Opening Your Secure Apps Authenticated by Face ID
Although Apple Watch users have been able to unlock their iPhones while wearing a mask for nearly a year, iOS 15.4 takes this a big step further: you can now use Face ID to access your favorite secure apps.
There are no limitations here, either. Any app that supports Face ID without a mask can also be unlocked while wearing a mask. This includes banking and credit card apps, password managers like 1Password, and even opening secure notes in Apple Notes.
When it comes to opening apps, iOS 15.4 doesn’t distinguish between using Face ID with or without a mask. You can disable specific apps from being used with Face ID — that’s found under Settings > Face ID & Passcode — but it’s an all-or-nothing setting. There’s no way to designate specific apps to only open when you’re not wearing a mask.