How to Use Face ID on Your iPhone While Wearing a Mask
Using Face ID with a mask on
According to Apple, “Face ID is designed to work with your eyes, nose, and mouth visible,”. If you are wearing a mask in the grocery store and other public places, that would now be a problem. Here is what you need to know about unlocking your iPhone with Face ID while wearing a mask.
Apple’s iOS 13.5 Update Will Help
Soon, your iPhone will be better at detecting face coverings. When Face ID notices you’re wearing a mask, it will quickly prompt you for your PIN or passcode. You won’t have to stand there and wait for Face ID to try and fail to detect your face. It’ll be a big improvement.
This is part of the iOS 13.5 update that also includes the new digital contact-tracing feature. Apple released the fourth developer beta for it on May 6, 2020. It will hopefully be available as stable software to everyone soon.
Can You Set Up Face ID With a Mask?
While Face ID won’t normally be able to recognize your face while wearing a mask, some people have proposed an alternative: Setting up a “new appearance” while wearing a mask.
Your iPhone will let you “Set up an Alternate Appearance” and will unlock for either your primary appearance or the secondary one. This feature can be used to set up a family member’s appearance, for example, and both you and that family member will be able to unlock the iPhone.
In theory, you could put on your mask, head to Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Set Up an Alternate Appearance, and set up your appearance while wearing a mask.
Most people have reported that this doesn’t work for them, however. The iPhone’s facial recognition is designed to look at your nose and mouth. It may sometimes work for some people, but it’s not designed to work. We wouldn’t count on it.
How to Start Typing Your PIN Quicker
If you’re unlocking your iPhone while wearing a mask, you’ll normally have to wait for Face ID to fail before you can type your PIN. There’s a quick way around this delay.
While Face ID is trying to scan your face, tap the words “Face ID” in the middle of the screen. The PIN or passcode entry prompt will appear and you can quickly type your code. You don’t have to wait for Face ID to fail and offer you the passcode prompt.
How to Turn Off Face ID for Apple Pay
If you have an iPhone with Face ID, you probably want to leave it enabled. When you’re at home and not wearing a mask, Face ID is a quick way to unlock your iPhone without typing a PIN.
However, you might want to disable Face ID for some situations. For example, if you pay with Apple Pay at the store and you want to quickly type your PIN rather than waiting for Face ID, you can disable Face ID for Apple Pay.
To do so, head to Settings > Face ID & Passcode and turn off “Apple Pay” under “Use Face ID For.”
When you double-press your iPhone’s side button to start playing with Apple Pay, you can immediately tap “Pay WIth Passcode” and type your passcode rather than waiting for Face ID to try and fail.
You can also choose to disable Face ID for unlocking your iPhone on the Settings > Face ID & Passcode screen. Just toggle the “iPhone Unlock” feature off and Face ID won’t be used for unlocking your iPhone. You can start typing your passcode immediately after waking your iPhone from sleep. You may want to disable it before you head out with a mask and enable it when you get home, for example.
