iOS 15.4 adds Face ID unlock when wearing a mask even without Apple Watch

What you need to know

Apple’s iOS 15.4 update adds support for unlocking with Face ID while wearing a mask.
iOS 15.4 is now available in its first beta form, but only to developers.
We don’t yet know when this update will be rolled out to everyone.

The feature doesn’t require an Apple Watch, unlike a similar feature that was previously implemented.

Apple has made a change to Face ID that will allow it to function even when someone is wearing a mask. Unlike a previous, similar feature, no Apple Watch is required. The change is part of the first iOS 15.4 beta made available to developers today.

While this feature is specific to iOS 15.4, a previous change also allowed people to unlock their iPhones while wearing a mask. That feature required people to also have an authenticated Apple Watch however, a requirement that this new update removes entirely.

The change was first spotted by YouTuber Brandon Butch and comes with a text that suggests Apple is now focusing more on the area around the eyes seeing as it can no longer see mouths.

“Face ID is most accurate when it’s set up for full-face recognition only. To use Face ID while wearing a mask, iPhone can recognize the unique features around the eye to authenticate.”

Well this is new 🤔 (iOS 15.4 Beta 1) pic.twitter.com/MSe7hmPGlR

— Brandon Butch (@BrandonButch) January 27, 2022

People installing iOS 15.4 will be prompted to reconfigure Face ID and decide whether they want to enable it to unlock their iPhones when wearing a mask. Apple also notes that it has made improvements to how Face ID works when wearing glasses, too.

Unfortunately, there is no telling when this iOS 15.4 update will be made available to everyone but it’s likely to be a number of weeks before it is ready.