As handy as Face ID is as a feature, it doesn’t work in the presence of COVID-19 face masks, which have become instrumental in slowing the pandemic. The mask, when in place, blocks the Face ID sensor from seeing your face, meaning you have to either remove the mask, type in your passcode, or disable the passcode entirely to unlock your iOS device.
Fortunately, according to in-depth research from China’s Tencent Xuanwu Lab, you can train Face ID to work while you’re wearing a mask. The system, if configured correctly, even allows you to wear glasses.
The trick centers around teaching the Face ID training app to recognize the user’s face, or at least half of it. If you fold the mask — any kind of mask will work — in half, vertically, then the iPhone will see the other half of your face. It takes some finessing, but once it locks on, you’re good to go.
Step one is to fold your mask in half and stand in front of a mirror. The mask should cover the parts of your face that it will cover when you’re wearing it normally. This includes (half of) the tip of the nose. Use the mirror to get everything right, then open up the Face ID section of the Settings app on your iPhone: Settings > Face ID & Passcode. If you only set up one Face ID appearance, then tap on the button to add an alternative appearance. If you’ve already added an alternative, you should reset Face ID and begin over.
Proceed as usual. If Face ID doesn’t recognize your face, move the mask to occlude your face a little more. Then, gradually reveal it again, until the app’s scanner locks on. Finally, move your head as instructed to scan your new masked appearance.
Finally, if you have trouble holding the mask in place, keep your head still and move the iOS device instead. With any luck, you’ll be able to use Face ID while keeping your mask in place, and have the best of both worlds in the process.
Via Cult of Mac and Xuanwu Lab