SINGAPORE — A new update to Apple’s iOS allows iPhone users to unlock their devices using Face ID while wearing a face mask, but they must also have an Apple Watch for the feature to work. 

The feature, part of Apple’s iOS 14.5 update, works with the iPhone X and Apple Watch Series 3 models onwards, the tech giant announced on Monday (April 26). 

To securely unlock their devices, users must first wear an unlocked Apple Watch nearby.

Glancing at the iPhone allows it to detect a mask. Users will then receive haptic feedback from their watch, meaning their phone has been unlocked.

The “Unlock With Apple Watch” function can be found under Face ID & Passcode in Settings.

Other new iOS 14.5 features include a more diverse set of Siri voices to choose from and emojis with more skin tone options.

Apple has also introduced a privacy tool, App Tracking Transparency.

It lets users choose whether or not to allow apps to “track their data across apps or websites owned by other companies for advertising, or share their data with data brokers”.

Under Settings, users can also see which apps have requested permission to do so and make changes at any time.