How to Use Face ID with Mask

If you want to unlock your iPhone with a mask, you'll have to go into Settings to make it happen.

By Amy Spitzfaden–Both Mon, 02/28/2022

If you want to use Face ID with a mask, up until now you haven't been able to unless you own an Apple Watch. As of iOS 15.4 Beta, your iPhone allows you to use Face ID with a mask. Those who don't have the iOS Beta, will be able to use this feature once iOS 15.4 is publically available. Here's how to set up Face ID with a mask.

How to Set Up Face ID with a Mask

If you don't set it up right after installing the update, you'll need to go into Settings to get it set up, but once you do, you'll be all set, so you can keep your face covered when you want to unlock your iPhone. When you set up Face ID with a mask on your iPhone, you don't actually have to be wearing a mask. You will, however, need to update to iOS 15.4 or later. Once you do, you'll just need to go into Settings and re-scan your face. To learn more about Face ID and other iPhone features, check out our Tip of the Day newsletter. Here's how to set up Face ID with a mask on your iPhone:

Open Settings and tap Face ID & Passcode.
Enter your device's passcode.
Toggle on Use Face ID With a Mask.
Tap Use Face ID With a Mask.
Tap Get Started.
Follow your iPhone's prompt to move your head in a slow circle so it can scan your face.
Once complete, follow this prompt again.
When you get the notification that Face ID is complete, tap Done.

Now you're all set up to use Face ID with a mask on your iPhone!

Master your iPhone in one minute a day: Sign up here to get our FREE Tip of the Day delivered right to your inbox.

Topics

Did you like this tip

Author Details

Amy Spitzfaden–Both

Amy Spitzfaden Both is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life, an award-winning novelist, and an iPhone enthusiast. Over the past decade, her work in the publishing industry has included live coverage of industry events including the Yale Publishing Course and Magazine Innovation’s ACT 9 Experience, providing editing services for several start-up publishing houses, and acting as newsstand consultant for magazines such as The Old Farmer’s Almanac and The New York Review of Books. She graduated from M.I.U. with a Bachelor’s in Literature and Writing, and has gone on to publish two novels and two short stories. Her debut novel Untold won the 2014 Chelson Award for Fiction.
Writing everything from book reviews to skincare tips, Amy discovered a passion for bringing exciting and useful information to even the most casual researcher. The mix of usability and endless possibilities is what drew her to Apple products originally, and the more she learns, the more she loves.
Amy lives in New Hampshire with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing or glued to her iPhone, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and creating her own tea blends.

Article Spotlight

New Podcast: Apple Spring Buyer’s Guide 2023, Yellow iPhone 14 & Apps for Learning Guitar

You may know iPhone Life for the magazine and website that help anyone master their Apple devices. But did you know about the monthly podcasts that you can enjoy on the go? The iPhone Life Podcast covers apps, gear, and how-tos. The hosts are CEO and Publisher David Averbach and Editor in Chief Donna Cleveland. Needless to say, they are pros on all things Apple. Tune in to benefit from all their valuable tips; subscribe to the podcast today!

Featured Products

Master 2023 with this Calendar App for Easy Organization

Informant 5 can help you meet all your 2023 organizational goals! Try it for free and experience a productivity boost by managing projects with tasks and notes, syncing your calendar among all your devices, enjoying a user-friendly 30-day calendar view, and so much more. Informant 5 features SmartBar navigation which makes it so much easier to use and master this calendar app. Plus, you can use it almost anywhere thanks to Dark Mode. With a dark background, you can check in on your tasks and schedule anywhere, even the movie theater. Upgrade to the best calendar app and task manager for iOS! Embrace the "out with the old, in with the new" spirit with Informant 5.

Run Your Business Smarter with Remote Device Management

Effortlessly set up and manage all of your Apple devices with Jamf Now! This cloud-based device management software allows you to remotely configure the devices your team uses on a daily basis (such as iPads, iPhones, Mac computers, and more), giving you the ability to set up new equipment, add apps, manage security features, and much more. With Jamf Now, one person can do in a day what a small team of people could do in a week. Start with three devices for free and add more for just $2 per device, paid monthly.