8 ms·

They fixed this a few versions ago. Now if it sees a mask, it shows the passcode input immediately.

mvkel 5y ago
This has never worked for me.
tomc1985 6y ago
Interesting, mine seems to have like a 50% chance of unlocking anyways with my mask on, I thought they did some sort of improved face-with-mask detection or something
- dwaite 6y ago
  It is a cross between detecting the face is obscured, and recognizing the face if deformed by a tight-fitting mask. If you can get around the obscured face check, you can use the alternative FaceID profile while wearing a mask to deal with any nose/cheek deformation. If a mask is on the tip of my nose and loose fitting, it seems to work.
hackmiester 6y ago
I have about a 60% success rate on their "fix" to this, varying wildly depending on which mask I am wearing. The better a mask fits, the less likely the solution is to work, because the phone seems to think it's an unmasked face, just not my unmasked face.
dkdbejwi383 6y ago
Strange, I'm up to date yet it still spends ages searching for my face when I have a mask on. Perhaps my mask isn't masklike enough?
- melq 6y ago
  Happens to me all the time too, super annoying. If I'm outside and the suns out its even worse.
fireattack 6y ago
Still sounds weird to me. I use an Android phone, I can unlock my phone at anytime using either face, fingerprint, or passcode. What exactly is the reason/rationale that it has to fail on facial recognition first before proceeding to use passcode?
- ASalazarMX 6y ago
  > What exactly is the reason/rationale that it has to fail on facial recognition first before proceeding to use passcode? C O U R A G E Joke aside, it seems that Face ID was a tremendous technical effort so you could have instant access to your phone. Besides unlocking, there's no other serious application (memojis aside). The fingerprint reader was probably removed just to prop acceptance of Face ID. Also, Face ID is less secure. If you're detained or mugged, just looking at your phone will unlock it before you can react and look away. IMO, the 3D scanner should be on the other side, enhancing your pictures with 3D depth.
  - kemayo 6y ago
    > IMO, the 3D scanner should be on the other side, enhancing your pictures with 3D depth. That's what the LIDAR sensor on the latest phones is for. It only gets used in photos for the portrait-mode stuff, admittedly.
    - ghostpepper 6y ago
      Off topic, and I know we're in the middle of an Apple-bashing thread, but the portrait mode on iPhone 12 is amazing. Portrait mode is Apple-speak for pseudo-depth-of-field, which is the effect that real cameras do that make the subject in focus but the background blurry. It makes photos look way more professional.
  - ryanlol 6y ago
    > Also, Face ID is less secure. If you're detained or mugged, just looking at your phone will unlock it before you can react and look away Much easier to force someone to unlock the phone with their fingerprint than to force them to unlock with faceid if you have “Require attention” on. You can’t physically force someone to look in a certain direction, but you definitely can force them to tap their finger on a surface.
willis936 6y ago
That was their claim, however my observation is that it just takes longer to fail before offering "swipe up to get the passcode interface". I have to waste many seconds of staring at my phone just to have the privilege of swiping up to spin the passcode interface display slot machine. You know what would work? Just showing the passcode interface as soon as the screen turns on.
- bayindirh 6y ago
  > That was their claim, however my observation is that it just takes longer to fail before offering "swipe up to get the passcode interface" If I have a mask on, swiping up immediately brings up the pass code screen. In this case immediately is <0.5 secs.
  - crooked-v 6y ago
    And for me, it regularly doesn't, taking the full timeout period.
    - drcongo 6y ago
      Never does for me either, possibly because without a mask I have a beard so it struggles to tell if it's a mask or my regular face. ProTip though: swipe up again immediately and you get the passcode prompt.
    - deleted 6y ago
      [deleted]
    - fouc 6y ago
      I wonder if this is an issue for the older apple watches or if it happens for the new ones too.
      - pfranz 6y ago
        I believe the immediate parent was talking about Face unlock outside of this update where the Watch is added. I have the same issue. Sometimes, (I guess?) it can tell I'm wearing a mask and pops up a number pad quickly, other times it authenticates my masked face, other times it just hangs trying to authenticate and after a few seconds I get a number pad. FWIW I have a new Apple Watch and have this issue. I just installed the update so I haven't tested the Watch authentication. If it can't detect a mask I'll have the same issue as before waiting for a number pad.
mgkimsal 6y ago
doesn't do that for me. just got a new 12 mini running iOS 14.4 and... I still always have to do multiple gyrations to get to 'passcode'. Still regretting moving away from the SE with the touch button in that regard.
- mgkimsal 6y ago
  ack. can't edit any more. So... I noticed that iOS unlock itself does behave that way (per the parent) BUT... individual apps that use face unlock still don't deal with masks. There's probably some varying levels of security with face unlock?
FredPret 6y ago
Only problem is, mine takes fifteen seconds to notice the mask
- gizmo385 6y ago
  I've never had FaceID take fifteen seconds to respond either positively or negatively (mask or not). Just an anecdote to counter your's
thebean11 6y ago
For me it totally depends on the type of mask. Extremely annoying.

This has never worked for me.

tomc1985 6y ago

Interesting, mine seems to have like a 50% chance of unlocking anyways with my mask on, I thought they did some sort of improved face-with-mask detection or something

dwaite 6y ago
It is a cross between detecting the face is obscured, and recognizing the face if deformed by a tight-fitting mask. If you can get around the obscured face check, you can use the alternative FaceID profile while wearing a mask to deal with any nose/cheek deformation. If a mask is on the tip of my nose and loose fitting, it seems to work.

hackmiester 6y ago

I have about a 60% success rate on their "fix" to this, varying wildly depending on which mask I am wearing. The better a mask fits, the less likely the solution is to work, because the phone seems to think it's an unmasked face, just not my unmasked face.

dkdbejwi383 6y ago

Strange, I'm up to date yet it still spends ages searching for my face when I have a mask on. Perhaps my mask isn't masklike enough?

melq 6y ago
Happens to me all the time too, super annoying. If I'm outside and the suns out its even worse.

fireattack 6y ago

Still sounds weird to me. I use an Android phone, I can unlock my phone at anytime using either face, fingerprint, or passcode. What exactly is the reason/rationale that it has to fail on facial recognition first before proceeding to use passcode?

ASalazarMX 6y ago
> What exactly is the reason/rationale that it has to fail on facial recognition first before proceeding to use passcode? C O U R A G E Joke aside, it seems that Face ID was a tremendous technical effort so you could have instant access to your phone. Besides unlocking, there's no other serious application (memojis aside). The fingerprint reader was probably removed just to prop acceptance of Face ID. Also, Face ID is less secure. If you're detained or mugged, just looking at your phone will unlock it before you can react and look away. IMO, the 3D scanner should be on the other side, enhancing your pictures with 3D depth.
- kemayo 6y ago
  > IMO, the 3D scanner should be on the other side, enhancing your pictures with 3D depth. That's what the LIDAR sensor on the latest phones is for. It only gets used in photos for the portrait-mode stuff, admittedly.
  - ghostpepper 6y ago
    Off topic, and I know we're in the middle of an Apple-bashing thread, but the portrait mode on iPhone 12 is amazing. Portrait mode is Apple-speak for pseudo-depth-of-field, which is the effect that real cameras do that make the subject in focus but the background blurry. It makes photos look way more professional.
- ryanlol 6y ago
  > Also, Face ID is less secure. If you're detained or mugged, just looking at your phone will unlock it before you can react and look away Much easier to force someone to unlock the phone with their fingerprint than to force them to unlock with faceid if you have “Require attention” on. You can’t physically force someone to look in a certain direction, but you definitely can force them to tap their finger on a surface.

willis936 6y ago

That was their claim, however my observation is that it just takes longer to fail before offering "swipe up to get the passcode interface". I have to waste many seconds of staring at my phone just to have the privilege of swiping up to spin the passcode interface display slot machine. You know what would work? Just showing the passcode interface as soon as the screen turns on.

bayindirh 6y ago
> That was their claim, however my observation is that it just takes longer to fail before offering "swipe up to get the passcode interface" If I have a mask on, swiping up immediately brings up the pass code screen. In this case immediately is <0.5 secs.
- crooked-v 6y ago
  And for me, it regularly doesn't, taking the full timeout period.
  - drcongo 6y ago
    Never does for me either, possibly because without a mask I have a beard so it struggles to tell if it's a mask or my regular face. ProTip though: swipe up again immediately and you get the passcode prompt.
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
  - fouc 6y ago
    I wonder if this is an issue for the older apple watches or if it happens for the new ones too.
    - pfranz 6y ago
      I believe the immediate parent was talking about Face unlock outside of this update where the Watch is added. I have the same issue. Sometimes, (I guess?) it can tell I'm wearing a mask and pops up a number pad quickly, other times it authenticates my masked face, other times it just hangs trying to authenticate and after a few seconds I get a number pad. FWIW I have a new Apple Watch and have this issue. I just installed the update so I haven't tested the Watch authentication. If it can't detect a mask I'll have the same issue as before waiting for a number pad.

mgkimsal 6y ago

doesn't do that for me. just got a new 12 mini running iOS 14.4 and... I still always have to do multiple gyrations to get to 'passcode'. Still regretting moving away from the SE with the touch button in that regard.

mgkimsal 6y ago
ack. can't edit any more. So... I noticed that iOS unlock itself does behave that way (per the parent) BUT... individual apps that use face unlock still don't deal with masks. There's probably some varying levels of security with face unlock?

FredPret 6y ago

Only problem is, mine takes fifteen seconds to notice the mask

gizmo385 6y ago
I've never had FaceID take fifteen seconds to respond either positively or negatively (mask or not). Just an anecdote to counter your's

thebean11 6y ago

For me it totally depends on the type of mask. Extremely annoying.