HACKER Q&A
📣 cosmorocket

How iPhone saves you from being forced to unlock with face ID?


I wonder if there are means to save you from being forced to show your face to iPhone to unlock any of its services if bad guys catch you and tell you to do so?

My bank app, messenger apps, photos, browser and many more are Face ID enabled. I know I can turn this off, but I don't see any advise about this case where I can be forced to show my face in front of my iPhone to access my personal data.

If I compare it to entering a 6-digits password, where I can enter it erroneously by intention to make it blocked, I feel like it's the way to go with disabling Face ID.

Should it be advised in a more accessible way to broad public?


  👤 evan_ Accepted Answer ✓
It won't unlock if you don't look at the sensor- so you can either look away or close your eyes. This behavior can be enabled or disabled in Settings -> Face ID & Passcode -> "Require Attention for Face ID".

If you hold the sleep button and either volume button for a few seconds- until the power off/emergency call screen shows- it will disable Face ID and you'll need to enter your PIN.


👤 observer987
I have never activated Face ID on my iPhone. I do have an Apple Watch that displays notifications and allows me to use Apple Pay independently of the phone.

👤 ru552
Just close your eyes. The Face ID on an apple device won't unlock if you have your eyes closed.