Since the iOS 14.5 update for iPhone and WatchOS 7.4 for Apple Watch, it has become possible to unlock your phone using your smartwatch. A special way to unlock our iPhone if we are wearing a mask, while Face ID does not recognize us. We explain the steps to activate the function.
The iOS 14.5 update that was released in the spring of 2021 gave us some new features, including the ability to unlock our iPhone using our Apple Watch.
This stems from the fact that in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis and wearing masks, it is impossible to use Face ID facial recognition to unlock our iPhone.
So Tim Cook and his gang at Apple decided to offer an alternative by letting the Apple Watch act as a middleman and unlock the phone.
Prerequisites to unlock iPhone using Apple Watch
To be able to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch, you must first install iOS 14.5 on your iPhone and watchOS 7.4 on your Apple Watch.
For iOS 14.5 update, iPhone 6S and above can install it.
For the Watch OS 7.4 update, Apple Watch Series 3 and later (including SE) can install it.
Steps to enable unlock function with Apple Watch
Once the updates are finished, here's how to activate the function that allows us to unlock our iPhone using our Apple Watch:
- Open the app Settings
- Go to tab Face ID and Passcode
- Enter your iPhone code
- Move the mouse down
- Activate the function: Unlock with Apple Watch
Once the feature is activated, we just need to put on the Apple Watch and bring it near the iPhone to unlock it. The Apple Watch will then vibrate and offer the option to lock it if it was a mistake.
Here's how to enable Face Unlock with your Apple Watch. Image credit: FranDroid.
