Apple today released the first beta of iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 for developers, which brings a big change in the integration between iPhone and Apple Watch. For the first time, you can now use your Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone while wearing a face mask. Here’s how it works.
There are few things worth noting. First, it’s the latest developer beta of iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4. There is currently no public beta available, but we expect one to be released this week. Then we expect iOS 14.4 and watchOS 7.4 to be introduced to the general public somewhere in the next few months.
Unlock your iPhone with Apple Watch
To enable the Unlock with Apple Watch feature, open the Settings app on your iPhone and then look at the “Face ID & Passcode” setting. Once you turn this switch on, you can verify Apple Watch your iPhone as long as the following conditions are met:
- Face ID discovers a mask
- Your Apple Watch is nearby
- Your Apple Watch is on your wrist
- Your Apple Watch is unlocked
- A passcode has been activated on your Apple Watch
Another thing to keep in mind here is that if you disable the Apple Watch wrist detection feature, your iPhone will not be able to unlock with your Apple Watch.
Once you enable the feature, your iPhone will automatically unlock with your Apple Watch the next time you wear a face mask. When you unlock your iPhone, you receive a haptic feedback notification on your Apple Watch stating that your iPhone has been unlocked by the Apple Watch. There is also the option to quickly “lock” iPhone from the Apple Watch notification.
9to5Mac’s take
The feature is similar to how the Apple Watch unlock feature works on the Mac, but it seems faster and more reliable in my early testing. On the Mac, the Apple Watch can be used for various authentication tasks, including accessing controls in System Preferences, Apple Pay purchases, and more.
On the iPhone, locking the Apple Watch is only limited to unlocking your iPhone while wearing your mask. It does not work if your iPhone cannot detect whether you are wearing a mask, and it does not work for things like Apple Pay, auto-filling Safari with credit card or accessing Apple Card features in the Wallet app. In such cases you will still need to enter your password if you are wearing a mask.
The “Lock iPhone” button is an important security step, as you can unlock your iPhone again if someone else wearing a face mask unlocks it.
Finally, it is important to keep in mind here, that the Unlock with Apple Watch feature is not as secure as unlocking with Face or a password, but it is much more convenient.
Despite its limitations, supporting unlocking your iPhone with your Apple Watch is a big change amid the COVID-19 pandemic. What do you think of the feature? Let us know in the comments!
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