iOS 16 Adds Support for Landscape Face ID

Monday June 6, 2022 1:26 pm PDT by Juli Clover

On supported iPhone models running iOS 16, Face ID is able to work in landscape mode, making it easier to unlock the iPhone when it's not held in the standard Portrait orientation.

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There isn't a lot about the feature on Apple's website at the current time, but it sounds like it will offer a much improved unlocking experience. Apple does not specify which iPhones are considered "supported iPhone models," but it appears to be limited to the iPhone 13 as we were not able to get it to work on an iPhone 12 device.

Tag: Face ID Guide

Related Forum: iOS 16

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Top Rated Comments

xxray

57 months ago

Kinda frustrating to know that this has just been a software limitation this whole time. I mean, I’m glad to get it. Better late than never, but still.

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Canubis

57 months ago

So, can we hope for a Landscape mode Homescreen as well?
Just last week I saw Landscape Homescreen on the aging iPhone 7 Max of my sister and was stunned this existed on that model but was apparently removed for any later phone with FaceID.

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

ProfessionalFan

57 months ago

This feature does not appear to be implemented in the current beta

Are you sure?

I just tried it on my iPhone 13 Pro in landscape which is running iOS 16 Beta 1 and it worked.

Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Return Zero

57 months ago

LONG overdue, like the ability to mark texts as unread. Better late than never.

Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)

44267547

57 months ago

I don’t use my phone in ‘landscape mode’ all that much, but there are times where if I’m watching some type of media in landscape mode, and I need to unlock the display, that’s when this would be most useful for me. Otherwise, I primarily would still use portrait, but it’s nice to have the alternative.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)