An unexpected feature in the iOS 15.4 version recently stunned some Apple consumers. Users who have an iPhone 12 or later may be able to use face recognition even if they are wearing a mask to unlock their devices. But a question pops up: would it be safe to use?

Apple users have to snap multiple detailed images of their faces when setting up the Face ID security function. Face ID may not be as accurate with the mask feature as it would be if it could analyze the user’s entire face. The device, on the other hand, can distinguish vital and distinctive parts, such as eyes, eyeglasses, the tip of the nose, birthmarks or freckles on the forehead, and so on. Prior to this update, some iPhone users had to physically remove their masks to reveal their entire faces to unlock their phones. If these users were in a public place, or if they had not yet been able to wash or sanitize their hands before touching their face mask, they may have been forced to refrain from unlocking their phone.

The face mask update has been in the works for two years, and developers began thinking about these security features when the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out. But of course, a probable flip side won’t be disregarded. “Face ID is most accurate when it’s set up for full-face recognition only,” Apple warns. Although the accuracy of this new feature is harder to tell, it’s worth keeping in mind that you might encounter some missed unlocks while using it.