How to Set up Face ID That Can Recognize You With a Mask On

Most iPhone owners know how inconvenient it can be to type a passcode to unlock your iPhone when you're busy. That's one of the reasons Apple added their facial recognition system, Face ID, to the newer models, but recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended wearing face masks in public places where standing six feet apart from people may not be possible like the supermarket or the bus for example due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

That's a great safety measure, but iPhone users, who prefer Face ID to unlock their phones, while running errands might find this annoying, especially those of us trying to reduce the number of times we touch our phone's screen while we're out in public to avoid the spread of bacteria.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be any 100% guaranteed way to get Face ID to work while wearing a mask. That's understandable because Face ID generates a depth map by projecting and analyzing tens of thousands of invisible dots all over your face, so it's looking for areas like your nose and mouth whenever it attempts to unlock your iPhone. If you try to be clever by wearing a mask during the setup process, your iPhone will see that your face is partially covered and it will tell you to remove any coverings before you can continue.

However, there is some good news. Tencent Security Xuanwu Lab, a tech site specializing in coverage of Chinese gadgets, has uncovered a method that could potentially work for masked iPhone users. The idea is to enroll your face again with Face ID, but this time while holding your mask over half of your face. Unfortunately, this idea only works under very specific conditions, and some users have to attempt enrolling their face a few times before they can get it right. Others have tried this method multiple times and found it entirely unsuccessful. It is possible that the type of mask you wear could impact the enrollment process, so if you have different masks you can try switching between them until you find one that works.

How to use Apple Face ID with a mask

Here's how to enroll your face on Apple's Face ID while wearing a mask:

1. Navigate your iPhone's Settings menu, scroll down to Face ID & Passcode, and enter your passcode.
2. Tap Reset Face ID.
3. Next, you must take your face mask and fold it in half. Hold it up so that it covers only one side of your face. Make sure the mask is positioned on that half of your face as it would when you're wearing the mask normally.
4. The next step is to enroll your face in Face ID while covering half of your face with your mask. Go back to your iPhone's settings menu, enter your passcode, and tap Set Up Face ID. Also, while you're there you should disable the Require Attention for Face ID option. This may improve the odds of getting Face ID to work while wearing a mask. I'd recommend re-enabling this feature when you're no longer wearing your mask, though. It adds to the overall security of Face ID.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to enroll your face with Face ID. Ensure that your nose and mouth are visible on the uncovered part of your face.

After that put on your mask fully and attempt to unlock your iPhone. Note: It may take multiple attempts before you're successful. Also, try holding your iPhone at different angles.

Other solutions

The above method worked for some users on several occasions, but not for all. And even if it does work for you, you may not have the time or patience to angle your face carefully while at the market or some other crowded place. As an alternative, you can attempt adjusting your notification settings to make sure incoming texts and other alerts are fully visible from the lock screen so that you won't have to unlock your iPhone every time you get a message. Here's how to do that:

1. To get begin, enter your iPhone's Settings menu and select Notifications.
2. Choose Show Previews, and tap Always. This option will make sure that notification previews will always be shown on the lock screen, whether your phone is locked or not. You can revert this option back whenever you want.
3. Afterward, go back to the main Settings menu and select Face ID & Passcode.
4. Once you have entered your passcode, scroll down to the option labeled Attention Awareness Features. You can disable this option to make your iPhone expand notifications on the lock screen even when your phone is locked. This change will make it easier to see new alerts at a glance while you're out so that you don't have to unlock your phone or touch its screen.