Yes, iPhones do have a face lock feature that allows you to unlock your phone just by looking at it. This feature is called Face ID and has been around since the iPhone X first launched in 2017.
What is Face ID?
Face ID is Apple’s facial recognition system that is used to authenticate and unlock iPhones. It maps the unique features of your face in order to recognize you each time you look at your phone. Face ID uses advanced technology such as:
- TrueDepth camera system – includes an infrared camera, flood illuminator, and dot projector to map the geometry of your face in 3D.
- Infrared image sensor – captures an infrared image of your face to see your face in low light and confirm liveness.
- Flood illuminator -projects infrared light onto your face to create high contrast flood mapping of your face.
- Dot projector – projects over 30,000 infrared dots onto your face to build a depth map of your facial features.
- Neural engine – transforms this data into a mathematical representation and compares that to your enrolled facial data to authenticate you.
All this technology allows Face ID to create and store a highly detailed depth map of your face, which enables very accurate and secure facial recognition. Face ID is designed to work with sunglasses, scarves, hats, and other accessories and account for changes in your appearance over time.
How secure is Face ID?
Face ID is highly secure and the chance of a random person being able to unlock your iPhone is approximately 1 in 1,000,000 with a single registered appearance. Some key aspects that make Face ID secure:
- Encrypted facial data – All facial data is encrypted and stored in the Secure Enclave on the device. Nothing is sent to Apple or backed up to iCloud.
- Liveness detection – Face ID looks for signs of life and will not unlock unless your eyes are open and directed at the phone.
- Attention detection – User attention is required and Face ID will not unlock if you are looking away.
- Passcode fallback – You must enter your passcode if Face ID fails to recognize you after 5 tries.
Face ID has been rigorously vetted and Apple claims it is more secure than Touch ID. It offers strong protection against spoofing attempts using photos, masks, or other techniques to try to fool facial recognition.
How to set up Face ID
Setting up Face ID is quick and easy. Just follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode.
- Enter your passcode when prompted.
- Tap Set Up Face ID.
- Position your face in the frame that appears on the screen.
- Move your head slowly to complete the circle until Face ID has been set up.
Once set up, you’ll be able to unlock your iPhone, authorize purchases, log into apps, and more using just your face.
Face ID features
Here are some of the key things you can do with Face ID on iPhone:
- Unlocking your iPhone – Simply raise your phone or tap the screen and swipe up while looking at the camera to unlock without any additional action needed.
- Accessing passwords in iCloud Keychain – Face ID verifies your identity and automatically fills in passwords you have stored in iCloud Keychain.
- Making payments with Apple Pay – Double click the side button then look at your phone to authenticate payments with Face ID.
- Purchasing from iTunes & App Store – Use Face ID to quickly complete purchases without having to enter your password.
- Third party apps – Many third party apps like banking, travel, and social media apps support Face ID logins for quick access.
Face ID vs. Touch ID
While Touch ID fingerprint recognition is no longer available on newer iPhones, Face ID provides similar convenience with these advantages:
| Face ID | Touch ID |
|---|---|
| – Works at more angles and requires less precise positioning of your face vs finger on the sensor | – Requires precisely placing your finger on the Home button for optimal performance |
| – Can unlock iPhone when flat on a table in front of you | – Cannot unlock iPhone laying flat since Home button is not reachable |
| – Supports unlocking more screen oriented activities like Apple Pay, app login, etc. | – Mainly focused on device unlocking and iTunes/App Store purchases |
| – No fingerprint smudges on the screen | – Fingerprint sensor can get dirty and requires cleaning |
Face ID limitations
While Face ID works very well in most situations, there are some limitations to be aware of:
- – Doesn’t work well with children under 13, as their facial features are still developing.
- – Twins and siblings may require occasional passcode entry to distinguish between faces.
- – Doesn’t work with eyes closed, looking away, or while wearing face-obscuring accessories.
- – May be less reliable in very bright sunlight or pitch darkness due to infrared interference.
- – Requires attention and eyes to be open, so does not work if you are unconscious.
Turning off Face ID
If you wish to disable Face ID and return to using just a passcode, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode
- Enter your passcode when prompted
- Tap Use Passcode to switch the unlock method to passcode only.
You can re-enable Face ID at any time by returning to the Face ID & Passcode settings.
Conclusion
Face ID provides a fast, secure, and convenient way to unlock your iPhone and authenticate actions using advanced facial recognition technology. It works reliably in most situations for a seamless user experience, with very impressive security protections against spoofing. While no biometric system is completely infallible, Apple has put years of work into making Face ID an industry-leading facial authentication system that balances both convenience and security for iPhone users.