iOS 15.4 beta is coming soon
The long nightmare we're wearing masks is coming to an end that is harder to unlock an iPhone with Face ID.
The first developer beta of iOS 15.4 appeared today, and it's safe to say that the highlights involve the ability to unlock an iPhone with Face ID, even if you're wearing a mask.
This has been a particular problem for iPhone users since the beginning of the pandemic, and wearing masks in public and enclosed spaces has become a desirable practice. Because Face ID needs to see your entire face to verify your identity — which makes Face ID a particularly secure unlocking method — it can't use a mask that covers your mouth, nose, and chin. So, you have to enter the passcode every time to unlock your iPhone.
Since iOS 14.5, Apple has taken steps to alleviate this hassle, allowing people wearing Apple Watch to use proximity sensing to help Face ID work properly. Another iOS update speeds up Face ID's ability to recognize that you're wearing a mask and skip directly to the password step.
iOS 15.4: Use Face ID and Mask
However, in iOS 15.4, neither workaround is required. The Face ID & Passcode section of Settings now lets you specify which feature to use when wearing a mask. According to the instructions included in the settings, when this mode is enabled, Face ID authenticates you using the features around your eyes; this means you have to look at your iPhone to use Face ID and put on a mask.
Use the second setting just below face ID that wears a mask allows you to add glasses to help improve the accuracy of Face ID. Note that this only applies to glasses — Apple warns that Face ID's ability to use a face shield stops when you put on your sunglasses.
You should also know that this feature puts convenience above security. Apple's warning in Settings reminds you that "Face ID is only most accurate when set to Full Face Recognition." ”
Face ID for masks works
Setting up the feature is a fairly simple process. After you turn on the switch for the first time to use Face ID with a mask, you must rescan your face. The good news is that you can seem to be able to turn the feature on and off without having to rescan your face every time.
On the iPhone 13 running the iOS 15.4 Developer Beta, I was able to scan my face and put on a mask. After putting on the mask, I can still unlock my iPhone as simply as I did without a mask. The process really doesn't make any difference.
It's unclear whether the new Face ID with face shield support extends to any iPhone capable of running the iOS 15.4 update, or whether it's limited to phones with an updated processor.
Other iOS 15.4 features
Improvements to Face ID will get the most attention, but it's not the only new feature in iOS 15.4. Notes and Reminders apps now let you use the camera to copy text from objects.
Now that developers have an iOS 15.4 beta, it should soon be in the public beta program. It's unclear how long it will take to have a full version of iOS 15.4 ready for each iPhone, although Apple usually releases several beta versions before the iOS 15 update goes live.
It is estimated that the country will also be updated in the near future, do you expect it?