Face ID for Mac Remains Distant Despite Years of Rumors - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Face ID for Mac Remains Distant Despite Years of Rumors

by

Despite years of rumors suggesting Apple is working on Macs with Face ID instead of Touch ID, the technology isn't coming any time soon, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

FaceID iMac Feature
Gurman claims that Apple is aiming to shift from ‌Touch ID‌ to ‌Face ID‌ in the Mac line, but the change "remains years away."

Gurman and others have incorrectly predicted ‌Face ID‌ for Macs several times over the past five years. In 2021, Gurman said he'd bet Face ID would come to the Mac "within a couple of years." In the same year, he said Apple planned to add ‌Face ID‌ to the M1 iMac, but did not end up doing so. In 2022, he said Apple had "definitely" been working on Face ID for Macs, but "time will tell if they launch it."

Gurman did not provide any new information about ‌Face ID‌ for the Mac today than he did in 2021 when he first mentioned it, so the feature may remain "years away" for the next decade.

In 2021, Apple marketing VP Tom Boger said that there's no Face ID on the Mac because ‌Touch ID‌ is more convenient. Users' hands are already on the keyboard, so Apple feels that ‌Touch ID‌ makes more sense. It's possible Apple's thinking on the matter will shift when touch screen Macs come out in late 2026 or 2027.

Tag: Face ID Guide

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
Read Full Article • 25 comments
Apple Business hero

Apple Unveils 'Apple Business' All-in-One Platform

Tuesday March 24, 2026 8:53 am PDT by
Apple today announced Apple Business, a new all-in-one platform that unifies device management, productivity tools, and customer outreach features. The service is designed to be a consolidated replacement for several of Apple's existing business-focused offerings, including Apple Business Essentials, Apple Business Manager, and Apple Business Connect. It provides organizations with a single...
Read Full Article • 46 comments
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...
Read Full Article • 79 comments

Top Rated Comments

GriffinCorp Avatar
GriffinCorp
23 weeks ago
Why is it so hard when phones have had this for years!
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
Rade0
23 weeks ago
*Worker 1: locks screen to hide commercially sensitive information*

*Worker 2: was that news about the merger?*

*Mac with faceid: unlocks*

*Worker 1: stop looking!*
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
Anaxarxes
23 weeks ago
Shows that there are sensible UX people still at Apple making decisions...

Edit: Love the reactions. :) But seriously, let’s think this through — Face ID on a Mac doesn’t actually make much sense from a user experience perspective.

When you’re using a keyboard, Touch ID is already the most convenient option. It’s quick, reliable, and doesn’t interrupt your workflow. For Face ID to be a worthwhile upgrade, it would need to offer a better experience — not just a different one.

Now, consider the practical issues:

* Many people use their MacBooks closed with external monitors → no Face ID.

* “But we could still have Touch ID on the keyboard!” → sure, so why bother with Face ID then?

* Plenty of users cover their webcams for privacy (yes, even Mac users).
* The Face ID sensor would sit right where you touch to open your laptop → smudges everywhere.

* And unlike your phone, how often do you actually clean your laptop screen?


So what’s the real UX benefit of Face ID on a Mac? Honestly… none. If anything, it’d be a step backward compared to the simplicity and practicality of Touch ID.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RodThePlod Avatar
RodThePlod
23 weeks ago

In 2021, Apple marketing VP Tom Boger said that there's no Face ID on the Mac ('https://www.geekwebguides.com/2021/10/29/apple-face-id-touchscreens-macs/') because Touch ID is more convenient. Users' hands are already on the keyboard, so Apple feels that Touch ID makes more sense.
But they're also looking at the screen, right?!?
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
T
TheMountainLife
23 weeks ago
My Lenovo work laptop in 2016 had Windows Hello which works similar to Face ID using the camera + IR. I don't understand why this hasn't appeared on Mac especially once the notch was added.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
L
LawJolla
23 weeks ago
Obviously the emitter is too deep for a laptop screen and they don't want to split the feature between iMacs and laptops.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments