Face ID is among the iPhone options that may preserve me locked into Apple’s ecosystem. Whereas the argument that Contact ID may be extra handy in several eventualities could also be legitimate, Face ID exceeds Contact ID’s usefulness and speediness. It’s not about locking and unlocking the handset. Face ID additionally allows you to log into iPhone apps that help the 3D face recognition system. So does Contact ID, however Face ID does it passively earlier than you have got time to consider it.
Sadly, not all iPhone apps have help for authentication. Or for Face ID. That’s the place a mind-blowing iPhone trick comes into play, as you’ll be able to lock any app with Face ID, even when the developer doesn’t help it.
Many apps that require person authentication have embraced Face ID help. That must be the one strategy to signal into apps, particularly apps that defend delicate info, like on-line banking, different fintech apps, well being knowledge, and numerous others.
Utilizing Face ID means you by no means have to fret about typing a posh password each time you log in. And it makes it a lot simpler to make use of password supervisor apps to generate robust, distinctive passwords for every separate app or web service you may use.
That’s what I do with Face ID. I exploit face authentication to log into all of the apps that help it. And I do not know what the person passwords are since I exploit a separate password supervisor for them. And sure, Face ID lets me authenticate into 1Password as effectively.

Some apps don’t help Face ID authentication. Or apps that may by no means get it. However these apps may include delicate knowledge that you just wouldn’t need others to see. Or possibly you don’t belief different individuals dealing with your iPhone and with the ability to get into the Pictures app or iMessage.
That’s the place the sensible trick comes into play. Redditor fishmiloo discovered an iOS quirk that may be abused through the Shortcuts app to create an Automation the place solely the iPhone person can get into particular apps:
This can be a bizarre ‘hack.’ The ‘Begin Timer – cease taking part in’ perform will lock the display screen and you’ll require FaceID once more to swipe again into your telephone. Set it to 1 second and switch off ‘Ask earlier than working’ and ‘Notify when run’
An automation to open an any app (like Twitter) to set off ‘Cease Timer – cease taking part in’ will just do that – opening the app will set off a 1 second timer that locks you out to Lock Display, requiring Face ID to unlock.
Learn how to arrange Face ID for any iPhone app
The next steps will show you how to arrange Face ID safety for any iPhone app. You’ll need to repeat the Shortcuts steps for every separate app.
First, you’ll have to go to the Clock app:
- Choose the Timer menu
- Faucet When Timer Ends and choose Cease Taking part in
When the timer ends, music playback will cease, and the iPhone will lock itself. This step is important.

Second, go to the Shortcuts app:
- Choose the Automations tab
- Faucet the + icon and choose Create Private Automation
- Scroll to faucet App, and choose the iPhone app you wish to block with Face ID. For this publish, we’ll proceed to make use of Twitter for instance.
- Set the set off to Is Open and faucet Subsequent
- Choose the Add Motion possibility after which search for Begin Timer
- Set the timer to 1 second after which faucet Subsequent
- Disable the Ask Earlier than Operating immediate
- Faucet Executed.

Let’s say somebody makes use of your iPhone and opens Twitter to take a look at your social exercise behind your again. What the iPhone will do is lock itself routinely after 1 second. The particular person might be locked out of the telephone and unable to work together with it. However in case you are utilizing the app, Face ID will authenticate you, after which you need to use the app.
The iPhone trick isn’t excellent
You don’t have to fret; you gained’t get into 1-second Face ID re-authentication loops. The app you opened earlier than the iPhone locked itself is already open if you unlock the iPhone, so you need to use it.
You need to use the Face ID trick to guard any app, together with iOS system apps like Settings, Pictures, and Messages. As for the one that is likely to be locked out when utilizing Twitter, you should keep in mind to shut Twitter utterly after they ask you to unlock the iPhone. Or not less than open a unique app within the foreground. In any other case, they’ll get entry to it.

The issue with this uncommon Face ID iPhone function is that you need to quit utilizing the Timer function. That additionally contains having the telephone play content material and cease routinely at evening.
Additionally, if any individual already is aware of your iPhone password, then they’ll simply use that to bypass the non permanent lock. Furthermore, because you’re utilizing the iPhone in public, any Face ID misfire may immediate you to log into the iPhone utilizing the PIN/password, which might expose it to others. On that observe, you’ll be able to create stronger iPhone passwords than what you’re utilizing: Right here’s how you can do it.