Apple’s begun testing a new Apple Watch feature for easy iPhone unlocking when wearing a face mask ahead of its public release in a couple of weeks. Many users have been asking for this, especially given the wearable device has supported unlocking the Mac for years now.
Face ID requires specific regions of one’s face to be visible to the TrueDepth camera. As evidenced by a support document on Apple’s website, the depth-sensing camera must clearly see the user’s eyes, nose, and mouth for Face ID in order to work reliably.
Face ID doesn’t work if anything is covering your mouth and nose, like a face mask. If you’re wearing a face mask, you’ll be asked to enter your passcode automatically after swiping up.
“Unlock with Apple Watch” is the solution to that problem.
Here’s How It Works
After manually turning the new feature on, the unlocking process becomes pretty seamless. With an Apple Watch unlocked, the user will initiate a Face ID session on their iPhone like they normally would. But instead of failing, Face ID will unlock the phone and prompt the watch to buzz the user’s wrist with haptic feedback as a confirmation.
#iOS14.5 beta 1, iPhone unlock process with #AppleWatch wearing a facemask
Easy and super smooth! pic.twitter.com/ADkE0dVS0I
— Luca Ansevini (@Anse1987) February 1, 2021
In other words, your nearby Apple Watch helps authenticate you despite much lower facial recognition accuracy. You can lock your iPhone from your Apple Watch, too. One of the caveats is that “Unlock with Apple Watch” is limited to unlocking—it cannot be used to authenticate Apple Pay transactions nor to authorize App Store purchases and the like.
Can I Use This Already?
This helpful new feature was discovered in the current betas of what would become the iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 software updates. Major Apple OS updates go through several betas before becoming ready for prime time. The beta testing period for iOS updates usually lasts for several weeks so this new feature could launch publicly around the spring.
Apple tends to hold a press event in early spring, and 2021 should be no exception. The rumor-mill is expecting Apple’s 2021 spring event to serve as a launchpad for the next iPad Pro, a bunch of new spring-themed Apple Watch bands, new Apple silicon Macs, etc.
Face ID in the COVID Era
Face ID works like a charm until you’re wearing a mask. In that case, a facial scan is unsuccessful. After 3 unsuccessful attempts, the user is prompted to enter their passcode.
During normal times, Face ID is a frictionless experience. But this new normal we’ve been living in for almost a year has the majority of people wearing masks out in public. As a result, Face ID has become an obstacle to getting into your device during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Touch ID Is Making a Comeback
“Unlock with Apple Watch” should help with that, but that’s not the only way Apple is fixing this pain point. As PatentlyApple reported, Apple has been awarded a detailed patent for a Touch ID fingerprint scanner that could be built into the Apple Watch’s Side button.
Another patent outlines a Wrist ID authentication feature for the wearable device.
And with the iPad Air 4, Apple built Touch ID into the power button. On top of that, patent filings and analysts suggest that this year’s iPhone 13 could sport both an under-display Touch ID and Face ID. It’s interesting to think that Touch ID, one of Apple’s best inventions in the mobile space, is being revived to help Face ID work better with face masks.