iOS 14.5 to allow Apple Watch owners to unlock iPhones even with face masks on

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Apple iPhone users—especially those whose unit has no other biometric security option other than Face ID—have been left to key in their passcode when they open their devices while wearing masks. While it's a more tedious problem than anything else, it is still an inconvenience. Apple has a provisional solution coming out. The new iOS 14.5 beta update will let Apple iPhone users who also have an Apple Watch quickly authenticate and unlock their phones with the wearable.

This feature is already available on the Mac, but now iPhone users will get access to the function, too. It will require that you have wrist detection enabled on your Apple Watch because you need an unlocked Apple Watch nearby, "on your wrist, unlocked, and protected by a passcode."

Once you have that, when you lift your iPhone to wake up the screen, you'll feel a little haptic vibration on your Watch to let you know the iPhone is being unlocked. It's also possible to re-lock your iPhone from the Apple Watch.

For purchasing apps or music from the App Store or iTunes, you'll still need to provide other authentication when your face is covered. The iPhone will also require your passcode every few hours as a final security check.

The Verge points out that there have been reliability issues for some Mac owners, so testing will be needed to see if Apple refined the feature for the iPhone. 

Source: 9to5Mac