iOS 14.5 is shaping up to be a major point release of iOS 14 with Apple adding a number of new features and enhancements to the OS. Among other things, iOS 14.5 fixes one of the biggest issues with iPhone X and newer iPhones — Face ID’s inability to work with a mask. Apple is adding an option in iOS 14.5 that will let you use your Apple Watch as a secondary source of authentication in turn allowing you to unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced millions of people worldwide to wear masks for their own safety and to reduce the transmission of the virus. Face ID has become useless on iPhones due to the inability to properly read faces. It can lead to frustrating user experiences as you have to type in your iPhone’s passcode each time you unlock the device.
Read: Everything That’s New in iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5
Apple is finally getting around to solving the problem at least for iPhone owners who also use an Apple Watch with the upcoming iOS 14.5 update. Apple finally has a solution for iPhone owners who also own an Apple Watch with the upcoming iOS .5 update. It is similar to Apple’s Unlock feature for MacBooks.
Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch While Wearing a Mask: Things to Know
- You must set up a passcode lock on your Apple Watch for this feature to work.
- Your Apple Watch must be paired and connected to your iPhone for the latter to unlock itself automatically.
- The first time you use the feature, you’ll have to enter the passcode on your iPhone. Your iPhone will automatically unlock if you’re wearing an Apple Watch.
- Your Apple Watch will give haptic feedback every time your iPhone is unlocked using this process.
- Make sure your Apple Watch is running watchOS 7.4 otherwise the option will be greyed out.
Set up Passcode Lock on Apple Watch
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
Step 2: Select the Passcode option and enable it if you have not already done so.
Step 3: Enter passcode to secure your Apple Watch. This passcode should be unique from your iPhone’s passcode.
How to Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch While Wearing a Mask
Step 1: On your iPhone running iOS 14.5, go to Settings -> Face ID & Passcode. Confirm your identity by entering the passcode.
Step 2: Enable the Unlock with Apple Watch toggle. If you see the greyed option, update to watchOS 7.4. If you do not have an Apple Watch, this option will not be available on your iPhone.
The next time you unlock your iPhone and Face ID is not able to detect your face, you will have to enter the passcode on your device. If your Apple Watch has been paired, all subsequent attempts to unlock your iPhone will fail. In such an instance, your watch will vibrate.
Below is a video demonstrating the entire process:
What do you think about this new feature from Apple? Apple could add this feature for iPhone owners who don’t own Apple Watches. Have you ever tried to unlock your iPhone with a mask on? Leave a comment to let us know how frustrated you were trying to unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask.
