Face ID with mouth cap
It took a while for Apple to adapt to face masks. While residents of many countries have been using it for almost two years now, a really meaningful tweak has finally been made to iOS. With iOS 15.4 you can unlock your iPhone and approve transactions with a face mask on. Extra attention is paid to the area around your eyes, in order to recognize your unique facial features. Normally, your entire face is considered, including nose and mouth. There is, however, a limitation: it only applies to the iPhone 12 and newer.
Previously, Apple made it possible to request an access code faster when wearing a face mask. But that was still cumbersome. It also became possible to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch, but not everyone has that accessory and it also didn't work in third-party apps.
The feature was discovered by Twitter user @BrandonButch and can be found in iOS 15.4, which has a first beta released tonight. Apple does warn that scanning your entire face is the most accurate. By choosing the method with a mouth cap, you are aware that it is less safe.
You take the following steps to configure:
- Go to Settings > Face ID.
- You will now see a new switch Use Face ID with mask. Turn on the switch.
- Now have your face scanned again. You do not need to wear a face mask.
If you don't have the beta yet and you already want to unlock your iPhone with the Apple Watch, read the tip below! There is also a trick to use Face ID with a mouth cap.