Face ID is the safest and fastest measure of biometric security, what does it allow us so much Unlock iPhone or iPad, without having to enter PIN or password, as well as the validation of some online transactions on bank applications. Also with Face ID we have quick access to confidential data from various applications, such as financial ones, secret photo galleries, personal notes, journals and others.
With the pandemia, Face ID showed his inability then When we wear the mask, and making a payment contactless through Apple Pay Or the simple unlock of the iPhone "from a look" have become almost impossible.
For owners of Apple Watch We have good news. The next final version of watchOS will allow Replacing Face ID with Apple Watch then When iPhone detects that you have a mask on the face. This feature will be entered in watchOS 7.4, which is now in a rather advanced beta development stage, and to activate the option is necessary and update iPhone at the future version iOS 14.5.
How do we activate replacement / unlock Face ID with Apple Watch when wearing mask
The new option will be available in the menu ”Settings"To the iPhone"Face ID & Passcode” sub “Unlock with Apple Watch“.
Conditions that this replacement feature Face ID with Apple Watch is available only in the following scenarios:
- Apple Watch to be at the owner's hand, protected by password (PIN) and unlocked.
- the face must be covered with a protective mask (nose and mouth). The option will not work if you have a completely covered face.
- Apple Watch to be updated to Watchos 7.4 (or a newer version)
- iPhone to be updated at iOS 14.5 (or a newer version)
In the same way, Apple Watch will be able to unlock / replace Face ID for iPad, with the launch of iPados 14.5.
Apple Watch already has this option for unlocking MacBook or Mac and some security straws that required the system password. I wrote about activating Mac Unlock with Apple Waste here.
It is expected that iOS 14.5 and Watchos 7.4 will be launched in the final version for the public, until the end of March 2021.
