Learn how to set up your iPhone Face ID to unlock the device even when you are wearing a face mask or face mask with glasses.
Face ID on iPhone X and later has worked by analyzing your whole face. But with iOS 15.4 and later, Face ID can work even when you’re wearing a face mask. It does so by recognizing only the “unique features” around your eyes.
This handy feature is available on iPhone 12 and later. If you have an iPhone 11 or older, you cannot set up Use Face ID with a Mask feature, but you can have it unlock with your Apple Watch.
Note: Both Face ID with mask and unlock with Apple Watch are unavailable on iPad.
Set up Face ID to unlock your iPhone even when you are wearing a mask
You may be prompted to set up Use Face ID with a Mask after you add your face to Face ID for the first time. You can also set this up later in settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone, tap Face ID & Passcode, and enter your device passcode to authenticate.
- Turn on the switch for Face ID with a Mask if you see it. You can also tap Set Up Face ID with a Mask for Alternate Appearance or Use Face ID With a Mask.
- Tap Use Face ID with a Mask > Get Started and move your head slowly to complete the scan.
Add glasses to Face ID
If you wear glasses, tap Add Glasses under the Face ID with a Mask option, put on your glasses, and complete one more facial scan. Again, you don’t have to wear a mask during setup.
If you regularly use more than one pair of glasses, you can tap Add Glasses and finish the setup for each pair you wear.
Face ID with mask and sunglasses
Standard Face ID can work with most sunglasses. But you can’t use Face ID while wearing a mask and sunglasses. This is because most sunglasses block Face ID from reading the unique features around your eyes. And a mask is already covering the remaining points of your face. Thus, there isn’t a reliable way for Face ID to work while wearing sunglasses.
How to use Face ID while wearing a mask
The basic process to use Face ID when wearing a mask is the same as you’re accustomed to. However, when you’re wearing a mask, Face ID scans and authenticates only by reading the tiny area around your eyes, and thus, you must be looking directly at your iPhone for this to work. This means that compared to standard Face ID, you have fewer head angles to unlock your iPhone.
The good thing is you don’t have to choose between standard Face ID and Face ID with a mask. They work in parallel. Your iPhone can recognize when you’re wearing a mask and when you aren’t, and it functions automatically/smoothly without you taking special care (except looking directly while wearing a mask).
Face ID with a mask also works alongside Unlock With Apple Watch. But if you have set up both Use Face ID With a Mask and Unlock With Apple Watch, your iPhone seems to use the former. So, you can disable Unlock With Apple Watch or keep it enabled to increase your chances of unlocking the devices in most scenarios.
Where can you use Face ID while wearing a mask?
After setting up Use Face ID With a Mask, you can:
- Unlock your iPhone
- Authenticate to download or purchase free and paid apps
- Authenticate Apple Pay transactions
- Get inside third-party apps that use Face ID lock
In short, you can use it everywhere, where you usually use Face ID.
More on Face ID:
- How to lock apps on iPhone and iPad with Face ID
- How to discreetly disable Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad
- How to increase Face ID success rate by toggling off this switch