Through the majority of the COVID-19 pandemic, iPhone users have struggled with the implementation of the Face ID in public. The recognition didn’t work consistently, even with Apple’s attempt to optimize it. This problem had made a lot of concerns among iOS users, but it seems that Apple has decided to finally address the problem with full recognition with a mask in the close iOS 15.4 update.
This new feature is available by implementing the Face ID software to eye and glasses recognition and requires an additional scan of your face to greater detail. if you have glasses, you will need to scan both with and without them, and for every pair of glasses individually (assuming you have more than one). Unfortunately, as some testers of the feature say, the mask recognition doesn’t work with sunglasses, and you’ll have to remove your mask for the recognition to work.
How To Set It Up
At the time of writing this article, the new feature is available only in beta, but the 15.4 update is soon to release to all iOS devices. To use it, you simply go to settings/Face ID & passcode and toggle on Use Face ID With a Mask. Once you scanned your face, the option to Add Glasses should appear right below it, and you will be able to add your glasses with an additional scan.
Regular Face ID scan doesn’t require much attention, but the mask recognition does – so you will need full eye contact with the sensor for it to work. Also, the feature is supported only on the iPhone 12 and 13 generations, and Apple had not confirmed whether it is regarding hardware limitations or not.
Apple Watch
Most Apple Watch users are familiar with the option to unlock the iPhone with it, but if you set up the mask recognition option, the iPhone will default to it instead of the watch unlock. There isn’t a way to change the preference, so if you do have an Apple Watch, you might prefer it over the mask option.
But, even with all its flaws, the new Face ID recognition is a much-awaited feature that will help a lot of people to unlock their phones without risking their health in public areas.
With all that out of the way, as long as the feature is still in beta expect it to work as such, and until we get the 15.4 update nothing is certain and Apple might delay the feature to a later update. So, until the official release, there is only hope for the feature to come in the near update.
