Can Apple Watch use Face ID for unlocking with essential tremor?

My mother has an essential tremor and she got an Apple Watch (SE3, I’m pretty sure) with the intention that the watch would keep track of her health data so when she went to the doctor she would be prepared. Unfortunately, because of the tremor, she has a bit of trouble when she needs to enter the password on the watch. She has gotten used to unlocking her phone with her face, is there any way she can do that with her watch?

Posted on Nov 7, 2026 8:53 AM

3 replies

Ingo2711

Level 10 (93,009 points)

Nov 7, 2026 10:50 AM in response to AMC234

I have set up my Apple Watch to be unlocked by unlocking the iPhone, using FaceID.

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Wake the Apple Watch display, then customize how long it stays active before automatically locking. Apple Watch uses a passcode to keep your personal information secure. You can unlock Apple Watch manually or set it to unlock automatically when you unlock your iPhone.

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Unlock Apple Watch when you unlock your iPhone: Go to the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Passcode, then turn on Unlock with iPhone.
Your iPhone must be within normal Bluetooth range (about 33 feet or 10 meters) of your Apple Watch to unlock it. If Bluetooth is off on Apple Watch, enter the passcode on your watch to unlock it.

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copied from: Wake and unlock Apple Watch - Apple Watch User Guide

markwmsn

Level 6 (17,427 points)

Nov 7, 2026 10:25 AM in response to AMC234

Unfortunately, Apple has not announced any Apple Watch with FaceID hardware.

AMC234 Author

Level 1 (4 points)

Nov 7, 2026 10:32 AM in response to markwmsn

I thought so. It seems to me that it would be fairly easy for them to do. Maybe this would be a good idea for the future.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256390354