Apple Could Let You Use Face ID With a Mask on Now

It’s about time.

Alright, it’s a bit of a first-world problem, but how frustrating is it when you have to slip your mask off to unlock your phone with Face ID?

That could become a thing of the past—Apple’s latest iPhone update is set to let you in, mask, glasses, and all!

Before you get too excited, it would appear the update is only available to iPhone 12 or newer.

So, if that’s you, here are the deets:

How will it work?

It’ll recognise the unique features around your eye to authenticate and yep, that’s not creepy at all whatsoever.

It comes as part of the iOS 15.4 beta update. Previously, you needed an Apple Watch for extra authentication in order to unlock your phone while wearing a mask.

It’ll recognise you with a mask AND your glasses on.

Apple has even had us glasses-wearing, mask-bearing folk in mind with this one!

You’ll be able to ‘Add Glasses’ with this update – that’s if you can see it properly through the infamous mask-to-glasses fog.

It doesn’t support sunglasses, though, in case you were wondering.

How to get the update.

If you want to experience the new beta update before it’s available to the world, you can sign up for the beta software program. After joining, the beta update will display as available on your device.

Macrumors reports it's possible Apple may expand ‘Face ID with a Mask’ to older iPhones in future betas – here’s hoping!

Other new features in the latest beta update include the ability to copy text from photos taken using the camera, while in the Notes or Reminders apps. On the emoji front, heart hands, biting lip, pregnant person and pregnant man and hamsa are all being added, too.

Image credit: @Emojipedia