The privacy of your iPhone is extremely important and they are devices in which we store a large part of our life. As you probably already know, it is possible to lock it in such a way that only you can access the device, although perhaps you are unaware of all the ways the iPhone has to unlock itself: with a code, with a fingerprint, with your face, wearing a mask or face mask … In this article we will tell you everything you need to know about it.
iOS Security Code
The iPhone security code is numeric and it is the main security factor of the device, since without it none of the others could be added. It is composed of numbers and can have codes of at least 4 digits or more if you select it. It is always advisable to have the length to make it more complex to guess.
On which devices is the option
All iPhones , except those of the first generations, have this security method. It is important not to confuse it with the SIM pin , since both are independent. This code will not only be asked when you start the phone after having it turned off, but it will also do it when it is not able to recognize your fingerprint or face if you have either of the two activated. Even in other parts of the system when it comes to accessing advanced settings you could be asked, so you should always keep it in mind.
How to create the code for the iPhone
When you start the iPhone for the first time, you come to a section that asks you to create a code. If you skipped this part at the time, you’ll need to follow these steps to create the code:
- Open Settings on the iPhone.
- Go to Face ID and code / Touch ID and code.
- Click on “Create code”.
- Select whether you want to set a short code (4 digits) or a long code (6 digits or more).
- Enter the code for the first time.
- Rewrite the above code to confirm.
How to remove the security code
This option is not recommended , since with this you would lose the option to configure other unlocking methods and you would put the security of your device at risk when anyone can access it. However, if you still want to delete it, you should do the following:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Face ID and code / Touch ID and code.
- Enter the security code.
- Click on “Deactivate code”.
- Confirm that you want to disable it.
- Enter your Apple ID password.
Change code
To carry out this process, you must follow the first two steps that we explained in the previous section regarding the settings path. Once you are there you must do the following:
- Click on “Change code”.
- Enter your security code.
- Enter the new code.
- Confirm the password again by entering it again.
What to do if you don’t remember
If you are in this situation, the iPhone could even be temporarily blocked, preventing access to it until a certain time elapses that will be shown on the screen. If, despite thinking about it and having spent that time, you still cannot remember the security code, you will have no choice but to restore it. This would also cause all your data to be lost if you did not previously perform a backup. To perform this restoration and access the phone again, you will have to put the iPhone in DFU mode and then connect it to a Mac or PC to format it with iTunes (or Finder in recent versions of macOS).
To put the device in DFU mode, you must do the following:
- On iPhone 8 and later: press and release the volume up button, press and release the volume down button and hold the side button of the device until a screen appears indicating that you connect the device to a computer.
- On iPhone 7/7 Plus: press and hold the side button and the volume down button at the same time until the screen displays the indication to connect it to a computer.
- On iPhone 6s and earlier: press the Home button and the Side button at the same time until the indication to connect the iPhone to a computer appears on the screen.
Once this DFU mode is in place and the device is connected, you must press “Restore iPhone” in iTunes / Finder to start the process.
Create an alphanumeric password
If you are looking for greater security , you should know that it is possible to create a password with as many characters as you want. Numbers, uppercase, lowercase, special characters like question marks, and more can be interleaved. To do this, you have the option of doing it when configuring the iPhone or following the same steps as to change the numeric code, only when you are asked to enter the new one you must click on “Code options” and choose ” Custom alphanumeric code “.
The steps to follow to modify or even eliminate it are the same as for a normal code. For practical purposes it works in the same way and acts in the same places as the other code (when the iPhone is turned on, when changing an important setting, etc.).
Unlocking iPhone by fingerprint
After the introduction of security codes, Apple added a few years ago the possibility of unlocking an iPhone through the fingerprint with a sophisticated sensor located on the main button of the device. Of course, in order to configure this option, it will be mandatory to also have a code or password configured.
Touch ID Compatible iPhones
The following devices are the ones that have the option of accessing this unlocking because they have a fingerprint sensor that, in all of them, is located on the Home button.
- Iphone 5s
- Iphone 6
- iPhone 6 Plus
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone SE (1st generation)
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
How to register your fingerprint on the iPhone
There may be various situations in which it is not always comfortable for you to put the finger that you have registered to unlock the device, so you can add more fingerprints of your own or even that of someone else you trust who you allow to unlock the terminal. You can have a total of 5 footprints . To do this, you must follow these steps:
- Open Settings on the device.
- Go to Touch ID and code.
- Select “Add a footprint.”
- Follow the instructions to register your fingerprint.
It should be noted that you can rename your footprints to know what it is exactly. And although Footprint 1, Footprint 2 (…) will appear on the screen, if you leave your finger on the Home button you will see that its name appears shaded instead of that default name.
How to delete one or more fingerprints
If you want to delete a fingerprint, the process is really easy, since you only have to go to the same settings section and click on the fingerprint in question that you want to delete. Once this is done, a button will appear indicating the possibility of deleting said fingerprint. You will not be able to undo this option once it is done, so you will have to re-register the fingerprint if you got confused.
IPhone Face Unlock
The facial unlocking of the iPhone is, in the words of Apple itself, a much more secure and advanced system than Touch ID. Although it involves certain differences with fingerprint unlocking, at a functional level it is the same on iOS, requiring you on the same occasions that Touch ID would be required on the other terminals.
Devices that have Face ID
The so-called TrueDepth sensors are those that allow facial unlocking. These are all the devices that have these sensors, always located at the top of the device in the ‘notch’ part:
- iPhone X
- iPhone XS
- iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
- iPhone 11
- iPhone 11 Pro
- iPhone 11 Pro Max
- iPhone 12
- iPhone 12 mini
- iPhone 12 Pro
- iPhone 12 Pro Max
Face registration on iOS
If you didn’t set up Face ID when you started your iPhone, you’ll need to follow these steps to do so:
- Go to Settings.
- Go now to Face ID and code.
- Select “Add face.”
- Follow the instructions on the screen to finish the registration.
Can more faces be added to Face ID?
It is possible to add 2 faces so that the iPhone can be unlocked. You can configure one of yours if you want even greater efficiency or also someone else’s. To do this you must already have a face registered and go to the same settings panel, this time clicking on “Configure an alternative appearance”.
Remove faces from Face ID from phone
Again without leaving that settings panel, you can delete one of the two faces by clicking on it and then on the corresponding delete option. If you want to completely reset Face ID, you will also find an option in which this is precisely indicated.
Unlocking an iPhone while wearing a mask
With the COVID-19 pandemic, a problem emerged for iPhones with Face ID and that was none other than being able to recognize the face even wearing a mask or face mask. Although there are ways to “cheat” this system and make it recognize you, the truth is that they are not safe or recommended. However, Apple natively added an option through which a recognition could be carried out even with this accessory in the mouth.
Necessary requirements
First of all, you must have an Apple Watch to serve as a complement during unlocking. You must have it on and that it is also unlocked. Beyond that you must have a certain version of software on both the watch and the iPhone. These are iOS 14.5 and watchOS 7.4 and all versions after these. Any iPhone with Face ID can therefore access this function, while watches will only work with Apple Watch Series 3 and later, since previous generations cannot update to the corresponding watchOS version.
Settings to be configured
Once you make sure you meet the requirements discussed above, you must activate the option in the settings by following these steps:
- Open Settings on the iPhone.
- Go to Face ID and code.
- Activate the “Apple Watch by (your name)” option.
Aspects to take into account to unlock it
Once the setting is activated, the iPhone will be able to detect when you are wearing a mask and at that moment turn to the Apple Watch immediately, making it possible to unlock the iPhone lock if you are wearing it. Of course, one of the key points to keep in mind is that you must have the WiFi and Bluetooth activated to ensure a better connection between the watch and the phone (although in the case of WiFi, it will be enough for it to appear in gray in the Control Center ).
What to do if someone else unlocks your iPhone
It is possible that someone who also wears a mask can unlock your iPhone if you are nearby and you have the Apple Watch on your wrist. This is too bad, right? Well, you have to know that not completely, since the clock will vibrate when the iPhone is unlocked to warn you and it will show the option “Lock iPhone” on the screen so that the phone will be locked again and require to enter the code without another possibility to access it.
Choose where you want Touch ID / Face ID to work
Both Touch ID and Face ID not only serve to unlock the iPhone, but can also be used for the following options, all of them configurable from Settings> Touch ID / Face ID and code:
- Download apps from the App Store or iTunes content
- Make payments using Apple Pay
- Quickly fill in passwords with iCloud Keychain
- Authenticate in some third-party apps