iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 will allow you to unlock Face ID while wearing a mask.I tried a new feature of interest as soon as possible
I was able to unlock at almost the same speed as normal!
Wearing a mask makes it difficult to unlock Face ID because it covers your nose and mouth. Face ID is a mechanism that authenticates an individual by scanning the shape of parts such as the shape of the face and eyes in three dimensions at the time of registration, so if the nose and mouth are hidden, the material that characterized the individual will be lost. You will not be able to determine if you are the person.
Eliminating such frustration is a new feature that will be installed in the next OS "iOS 14.5" for iPhone and the next OS "watchOS 7.4" for Apple Watch. If the iPhone determines that the mask is in the way and cannot authenticate Face ID, it looks for an Apple Watch paired with the iPhone nearby. When it detects an unlocked Apple Watch, it determines that "the person who tried to unlock it with Face ID" and unlocks the iPhone.
Preparation in advance is very simple. When you open the iPhone settings app and select the "Face ID and passcode" item, the "UNLOCK WITH APPLE WATCH" item is newly added under the "Change passcode" item, so "Apple Watch" All you have to do is turn on the switch. In addition, although the items and explanations are written in English, it is expected that they will be written in Japanese in the official version.
I actually put on a mask and tried it on an iPhone and Apple Watch with iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 in public beta installed. When you lift your iPhone and Face ID comes up, it will unlock your iPhone as usual, and the Apple Watch on your arm will quiver to let you know that it's unlocked on your Apple Watch. The time to unlock was almost the same as the normal state without mask, and I felt it was very practical.
I unlocked my iPhone 12 Pro with my mask on.You can see that when you hit the screen and call Face ID, it unlocks quickly and at the same time the notification flies to your Apple Watch.
We also have a mechanism to notify you of unintended unlocking and lock it remotely to prevent it from being used without permission. If you're not operating your iPhone and it's unlocked, you can relock your iPhone by tapping the "Lock iPhone" button on the Apple Watch screen that notifies you that it's unlocked. increase.
The official release dates for iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 haven't been announced yet, but are expected to be released soon. It seems to be a long-awaited update not only for those who were stressed by unlocking when wearing the mask, but also for those who were worried about entering the passcode in the situation where there are various people around. If you don't have an Apple Watch yet, you may consider purchasing it at the time of the OS update, as masks will continue to be indispensable for a while.
