Tuesday Tip: Unlocking Phone While Wearing a Mask

open iPhone in maskWe don’t have to tell you that Covid-19 created challenges from a variety of angles. While certainly not the biggest problem, but still frustrating, is using the facial recognition feature to unlock an iPhone while wearing a mask. Sometimes it’s the little things that can make a big impact and not having to pull down your mask every time you need your iPhone screen unlocked, is one of those little things.

If you’re an iPhone and Apple Watch user, we have good news for you. When you’re wearing a mask or sunglasses (and your Apple Watch), you can simply raise and glance at your iPhone to unlock it with a few quick settings changes.

What You Need:

  • An iPhone that uses Face ID (iPhone X or later) and has iOS 14.5 or later and an Apple Watch Series 3 or later with watchOS 7.4 or later
  • Your Apple Watch needs to be paired with your iPhone.
  • Your iPhone and Apple Watch need to have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, but you don’t have to be connected to a Wi-Fi network.
  • Your Apple Watch needs to be unlocked, on your wrist and have passcode and wrist detection turned on.
  • You need to be wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose or sunglasses that cover your eyes.

Set up Unlock with Apple Watch

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Face ID & Passcode, then type your passcode.
  3. Scroll down to Unlock with Apple Watch, then turn on the feature next to your watch’s name. If your watch doesn’t have wrist detection enabled, you’ll be asked to turn it on.

Once you have enabled this setting, you can unlock your phone like you normally do by raising it or tapping its screen and glancing at it to unlock it.

Justin Culver Headshot

Justin Culver: As a Dispatch Supervisor, Justin is responsible for both remote and onsite repairs, upgrades, and installation of systems, components, equipment and software for clients. He also handles procurement and buildouts as well as onboarding for new employees.

Network 1 designs, builds and supports the IT you need to run your business more securely, productively and successfully. Whether you want to outsource all of your IT needs to a reliable, responsive, service-oriented company, or need to supplement the work of your internal IT staff, we will carefully evaluate where you are now, discuss where you want to go and implement and support a plan to get you there with as little interruption as possible.

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