According to the World Health Organization, wearing a mask helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. Although the mask mandate is gradually getting lifted in most cities globally, many countries and health authorities still require it, especially in large gatherings. In their bid to adapt to this new normal, Apple has updated their iOS to allow your iPhone to recognize your face even when you’re wearing your mask.
Before now, iPhone 12 and 13 users could not use the Face ID recognition feature with their masks. They would either have to draw it down or manually insert their password. But with the latest update to iPhone’s OS, the hurdle is now easy to cross. iPhone 13 users only need to update to Ios 15.4 and follow a few setup instructions. See the instructions below on unlocking your iPhone 13 with your face ID while wearing a mask.
How To Unlock Your iPhone 13 With Face 1D
The first step in this process is to update your Operating System to 15.4. You can do this by heading to Settings on your iPhone 13 and clicking on the General tab, where you’d see the option to update your iPhone. The order is like this: SETTINGS > GENERAL > UPDATE. If you follow this order, you’d see that iOS 15.4 is available. Go ahead to download and install.
If you’ve been using the Face ID on your iPhone 13 before, it won’t be challenging to make this change. But if this is your first time, you only need to follow these steps to make the changes
- Go to SETTINGS and click the Face ID option. It will ask you to enter your password to make any change.
- Once you provide the password, you’ll see the Face ID with a mask option; toggle on it, and your iPhone will request that you take a new scan of your face.
This feature also allows you to unlock your iPhone 13 with your eyeglasses on. You only need to follow the above steps and tap on the “add glasses” after selecting the “Face ID with a mask” option. You can even do this with up to four different glasses! So, when you’re in a busy venue and need to access data on your phone, you don’t need to remove your eyeglasses again.
How To Unlock Your Older iPhones
The method described won’t work if you have an older iPhone because the OS update is only available for iPhones 12 and 13. But that doesn’t mean you cannot find a way around it. With your Apple Watch, you can also enjoy this feature. This approach is possible because even before Apple introduced the Face ID feature, it was possible to unlock your iPhone with an Apple Watch. However, that is only possible on WatchOS 7 (or a later version) running on iOS 14.5 (or later version).
If your Watch satisfies the above conditions, but you have an older iPhone, here is how you unlock it with a mask using the Watch.
- Go to settings on your phone and tap on the Face ID option. It will ask you to enter your password to continue
- Once you supply your password, scroll down until you see the Unlock With Apple Watch Toggle on it and wait for it to bring the “Turn On” option.
- Tap on the “Turn On” button to switch on this option.
Once you finish with the above steps, it’s time to set the passcode on your Apple Watch.
- Proceed to SETTINGS on your Apple Watch and select Passcode.
- A correct passcode will allow you to turn on the passcode.
- Enter your preferred passcode and switch on the wrist detection if it’s not already on.
You can unlock your iPhone 6S and later versions with a Face ID, even when wearing a mask, with these two steps. Each time you do so, you’d receive an alert on your Watch that you’ve unlocked your iPhone with your Watch and a prompt to lock it back if you want.
Keeping Your iPhone 13 Safe
Whatever variant of the latest iPhone 13 you have, you must keep it safe. While the Face ID feature will afford some comfort of use, a good iPhone 13 case will ensure that a simple drop does not shatter your investment. A case certified to be military-grade will protect your pricey device from accidental slips and falls which are almost inevitable.
In addition, the Face ID feature relies on the selfie camera, which you also need to protect. For this, you can choose from the splendid iPhone 13 screen protectors out there and keep your mind at rest. They offer a first layer of protection from dust, fingerprint, and unwanted scratches that can compromise the effectiveness of the screen features. You must read the features of whatever screen protector you wish to buy to ensure it perfectly fits.
Bottom Line
The introduction of Face ID recognition when the face mask is on testifies to Apple’s sensitivity to global events. Of course, many critics have blamed a late introduction of this feature. However, it’s better late than never. The pandemic is not yet over, so everyone still needs to wear their masks in public places for safety. This feature ensures that iPhone 12 and 13 users can access their devices in public without having to remove their masks.
Continue to enjoy your Face ID feature while in public, but don’t forget to keep your Apple device safe! With a simple update to the latest iOS 15.4, iPhone 13 users can quickly get this feature unlocked. However, as opined in this article, it’s essential to keep the iPhone 13 safe, so a single drop does not cause irreparable damage. Getting one of ESR’s iPhone 13 cases or screen protectors is one sure way to avert this. These accessories have been proven to shield against impact damages and are pretty affordable.
