Apple includes a new way to unlock your iPhone with a mask on

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Even though the COVID-19 vaccination has begun worldwide, yet the World Health Organization are requesting everyone to continue to wear a mask when they are outside from their home. Especially, when you are using the latest smartphones from Apple, you only have the option to unlock your iPhone using your face.

Good news to a select group of iPhone users because Apple will be rolling out its latest iOS 14.5 software. In this latest software update, iPhone users can unlock their iPhone while wearing a mask. The current iOS 14, does not allow you to unlock your face while wearing a mask. The reason is that when the user wears a mask on their face, the Face ID sensor will not be able to detect the face. We will tell you why only selective groups of iPhone users will be able to use this new feature in the iOS 14.5.

However, before Apple launches the iOS14, Apple did rolled out a faster way to unlock your iPhone while wearing the face mask. With the iOS 13.5, the Face ID detects the face mask and then immediately request you to enter your passcode. Yet, that’s not an ideal solution for the current situation. With the upcoming iOS 14.5, this is more realistic.

How to unlock iPhone while wearing a face mask?

Apple is bringing this new feature in the upcoming iOS 14.5 software update. All you need to do is look at your phone as how you will unlock your phone and it will unlock easily. However, there is a catch in it. This new feature will require you to wear your Apple Watch, then only you can use this feature.

Basically, this feature name is “Unlock with Apple Watch”. Now, you know the reason, why we said only selective users will be able to use this new feature. To those of you who don’t own the Apple Watch, then you won’t be able to unlock your iPhone while wearing a face mask.

But, to those of you who are in the Apple ecosystem, then you can easily use this feature to unlock your iPhone. With the upcoming iOS update, you will be able to view this new feature on the Face ID settings page. After enabling this feature, you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone. Before you enable this feature, you need to also update your Apple Watch to the latest watchOS 7.4 in order to use this feature.

Image from 9to5Mac

Once you have all the latest software up and running, each time when you unlock your phone, you will receive a chime on your Apple Watch. And then once you unlock your Apple Watch, your iPhone will be unlocked too. This feature is not something new to Apple because there is a feature where you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. So, Apple is just bringing a similar feature to the iPhone.

Personally, we find this feature not so useful when it comes to your iPhone. First of all, there is a delay in unlocking your iPhone. Second, you have to wear your Apple Watch in order to use this feature. If your Apple Watch is not near to you then you won’t be able to unlock your iPhone using this new feature.

Well, unofficially, there is a small hack where you can use your iPhone to unlock your iPhone while wearing your face mask. We have tried it before, and it is pretty efficient. Only the setup process is kinda tedious at first. But once you have managed to set up your Face ID then, you can easily unlock your iPhone while wearing the face mask.

In conclusion, if you are not up for the small hack as shown in the video above, then you can use this new feature in iOS 14.5. To those of you who don’t have an Apple Watch, then you might not be able to use this new feature. You might need to continue to enter your passcode manually in public areas.

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