clue what users actually want

Why not switch OS then?

 

[MacCheetah3]

Been using this since the morning. Works well and is nice to have. I wouldn’t say it’s worth buying an Apple Watch for, but it’s nice for current owners.

It could be enough for those who are on the fence to finally go through with an Watch purchase.

“You'll need to re-enter your passcode if you remove your watch and the first time you set it up each day.”

this kind of stuff is why I never get excited anymore when apple adds some new feature that the competition has had for like half a decade. Apple’s implementation of almost everything that makes your life easier is always hokey and needs hoops jumped through and misunderstands how users use their phones. Last time I got excited by an announcement that seemed like Apple was finally opening up to power users was the Shortcuts Automation stuff. Oh wow I can finally have my phone automatically send out a message when I get in my car after work how sick is that?

No. It gives you a popup notification that you have to press on every single time to kick off the action. Lmao “automation”

apple does not understand power users whatsoever and for all the market research they do they don’t seem to have a clue what users actually want

People... 🤦‍♂️😔
"You mean you have to use your hands. That's like a baby's toy."

Oh my darling! It's been beastly! I've had to enter a 6 digit PIN number on my phone all day! Oh the humanity! I can't go on! It's all so exhausting...

View attachment 1725440

 

[Apple_Robert]

“You'll need to re-enter your passcode if you remove your watch and the first time you set it up each day.”

this kind of stuff is why I never get excited anymore when apple adds some new feature that the competition has had for like half a decade. Apple’s implementation of almost everything that makes your life easier is always hokey and needs hoops jumped through and misunderstands how users use their phones. Last time I got excited by an announcement that seemed like Apple was finally opening up to power users was the Shortcuts Automation stuff. Oh wow I can finally have my phone automatically send out a message when I get in my car after work how sick is that?

No. It gives you a popup notification that you have to press on every single time to kick off the action. Lmao “automation”

apple does not understand power users whatsoever and for all the market research they do they don’t seem to have a clue what users actually want

It looks like you are complaining about having to authenticate your watch, so that it can provide a secure service for the phone. Would you prefer no security at all with watch? That way, anyone who grabs your watch can have access to it and all apps therein.

The directions aren't stating any new procedure. All Apple is doing is reaffirming current security protocol communication between the watch and phone.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

apple does not understand power users whatsoever and for all the market research they do they don’t seem to have a clue what users actually want

That’s why their market share is so small. BUT, lucky for them, they make enough money off of that small number of people to continue to support it. The iPhone will never be every phone for every one, but it’ll be good enough for enough people with enough money.

 

[Razorpit]

Have never installed a WatchOS beta but this feature will make it worth it

Same here. I've been doing iOS updates since public betas were available. I just enrolled my watch and updating now.

I am still on my 6S+. I love Touch ID so much. I have seen folks up here in the colder climate shopping and touching every surface then messing with their mask so they can unlock their phone. I can’t help to wonder how many of them contracted something nasty by doing this

I'm going to guess the number is somewhere around zero. Would be even less if everyone wasn't forced to wear masks against their will.

I know, right? It only took them a year to enable this exceedingly logical (?) functionality. Nevermind that in many areas, mask-wearing was the norm even before COVID. But once it affects Cupertino, we see changes being made. 🙄 Better late than never, I guess.

In many more areas mask wearing was not a thing before COVID and will stop once the mandates are removed.

for me,the easyest way is ,to take of f**king mask for a second!

Bingo.

What a fuss.

OR.... how about re-introducing TouchID in conjunction with FaceID Apple?

It would double the security and privacy protection for certain apps and actions - like app banking.

That does nothing for the millions of phones out there now.

Beware. Anyone wearing a mask can unlock your phone. That means anyone who has access to you while you sleep with your watch can slip on a mask and unlock your phone. Your watch will vibrate on unlock, but if you miss it in your slumber, the bad agent has access to your unlocked phone.

While theoretically true, I pity anyone that sleeps in a place where this would be an issue.

 

[RobArtLyn]

Oh my darling! It's been beastly! I've had to enter a 6 digit PIN number on my phone all day! Oh the humanity! I can't go on! It's all so exhausting...

View attachment 1725440

I only have the stamina to enter a 4 digit PIN all day long.

 

[zerolight]

“You'll need to re-enter your passcode if you remove your watch and the first time you set it up each day.”

this kind of stuff is why I never get excited anymore when apple adds some new feature that the competition has had for like half a decade. Apple’s implementation of almost everything that makes your life easier is always hokey and needs hoops jumped through and misunderstands how users use their phones. Last time I got excited by an announcement that seemed like Apple was finally opening up to power users was the Shortcuts Automation stuff. Oh wow I can finally have my phone automatically send out a message when I get in my car after work how sick is that?

No. It gives you a popup notification that you have to press on every single time to kick off the action. Lmao “automation”

apple does not understand power users whatsoever and for all the market research they do they don’t seem to have a clue what users actually want

I think you misunderstood the article or something?

The Apple Watch, since the original one, requires you to unlock your watch when you put it on. It does so such that you can make use of apple pay without having to enter a pin when making a purchase. It will only ask again if you remove the watch because it's the only way to secure apple pay since the watch doesnt have face or touch id. I imagine Android watches do the same thing?

However, to make it even simpler, if you put you watch on and unlock your phone, the watch will also unlock and remain unlocked until you take it off. So you just put on the watch, use your phone like you naturally would, and the watch is good to go. This new functionality just takes advantage of the fact you have already authenticated your watch when you put it on, to authenticate your phone if you are wearing a mask.

Where's the hokeyness? The watch unlocks automatically if you unlock your phone? The phone unlocks automatically if you are wearing an unlocked watch? Neither seem odd, complicated, broken, or fiddly.

 

[RobArtLyn]

“You'll need to re-enter your passcode if you remove your watch and the first time you set it up each day.”

...

apple does not understand power users whatsoever and for all the market research they do they don’t seem to have a clue what users actually want

Apple understands security. If you didn’t have to enter a code every time you put on the watch then anyone could put on a paired watch and unlock a phone. I have no idea why you think “power users” would like that idea.

 

[Grayburn]

“You'll need to re-enter your passcode if you remove your watch and the first time you set it up each day.”

Not a problem at all, have had a passcode set up on every single one of the 3 Apple Watch’s I've ever had.

Putting the passcode in on the watch whenever you put it on is nothing. I’m sure others would agree.

 

[eastwoodandy]

I thought that the watch was going to need a passcode. This will never work for me. I never lock my watch.

I don’t know why not? I barely ever have to input my pin, unlocking your phone unlocks your watch.

 

[akuma13]

I downgraded to an SE 2020 since COVID. I needed Touch ID since it’s mandatory for me to have a mask at work and public transport. With the announcement of the Apple Watch unlock feature, I promptly got a 12 mini and I’m a happy camper. Thanks Apple for listening!

 

[Apple_Robert]

I downgraded to an SE 2020 since COVID. I needed Touch ID since it’s mandatory for me to have a mask at work and public transport. With the announcement of the Apple Watch unlock feature, I promptly got a 12 mini and I’m a happy camper. Thanks Apple for listening!

I upgraded from the SE 2020 when the mini was released and it has been worth it to me. I look forward to using the new feature.

 

[Td1970]

This a amazing. I work in healthcare and wear a mask all day. 👍👍👍👍

 

[watchmainspring]

This a amazing. I work in healthcare and wear a mask all day.

Not if you don't wear an Apple watch, the smart watch with the worst battery life by a wide margin. We need touch id. Or how about face id of your upper face

 

[mitty]

“Your Apple Watch must be nearby, on your wrist”

I didn’t know it could be far away, on your wrist

🙄

Poor Inspector Gadget!

 

[Zaft]

So I’ve been using it all day and it’s really awesome not putting in the pin anymore. It’s a work around until Apple implements a 2nd biometric.