How to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch while wearing a mask

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Shubham Sawarkar is a technology journalist at GadgetBond, covering Apple, AI, consumer technology, software, gadgets, and product launches. His work explores emerging technologies, industry developments, product...

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Apr 24, 2023, 11:57 AM EDT

As the world continues to adapt to the new normal of wearing masks, Apple has already introduced a feature to make unlocking your iPhone while wearing a mask or sunglasses more convenient. With the Unlock with Apple Watch feature, iPhone users can now easily unlock their devices without the need to remove their masks or sunglasses.

To take advantage of this feature, you’ll need an iPhone that uses Face ID and has iOS 14.5 or later installed, as well as an Apple Watch Series 3 or later with watchOS 7.4 or later. Additionally, your Apple Watch needs to be paired with your iPhone, have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, have wrist detection enabled, and have a passcode set.

How to set up unlock with Apple Watch

To set up the Unlock with Apple Watch feature, open the Settings app on your iPhone, tap Face ID & Passcode, and type in your passcode. Scroll down to Unlock with Apple Watch and turn on the feature next to your watch’s name. If wrist detection is not enabled on your watch, you’ll be prompted to turn it on.

How to unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch

Once the feature is enabled, unlocking your iPhone is a breeze. Simply make sure your Apple Watch is on your wrist and unlocked, put on your mask or sunglasses, and wake your iPhone by raising it or tapping the screen. Then, glance at your iPhone to unlock it. You can then swipe up from the bottom of your screen to start using your device.

If you accidentally unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch, your watch will give haptic feedback and display an alert. If you did not intend to unlock your phone, tap the Lock iPhone button on your watch’s screen. The next time you unlock your iPhone, you’ll need to enter your passcode.

The Unlock with Apple Watch feature is a game-changer for those who wear masks or sunglasses regularly and need quick access to their devices. Not only is it convenient, but it also helps to maintain the security of your device by requiring your Apple Watch to be on your wrist and unlocked.