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iOS 14.5: How to Mask Unlock Your iPhone With Apple Watch

So, I sleep in the afternoon with my watch on the arm. One family member sneak in, pickup my iPhone and is in … I guess as soon the mask wearing is less required I will turn off again. And yes, tested with my wife while shopping. Gave her my iPhone to unlock with both of us wearing mask.
 
ChristianVirtual said:
So, I sleep in the afternoon with my watch on the arm. One family member sneak in, pickup my iPhone and is in … I guess as soon the mask wearing is less required I will turn off again. And yes, tested with my wife while shopping. Gave her my iPhone to unlock with both of us wearing mask.
Click to expand...
I’d suggest locking your bedroom door then, if you have reason to distrust your family / housemates.
 
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ChristianVirtual said:
Yes; could also a skilled pocket thief. Not in the family but outside
Click to expand...

What is it exactly you're concerned with them getting into?

Your messages? Your email?

... those "special" photos? ;)

The watch/mask unlock only unlocks the phone, it doesn't authenticate into apps such as your financial / banking stuff.

So I'm unsure what it is you're concerned about someone getting into?
 
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It works, and then doesn't. One day, it didn't work all that day, until my way home. I didn't take the mask off. I was surprised it worked then. 'Oh, so NOW you are going to work? Trying to make like you had a busy day?'

But when it worked, it was like magic. I liked it. I don't know how it can work at times, and then not others. *shrug*
 
MacRumors said:
The first time you attempt to unlock your iPhone with Apple Watch when wearing a mask, your iPhone will ask you to enter your passcode
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I'm never getting that and watch unlock does not work on my brand new 12 Pro.
All requirements are met.
Any ideas...?
 
Best. Feature. Ever.

Although today, when I wasn't wearing a mask, it unlocked my phone when I was looking in another direction. I'll have to test that further. I thought I'd swiped up and looked away at about the same time, as something distracted me. Maybe I'd looked at the phone just long enough.
 
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Only took them a year to develop this. I think the iPhone 12 should have a Touch ID button like the iPad. And soon we won`t have to wear masks.
 
Ok is it just me but I’ve found A you need to have both the phone and watch WiFi on and B it still doesn’t work when not connected to a network so when out shopping you need to connect to a local network on both your phone and watch
 
Smudgechr said:
Ok is it just me but I’ve found A you need to have both the phone and watch WiFi on and B it still doesn’t work when not connected to a network so when out shopping you need to connect to a local network on both your phone and watch
Click to expand...
It has been working for me at the grocery store where I am not on wifi, but on the Internet over LTE.
 
Smudgechr said:
Ok is it just me but I’ve found A you need to have both the phone and watch WiFi on and B it still doesn’t work when not connected to a network so when out shopping you need to connect to a local network on both your phone and watch
Click to expand...
Check if your mobile and your watch are paired, if not, try to restarting both devices or link the Apple Watch again.
 
Works ok for me but now I've set this up my watch no longer unlocks my iMac.. Anyone else noticed the same?

As for the comment above about locking the phone from the watch stopping it working, it does work for me straight after but I have to enter my pin number on the phone before it will work again.. Which is perfect imho, if you lock it because someone unlocked it using this without you wanting that to happen, surely you wouldn't want them able to keep doing it?
 
NLLV said:
Which is very unsecure.

I came from android to iPhone, and trust me when I tell you that the "unlock when I am here" feature is often times a nightmare. I have had it work, not work, and then let's say it works fine and someone at your home picks up your phone, or your phone falls out of your pocket in the driveway and someone gets it.

The issue is the geographical location to stay unlocked is really big, not just your living room, and there goes your life in the hands of a stranger.
Click to expand...
I still prefer the option. Companies give disclaimers all time, this feature would be no exception.

The assumption that everyone lives in a congested crime ridden neighborhood or that everyone stores life threatening information on their devices is tiring.
 
Tangential story.

I bought a new Prius. (It was a forced decision after my Mercedes transmission died. It was the only car I could get at the time, that I would own) So, I'm walking by the thing as it's parked in a busy parking lot shared by a client, and a strip mall. *BEEP* *BEEP* It's unlocking. WHAT!!! Yeah, It seems to be unlocking because I'm walking by the thing. WHAT??? I freak out, WHY is it unlocking when I'm just walking by it? Is this a new feature? I did NOT hear it *BEEP* for locking back up when I walked past it. WHAT?!?!?!?!

I checked with the dealer, 'No, that's not a feature on that vehicle.' Okay, so why was it doing it? 'Hmm, no idea.' Yeah, not very helpful...

What I discovered: If I wear tight 'business attire' pants, the keys and key ring I was using at the time were pressing on the gigantic fob key analog replacement. Since it had keyless entry, and my pants were tight enough, the car was unlocking itself. I changed key rings, and removed most of the keys, and the 'problem' stopped. So in a round about way, we have a similar issue that is DESIGNED to do that. Hmm...

And it works at times instead of the face ID. And still, sometimes doesn't. *shrug* As much as I complained about face ID not working, I'm more frustrated when this feature fails. I may just turn it off and deal...
 
5/14/21 .. Anyone who stays current on today's news knows what I mean by (tongue in cheek) 'Timing is everything'.

"New federal guidance on masks"
 
This feature has stopped working for me now since upgrading to .1 iOS!?

iPhone 12 Pro is on 14.5.1, Apple Watch 7.4.1.

Anyone else finding this?
Worked flawlessly on 14.5 and 7.4

🙃
 
StuartMoore said:
This feature has stopped working for me now since upgrading to .1 iOS!?

iPhone 12 Pro is on 14.5.1, Apple Watch 7.4.1.

Anyone else finding this?
Worked flawlessly on 14.5 and 7.4

🙃
Click to expand...

It works sporadically for me since '.1'. I have had it announce, triumphantly, that the Apple Watch has unlocked my iPhone, AFTER I entered the code. (Nice save, Nancy)

I'll go through stretches where it just doesn't work, and then it'll actually work again. It doesn't seem to be very consistent, but takes credit for times it didn't have a thing to do with it too. It's pretty funny... 'I got your mail!' Thanks, I just got it outta the box.:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
Funny thing, I wish it worked any time it doesn‘t recognize the face, not just when you are wearing a mask. Today I was in an interesting situation. I was pressure washing a house and had a sun block neck gator, hat, sunglasses and over ear headphones. It didn‘t recognize me but kept trying for several seconds so the only way to unlock immediately was to PULL UP the gator to a mask position before activating my screen.
 
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