You can now finally unlock your iPhone even with your mask on. This means that you don’t have to take off your mask anymore to open your iPhone. You can now simply look at your phone the normal way and unlock it even with your mask on.
The only other requirement you need is an Apple Watch. See below to learn more about the requirements.
This huge update makes life so much more convenient for those who are on the run, but are also health conscious about protecting themselves.
In this article, we’ll go over the step by step for how to unlock you iPhone even with a mask on.
Requirements:
- iPhone X and later models (with iOS 14.5 installed)
- Apple Watch Series 3 or later (with WatchOS 7.4)
- A face mask
Step 1. Install the latest updates for the iPhone and Apple Watch
Your iPhones needs to be updated to the latest iOS (iOS 14.5) as well as your Apple Watch (WatchOS 7.4).
To update your iPhone, head to the Settings app -> tap General -> Software Update. The update should take about 10 to 15 minutes. You must have your phone plugged in while it’s updating.
To update the Apple Watch, tap the Watch app on your phone-> tap General -> Software Update. You must have your Watch plugged into a charger while it’s updating.
Step 2. Enable Watch Unlock Feature on the Phone
Once you updated both the phone and the watch, head to the General Settings on your phone.
- Tap Face ID & Passcode and write your passcode.
- Next, scroll down to the new Unlock With Apple Watch.
- Turn on the feature by tapping on the switch. And voila, everything is ready to go.
From now on, every time you wear your Apple Watch, your iPhone will open if it detects that you’re wearing a mask. You can also lock your phone using your Apple Watch. The lock pop-up on your Watch lasts for about 10 seconds and then disappears.
Although this is a cool feature, you should always beware of anyone using your Watch to open your phone. Remember, your phone isn’t scanning your face with a mask. Instead, it’s scanning for anyone who is wearing a mask. That means anyone who has your phone within your watch’s location can unlock your phone if he or she is wearing a mask.
The upside to this is that your watch will vibrate every time your phone is unlocked, so you can lock your phone any time. In addition, your phone disables the Face ID feature every time you lock your phone from your watch, meaning you have to put in your passcode to unlock it again.
Overall, this update offers a clever way to unlock your iPhone while staying as safe as possible. I found this feature a relief every time I wanted to check my emails on the subway or anywhere else that was crowded. Now, I no longer have to pull down my face mask every time I want to open my phone.
It’s not a big change, but it does make life just a little bit easier.
Originally published at https://www.fromapplepark.com on April 28, 2021.
