Better late than never?
The 2019 Novel Coronavirus started in Asia in late 2019 and was on the shores of the U.S. by early 2020 (yeah, Joe and I dodged two COVID bullets in very early 2020, but we were THIS CLOSE). By March, the virus was labeled a pandemic and that’s around the time that mask use started becoming a thing.
If you use a later model iPhone, you know that its current technology uses facial recognition to unlock your device. That’s not so easy (read: impossible) when you’re wearing a facial mask appropriately (read: from the bridge of your nose to your chin).
In the very early days of the pandemic, a company figured out a way for your iPhone to be programmed so it could complete facial recognition while you were wearing a mask. However its success rate was kind of iffy.
Welp, it’s been over a year, and Apple has finally – FINALLY! – updated its software so you can unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask. It’s not 100% foolproof, since you also have to own and use an Apple Watch for it to work. But at least this is an official fix so you expect (well, hope) it will be less buggy and work more consistently!
The new feature came with the new iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 and requires an iPhone X or later and an Apple Watch Series 3 or later.
To initially set up the feature, you have to go into the Settings on your iPhone and go to Face ID & Passcode and turn on Unlock with Apple Watch.
PC: Apple
This means that to unlock your iPhone while wearing a mask, all you have to do is tap your iPhone, glance at it and slide up the bottom of your screen to unlock it.
As you do this, your watch will give you haptic feedback and show a notification informing you your iPhone is unlocked.
If you made this move by mistake and didn’t mean to unlock your iPhone, you can tap the Lock iPhone button on your Apple Watch screen.
PC: Apple
For the feature to work, your Apple Watch must be paired with your iPhone and you’ll need to have WiFi and Bluetooth turned on. Also, your Apple Watch will need to have password and wrist detection turned on and it must be on your wrist and unlocked.
But if you do all of that, yep, you’ll be able to unlock your phone with your mask on…juuuust as some places are starting to relax mask mandates LOLOL! But still…now you know.
More info on Apple’s website.
Feature Photo: Apple
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#stayhealthy #staysafe #washyourhands #wearamask #getyourCOVIDvaccine
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
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