Touch ID and Face ID are used to quickly unlock your iPhone. However, there are cases where you want to quickly disable the fingerprint scanner and facial recognition, for example in situations where you feel threatened. This tip explains how to do this quickly and unobtrusively via SOS emergency notification. It is then only possible to access the device by entering the access code. That information is in your brain and is therefore less easy to enforce than when someone forcibly forces you to put your finger on the Touch ID sensor or hold the iPhone in front of your head.
- Just turn it off
- Switch off unobtrusively
- Turn off manually
Simply disable Touch ID and Face ID
If you do not want to use the biometric security of your device, you can also simply disable Touch ID and Face ID. From that moment on you can only gain access by entering a code. You can switch it off as follows:
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode).
- Enter your access code.
- Disable the feature for your unlocking, purchases, payments with Apple Pay and/or passwords.
Disable Touch ID and Face ID discreetly
If you need to hand over your iPhone to someone or if someone inadvertently forces you to use Touch ID or Face ID, you can do so by following the steps below. This does not work via a standard setting, but via the screen to switch off your iPhone. You will also immediately find the option for the SOS emergency notification on this screen, in case you are really in a dire situation. These features are available in iOS 11 and later.
As soon as you get the screen that allows you to turn off your iPhone, your access code is always required. You don’t have to turn off your iPhone for that, because it’s enough to just return to this specific screen. Touch ID or Face ID will be temporarily disabled until the passcode is entered. To do this as inconspicuously as possible, do the following:
- First make sure that SOS emergency notification is set up properly. Go to Settings > SOS emergency notification and turn off Call with press and hold (on iPhone 7 or older, switch off Call with five presses. This prevents a loud sound signal from being played when using the function. Would you rather have this enabled? please pay attention to the following steps.
- Press and hold the side button and one of the volume buttons. If Press and Hold Call is on, don’t press and hold the buttons for too long. If you do, you call the emergency services. If you have an iPhone 7 or older, the procedure is a bit more cumbersome: in that case you have to press the side button or on/off button five times in a row. But be careful not to call emergency services.
- Then tap Cancel on the screen or press the side button again to make the SOS emergency screen disappear.
The only thing you need to remember for emergencies is to hold your iPhone firmly by the power button and one of the volume buttons. You can do this inconspicuously, even if the iPhone is in a jacket pocket. You don’t have to look at the screen.
After that, it is required to enter the passcode to unlock your iPhone. Face ID and Touch ID are temporarily disabled, making it less easy for someone to force you to unlock your device.
Turn off Face ID/Touch ID manually
Of course you can also manually disable Face ID and Touch ID if you are not in an emergency. You do this as follows:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Go to Face ID/Touch ID and passcode.
- Enter your access code.
- Turn off the switch on iPhone unlock.
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