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Face ID for Mac Remains Distant Despite Years of Rumors

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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

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Top Rated Comments

GriffinCorp Avatar
GriffinCorp
10 months ago
Why is it so hard when phones have had this for years!
Score: 34 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
Rade0
10 months 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
10 months 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
10 months ago

In 2021, Apple marketing VP Tom Boger said that there's no Face ID on the Mac ('https://www.macrumors.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
10 months 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
10 months 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)
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