iPhone 13, 12, 11, X, XS, and XR feature an easier way to unlock your handset using face ID, where the device scans your facial features before authorizing access. Like any other system, face ID unlock can also fail, and you may wonder whether this will lock you out of your phone.
So, can you use an iPhone without a Face ID? You can use an iPhone with Face ID, as there are other ways to unlock your iPhone without using a Face ID. You can skip the setup process at the initial stages and instead provide the system with a passcode that it will use to confirm you as a legitimate user. You can also use Touch ID, where you verify yourself using your unique fingerprints. Lastly, although risky, you can avoid the security settings and let your phone unlock by swiping.
Apple first developed facial recognition tech to beef up security for its users. It improved on all the flaws of the touch ID to ensure that only legitimate users could access the system. On the downside, Face ID also has its faults, and you may want to know if there are alternative unlocking methods in such cases.
You can use your iPhone without a face ID as long as you have other ways to verify that you are the iPhone owner. You can opt for Touch ID if your phone version allows it or stick to the conventional passcode where you enter some unique digits first. Alternatively, you can also do away with all security systems and configure your device to unlock by swiping.
When Apple introduced the iPhone X with the Face ID feature, it made it easier to access the phone since you didn’t have to swipe or enter an authentication code. However, the feature would fail at some point, requiring a backup unlock code.
Making access easier was also a drawback because unauthorized users can force you to unlock your phone. Luckily, there are alternative options if you don’t want to use Face Recognition.
You can skip all the scanning during the first setup process to avoid registering your face in the system. You can redirect it to use your passcode and make it strong such that no one can open your phone without your permission.
The main advantage that users enjoy thanks to Face ID is that it takes very little time to unlock the phone, unlike typing each passcode digit. Secondly, the Face ID can help you authorize purchases like Apple pay that need face scanning.
Besides these, you don’t lose much by not setting up the feature, only that you will take longer to unlock the phone since you must swipe and enter the code. All the releases after iPhone X replaced Touch ID with Face ID, leaving the passcode as the sole alternative biometric system.
The code will be necessary for any task that requires the iPhone owner’s authentication, including iTunes downloading, Apple Store, Apple Cash, and other services.
How To Use iPhone Without Face ID
Luckily, you don’t have to use Face ID if you are skeptical about it. Apple has provided alternative ways to authenticate your access even without facial scanning, and you can use the following methods if you want to avoid it.
If you want to use your iPhone without a Face ID, you can always use your passcode. If the facial recognition fails five times, the system will ask for a passcode to confirm that you are the actual iPhone owner. The prompt will also show up if you long-press the side key and cancel the power-off tab.
You can also pull up the SOS screen, stop emergency calling, and the system will ask for the code. Lastly, you can reboot the phone, and it will require the passcode before unlocking.
Face ID can risk your privacy because anyone can hold up the phone to your face and unlock it to gain access. Therefore, many users incline to the passcode method, which is safer.
Thankfully, it is easier to turn off facial recognition permanently and redirect the system to use your passcode for authentication. Click “Face ID and Passcode” from the settings, enter your set credentials and disable Face ID for particular applications.
Otherwise, you can click reset through the same process to turn off Face ID. Still, if you change your mind and want to reset facial authentication, you can go to the settings, click Face ID, enter your passcode and click to set up the feature, and follow the prompts to enable it.
You are free to enable and disable it for all or some apps whenever you want. If you need to temporarily disable Face ID and use other methods, there are two main ways to unlock your phone.
- Using Passcode
Apple has ensured that there is a backup way to confirm that you are the legitimate owner of the device. If the system has tried severally to authenticate using Face ID, it will automatically ask for your passcode after five failed attempts. Therefore, it is the default alternative for users who want to avoid using facial recognition.
It also helps if you ask someone else to unlock your phone. The first way to use the passcode is by long-pressing the side key until you see the “slide to power off” tab. Next, tap cancel and wait for the system to require you to enter the passcode before you unlock the iPhone.
Alternatively, you can tap the side button five times quickly to pull up the emergency SOS tab, and the screen countdown will pop up on your screen. You will halt the SOS call in five seconds, and the system will ask you to enter the code. Note that these methods are only temporary because Face ID will be on next time you want to gain access.
- Using Reboot
Apart from using a passcode, the last resort involves rebooting. Click the volume up key on your phone model, then click the volume down. Next, long-press the button on the side and wait for the Apple logo to pop up and release the keys while letting your iPhone restart.
The system will now let you enter your passcode to unlock your phone. However, this process is not ideal because it involves losing all your saved files and applications. To be safe, ensure that you have backed up all the essential data to retrieve them afterward.
Can You Use an iPhone Without a Passcode?
Passwords are excellent ways to bar unauthorized access to your devices to keep sensitive information safe. Apple values its users’ security, as you can tell by the tight privacy measures. You may be very cautious and wonder whether someone else can access your iPhone even when they don’t have your passcode.
You can use your iPhone without a passcode, but it is risky since anyone can swipe the screen and access your data. On the other hand, there is no way to bypass the iPhone when you have set a code unless you jailbreak the system using iTunes and other software.
If you find it challenging to keep entering the digits whenever you want to use your phone, there are alternative methods that maintain your privacy. Besides the passcode, you can use face ID, Touch ID, or specific applications offering similar services.
An ideal passcode shouldn’t be a four-digit number; the stronger it is, the safer your handset will be. A foolproof one may include symbols, numerics, and alphabets in upper and lower case. However, having all the characters in a single password that you need to use daily may be daunting, especially if you easily forget. You can find alternatives that serve the same purpose as your password, preferably biometrics.
If you are not good at using codes on your devices, you can combine them with viable and safe alternatives. For instance, you can set a passcode and touch ID where you can use the latter if you cannot remember the digits.
You don’t necessarily need a code to access your iPhone. Besides touch ID, face ID is also an effective biometric screen unlock method, and there are third-party apps that can serve the same purpose.
To set up facial recognition,
- go to Settings
- tap “Face ID and Passcode”
The system will prompt you to enter or create a new passcode as an alternative to your Face ID. Next,
- click “Set Up Face ID” and
- hold the iDevice close to your face before pressing “Get Started”
Place your face in position and move your head lightly to complete the scan. Afterward, press Continue and repeat the scanning, then finally press Done.
It is also simple to set up a touch ID. Go to Settings on your iPhone and
- click “Touch ID and Passcode”
- On the next window, press “Add a Fingerprint” and
- follow the on-screen instructions.
The phone will ask you to place your finger on the home key multiple times as you adjust it to let the handset accurately register all the details. If the setup fails and the sensor doesn’t recognize your fingerprints, you can try a different finger until you find the one that the scanner can correctly read.
Can You Use Apple Pay Without Touch ID?
Digitization is spreading rapidly and gradually changing how people conduct their businesses. This trend has been most affected by the cellphone industry over the last few years. For instance, Apple has simplified how to make purchases and payments thanks to its Apple Pay platform, but the use of touch ID may seem quite complex for first-time users.
You can successfully use Apple Pay even without a touch ID. The restriction is that you must have other ways to verify your identity. You should have set a passcode and a face ID to confirm that you are a legitimate user.
Apple deploys your gadget’s built-in security features to ensure a safe transaction. Therefore, you can use the platform even when you have not set a touch ID as long as you have a code or a Face ID for authentication.
You are still safe if your phone exclusively uses a passcode. Luckily, it is easy to disable touch ID from your Apple Pay if you don’t want to use it due to personal reasons. You will need to hold your iDevice closer to a contactless reader whenever you wish to make payments. If you set up a touch or face ID, you still need a passcode as an alternative unlock method that will be handy in case of failures.
Since your iDevice likely has a password, you can effortlessly use it to facilitate your Apple Pay transactions. However, if you are a first-timer and have issues with the platform, the chances are high that you don’t have a passcode or biometric set on your iDevice.
The code should be strong enough and hard to guess; otherwise, a biometric system like Face ID is the ideal way to go. You open Settings and navigate to Touch ID and Passcode to set the security feature. Next,
- click add Fingerprints,
- hold your phone in front of you,
- place your finger onto the ID sensor and
- lift it repeatedly until it captures all your fingerprints.
Finally, click Done to complete the procedure and try locking and unlocking the phone using the feature. Additionally, ensure that you toggle Apple Pay on in Settings and enable Touch ID and Passcode; otherwise, you may have issues with the transactions.
Apple pay will function seamlessly without a touch ID on your Apple device, provided that you have set a passcode or a Face ID. If you are buying online, you can use the Safari app or click the product’s Apple Pay icon and follow the prompts until you confirm payment. The process is simple and safe as long as you have the two alternative verification methods.
Thankfully, Apple has not restricted users to use the touch ID; as long as you have an iPhone, the payments are simple to authenticate. To use either a password or face ID, you can double click the side button to open the Apple Pay menu and then feed your credentials to access the wallet. You can alternate between cards by clicking the default and make payments by holding your iDevice close to the contactless reader until you see a “Done” text and a tick on the screen.
Bottomline
Apple is stringent on its privacy features to keep users safe and bar unauthorized access. There are three main ways to verify yourself as the actual iPhone owner; using a passcode, Face ID, and Touch ID. While the first method requires specific unique digits, the other two are biometric systems that you must use in person.
If you don’t have a Face ID, you can always deploy a passcode or touch ID based on your iPhone version. You will also need the above credentials when using Apple Pay, not only the Touch ID. Also, if you are skeptical about Face ID, you can opt for a passcode and Touch ID to unlock your iPhone.
