How to Use iPhone “Face ID” While Wearing a Mask

Introduction.

We are living some of the strangest times of our lives and there’s no doubt about that. As I was getting ready to leave the house, I realized that the mask I was wearing will render my iPhone’s Face ID useless. While this might not be a massive problem to Android fans who can use their smartphone’s fingerprint scanner, people who use iPhones don’t have this alternative option. This is why I decided to do some research and see if it is possible to use iPhones with a face mask.

Does iPhone Face ID Work with Masks?

“Face ID is designed to work with your eyes, nose, and mouth visible,” stated Apple about the facial recognition feature. Therefore, you will not be able to use Face ID to unlock your iPhone if you are using a mask. Luckily, there is an alternative solution. Let’s check it out.

Will iOS 13.5 Fix the Issue?

The latest update available for iPhones and iPads is iOS 13.5 and many are wondering if it contains a hotfix for the “mask issue”. The update doesn’t make it possible for Face ID to function with a mask, but it does make an important change to the software that makes it easier to unlock iOS-powered devices when wearing a mask.

According to the patch notes for iOS 13.5, the new update introduces a software change that automatically sends the unlock system to the passcode screen if the user is wearing a mask

Is it Possible to Set Up Face ID with a Mask?

If you don’t feel like typing in the passcode every time that you want to use your iPhone, then you should be pleased to know that there is an alternative solution. You can always use the “Set up an Alternative Appearance” option.

This option is designed to enable iPhone users to set up an account for their family members and in theory, you could use it to set up a special appearance when wearing a mask.