iOS 14.5 Adds an Option to Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch if You're Wearing a Mask

[Rf73]

It is simply false that “Right now, with a face mask on, Face ID does not work”.
One of the selling points of FaceID is that it intelligently adapts to changes in appearance and also that it simply isn’t using a flat photo of your face. If you’ve used a mask for more than a day or two it knows. I can imagine that most people saying this have probably only left their house once over the past year. If you consistently wear the same type of face mask the same way it easily learns. Worked on my last iPhone, continued to work on my new iPhone. A day of inconvenience, but by now most people should have it working.

This has never ever worked and I wear the same style one-time usage masks every single day for months now. Maybe my face isn’t recognisable enough....

 

[iPhilPHX]

"Hey guys, I have an idea how to get folks who don't have the watch to buy one!"

 

[Snoozealarm]

Not to sound ungrateful to the Apple Gods, but if my $599 iPad Air can have a fingerprint sensor in the power button, why could my $1200 iPhone 12 Pro Max not have the same?

 

[_yesman_]

We’re not even close to that point.

True. More so in the US. The rest of the world has been wearing masks since last spring, and we're much closer to being able to take them off. In any case, this feature is a bit late to the party. Better late than never though.

 

[_yesman_]

Does anyone know if this means FaceID authentication is disabled completely (so ANY face will unlock with the paired watch nearby) or if it just relies on the top half of the face? In other words, if my wife grabs my phone and looks at it while I'm close by wearing my Apple Watch, will it unlock for her? Or only me, as long as the upper parts of our faces look different?

Both are working in conjunction, afaik. Face ID is still functioning but with the Watch on your arm, it accepts a partial FaceID match, meaning the upper half of your face. That's what the articles say.

 

[Canyda]

Doing that your phone thinks that some stranger looked at the phone for the last 200 days. Might easily happen if you and your spouse have the same iPhone model in the same colour. You need to look at the screen, then enter the passcode immediately. That makes the phone think "the legitimate owner looked at the screen, but I didn't recognise them. Maybe I should adapt". Depending on your mask, there may be just not enough information to recognise you anyway.

And remember that FaceID isn't just supposed to let YOU into the phone, it is also supposed to keep EVERYONE ELSE out.

My wife and I don't share the same phone. I probably unlock my iPhone with my passcode 20 times per day while wearing a mask, and I've had to wear a mask at the office for three months now (although I'm working from home more often than not). And, obviously, when I'm out and about in public, I have to wear a mask due to local mask mandate.

So, I kinda doubt my iPhone thinks a stranger has been trying to FaceID unlock it for months.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Whats the bet that this option won't vanish in future updates ? Just thinking.. Usually when apple makes good improvements they won't take it away. COVID won't be around forever, but this will.

Valid point given Apple's history. However, with the purpose and significance of the update, I don't think we will need to worry out it disappearing.

 

[Jon Rowlison]

"Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch if You're Wearing a Mask"

So does the feature NOT unlock iPhone with an Apple Watch if you aren't wearing a mask?

 

[RobArtLyn]

"Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch if You're Wearing a Mask"

So does the feature NOT unlock iPhone with an Apple Watch if you aren't wearing a mask?

You do not need this feature if you are not wearing a mask.

 

[DrRadon]

You do not need this feature if you are not wearing a mask.

And it’s also still using Face ID, the Watch is a supliment and not the replacement.

 

[Abazigal]

Not to sound ungrateful to the Apple Gods, but if my $599 iPad Air can have a fingerprint sensor in the power button, why could my $1200 iPhone 12 Pro Max not have the same?

I can think of a couple of reasons.

1) There is more room in the iPad for Touch ID.

2) The iPhone sells in greater volume, so securing enough supplies of Touch ID components for the iPhone may be an issue.

3) The iPhone 12 design was likely finalised towards the end of 2019 (to give Apple enough time to settle logistics), which was before we knew that Covid was going to be a problem. By the time it was clear that the pandemic situation was going to be around for a while and face masks would be the norm, there just wasn’t enough time to redesign the iPhone to account for Touch ID.

In short, the iPhone is a victim of its own success and scale.

 

[RobArtLyn]

Not to sound ungrateful to the Apple Gods, but if my $599 iPad Air can have a fingerprint sensor in the power button, why could my $1200 iPhone 12 Pro Max not have the same?

I am going to go out on a limb and predict limit usefulness for that. Everyone I know who owns an iPhone has it in a case that covers the button. No one I know who owns an iPad has it in a case.

 

[madeirabhoy]

this has gone from hero to zero.

installed beta on both phone and watch. worked brilliantly 100% for a few days.

now never works. iPhone says unlocking with watch....cannot find watch...enter pin code.

 

[Rob_2811]

Not to sound ungrateful to the Apple Gods, but if my $599 iPad Air can have a fingerprint sensor in the power button, why could my $1200 iPhone 12 Pro Max not have the same?

Because people will buy the iPhone 12 pro max anyway and they would have nothing to add next year

 

[The Game 161]

Not to sound ungrateful to the Apple Gods, but if my $599 iPad Air can have a fingerprint sensor in the power button, why could my $1200 iPhone 12 Pro Max not have the same?

so you buy the iPhone 12s that will have it...

 

[madeirabhoy]

back to the subject, is this working for most people? I see im not the only person who it was working for before but its stopped working. any ideas appreciated.

 

[Td1970]

HEEEEEEEEEEELL NO!!

I'm not having anyone picking up my phone and instantly getting it unlocked just because I'm nearby.

Man are you paranoid. I never undertake the paranoia some have. Keep you phone in your hand or pocket. Problem solved. I’d your friends and family would do this. You have a bigger issue

 

[ZebraDude]

During the Winter I use Superglue to seal shut the cracks in my fingers from the lack of humidity and hand washing, this process stops my fingers from being recognized by the Touch ID sensor so Touch ID is not viable for me. I am reading looking forward to the Apple Watch unlock for my 11 ProMax!

 

[Canyda]

Hey, remember when everyone was mad at Apple because it took them so long to update Face ID to work with masks, and they didn't do it until last summer and everyone was like, "BUT COVID IS OVER AND ALL THE MASK MANDATES ARE GONE!"

Good times, good times.