Despite many claim via Google AI that there is a mask configuration for iPhones beyond iPhone 12, I cannot see an option: Use Face ID with a Mask anywhere in settings
Is this just mainly due to
Settings / Face ID & Passcode - enter your passcode.
The option remains and is there is iOS 26.
Perhaps the answer lies in the following:
Since I wear mask most of the time, I figured I would set this up as the default.
Perhaps the implication is that I need to set up without mask first, then the option will appear to use Face ID with a mask?
… as it stands, at the moment, no option to configure with mask in the array of options in Settings
The instructions are here: Use Face ID while wearing a mask with iPhone 12 and later - Apple Support
I do know that when you set up a new iPhone, or one that was factory reset and which you are restoring, one of the questions asked when you set up your passcode and Face ID is if you want to set up with a mask as well.
The location of that setting has not changed since Apple introduced the feature during COVID-19 (2021 or 2022 I believe - it was not early in the process, when it would have been most often used.)
On my iPhone 16, the option is “Set Up an Alternate Appearance” (which for me is me with reading glasses). I set up without them first, then added them. However, when I tried just now to add a new one with me wearing a mask, the setup failed. The fairly ironic message was “Face Obstructed” “try removing anything that may be covering your face”
LOL
Couple things, I think you’ve confirmed the following
I actually have a unique scar on my forehead … no, my name is not Harry, btw … that I figured would work quite well for a Mask only version of creating Face ID
I cannot get past the take your obstruction off phase in the prompts … may seem dumb, … but I was just trying to make it work as a Mask On Default ID
On a related note, I’ve always been annoyed by the fact that iPadOS doesn’t have this feature to support Face ID with a mask/alternate appearance as well. It’s almost been enough to make me want to downgrade from the iPad Pro back to the iPad Air that still has Touch ID. But the display on the iPad Pro is so nice…..
The foolproof work around is to use an Apple Watch to unlock the iPhone, bypassing Face ID altogether.
For details, see:
Does this always work for you? For me, seems like every once in a while it fails. Same with opening my laptop, sometimes I get an error that the watch is too far away (even though it is on my wrist, and I’m typing on my keyboard)
