In the current health climate, many people are wearing masks that cover their faces when going outside, visiting stores, and other tasks, and Apple's iPhones that use Face ID do not unlock when the user's face is obscured by a mask.

iphone11faceid
With this in mind, in iOS 13.5, Apple has streamlined the speed with which the passcode pops up when a mask on the face is detected, making it easier to get into an iPhone with a passcode when ‌Face ID‌ fails.

So when you swipe upwards on the Lock screen to unlock the ‌‌iPhone‌‌, this action immediately brings up the passcode interface if your face is covered by a mask.

If you haven't updated to iOS 13.5 yet (and you really should) here's the quickest way to get into your ‌iPhone‌ or iPad Pro when wearing a face mask.

Quickly Get to Passcode Screen

If you're using a version of iOS that's earlier than iOS 13.5, you can actually get to the passcode screen faster when you swipe up to unlock your ‌iPhone‌.

passcode lock
Tap the ‌Face ID‌ text in the center of the screen and you won't have to wait for it to scan your face and fail – you'll immediately be prompted for the passcode instead.

Other than updating your device's software, the only other way to use an ‌iPhone‌ with a mask is simply to turn off ‌Face ID‌ altogether and use a passcode instead. The following steps show you how to disable ‌Face ID‌ for just unlocking your ‌iPhone‌.

How to Turn Off Face ID for Unlocking Only

  1. Launch the Settings app on your ‌iPhone‌.
  2. Tap Face ID & Passcode.
  3. Enter your passcode when prompted.
  4. Under Use Face ID For, switch off the toggle next to iPhone Unlock, and any of the other use cases listed that you don't want to use ‌Face ID‌ with.
    face id off

After carrying out the steps above, you'll be able to unlock your ‌iPhone‌ immediately using your passcode.

Top Rated Comments

manhattanboy Avatar
62 months ago
My secret is to just grab the face mask and pull it down. Works every time.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
gutefahrt Avatar
62 months ago
This isn’t just a “current health climate” for many Apple customers. I, and many coworkers, wear surgical masks for many hours every work day. We are hanging onto our 8+ iPhones and will not upgrade until TouchID is reintroduced. Unlocking, passwords, and ApplePay use make FaceID a non-starter for many of us. I hope Apple is listening to this market potential.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
WilliamG Avatar
62 months ago
Good tip on tapping the words “Face ID.” I had no idea you could do that.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
62 months ago
How to Quickly Unlock Your iPhone When Wearing a Face Mask

Put your thumb on the Home button.

(Since the title didn’t specify which iPhone - this method likely works on a larger percentage of iPhones in use than the method specified in the article.)

Also, the article assumes/demonstrates a 6-digit numeric passcode. If you’re using TouchID or FaceID, your alternate password really ought to be 15+ alphanumeric characters - 6 digits is too simple.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
justperry Avatar
62 months ago
Simple if you have a four digit password, mine is 15 characters long, similar to " n$63%24*57#(35G "...:eek:
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arnoz Avatar
62 months ago

My secret is to just grab the face mask and pull it down. Works every time.
I just cut holes in the mask that I re-use everyday. Flawless logic.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

App Store vs EU Feature 2

Apple Says It Doesn't Approve of EU Porn App

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15 pm PST by
Apple does not approve of the "Hot Tub" pornography app that was released for the iPhone in the EU using alternative app distribution, Apple said in a statement to MacRumors. Further, Apple is concerned about the potential user safety risks with a pornography app, and says that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem. We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Horizontal 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching This Year With These 8 New Features

Tuesday January 28, 2025 11:48 am PST by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro concept based on rumors Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of January 2025: More aluminum: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models ...
apple power beats pro 2

Apple Expected to Announce Powerbeats Pro 2 on February 11 With These New Features

Sunday February 2, 2025 6:15 am PST by
Apple previously teased that Powerbeats Pro 2 would be released in 2025, and now an announcement date has leaked. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said Apple plans to unveil the wireless earbuds on Tuesday, February 11. Powerbeats Pro 2 will be priced at $250 in the U.S., he said. Powerbeats Pro are a sportier, fitness-focused alternative to AirPods Pro with built-in, adjustable ear hooks...
applecare apple care banner

AppleCare+ Policy Change Coming to Apple Stores

Sunday February 2, 2025 8:34 am PST by
Starting next week, Apple's retail stores will no longer offer AppleCare+ plans as a one-time purchase, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Instead, he said the stores will only offer AppleCare+ as a subscription. For example, AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $9.99 per month, or $199 upfront for two years. The latter option would no longer be available at Apple's stores....
iCloud General Feature Redux

Apple May Launch New iCloud Invite Tool Codenamed 'Confetti' This Week

Sunday February 2, 2025 6:42 am PST by
As early as this week, Apple plans to introduce a new iCloud-based service for event invites, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman said the new service is codenamed "Confetti" within Apple. He said the service will offer users a "new way to invite people to parties, functions, and meetings." He did not say if this functionality would be available through a ...
top stories 2025 02 01

Top Stories: iOS 18.3 Released, AirPods News, and More

Saturday February 1, 2025 6:00 am PST by
January has come to a close, with Apple pushing out iOS 18.3 and related software updates in the final week of the month to deliver some refinements for Apple Intelligence, security fixes, and more. We're looking ahead to more substantial updates with iOS 18.4, while we also shared news and rumors about AirPods and the upcoming "iPhone 17 Air," so read on below for all the details! iOS...
maxresdefault

The MacRumors Show: Latest iPhone SE 4 Rumors

Friday January 31, 2025 8:29 am PST by
On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we talk through all of the latest rumors about the iPhone SE 4 as it nears launch. Subscribe to The MacRumors Show YouTube channel for more videos The fourth-generation iPhone SE is widely rumored to feature an iPhone 14-style all-screen design with a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, and USB-C. Images of dummy models showcasing the new design were ...