Apple has rolled out its new iOS 15.4 update for iPhone users and it brings several new features that are nifty in the new normal. One of them is the ability to use Face ID with a mask on, and you don’t even need an Apple Watch.
The new software update is available to all compatible iPhone models (iPhone 6s and above) starting today. If you haven’t received any notification, you can update manually by going to Settings > General > Software Update. Depending on your iPhone’s current iOS version, the new update is about 1.2GB in size.
With iOS 15.4, users on the iPhone 12 or higher will get the option to enable Face ID to work with a face mask. If you don’t own an Apple Watch, this allows a faster way to unlock your iPhone without removing your face mask or entering your security pin in public. Besides unlocking your iPhone, this feature also works to authenticate payments on Apple Pay or to autofill passwords in apps and Safari. Take note that this improved Face ID feature isn’t compatible with older iPhone models with Face ID such as the iPhone 11, XS, or earlier. Here’s how you can activate it.
Besides that, iOS 15.4 also brings a range of new emojis which include faces, hand gestures, and household objects. They have also tweaked the handshake emoji which now allows you to select different skin tones.
According to the changelog, the FaceTime SharePlay feature can now be initiated directly from the supported app, while Siri is still able to provide the time and date even when your iPhone (iPhone XS, XR, iPhone 11 or newer) is offline.
Apple has also updated some of its native apps including the Safari web browser, which now adds translation support for Italian and Chinese (Traditional). The camera feature in the keyboard can be used to add text to Notes and Reminders, while the Saved password feature now lets you add your own notes in Settings.
iOS 15.4 also squashes a couple of bugs including an issue where the keyboard may insert a full stop between typed numbers. It also addresses a reported issue where photos and videos not syncing properly to the iCloud Photo Library.
Have you downloaded iOS 15.4? Let us know if you liked the new Face ID feature.
