The Ocular Tracking Protocol
iOS incorporates an advanced biometric security layer known as “Require Attention for Face ID.” By default, when you attempt to unlock your iPhone or authorize an Apple Pay transaction, the TrueDepth camera system doesn’t just scan the 3D geometry of your face; it actively tracks your eyes to ensure you are looking directly at the screen. While designed to prevent an attacker from unlocking your phone by pointing it at your face while you are sleeping or looking away, it poses a significant accessibility challenge. For users with specific visual impairments, users wearing heavy polarized sunglasses that block infrared light, or users who need to rapidly unlock their device while it is mounted on a dashboard, the attention requirement will cause Face ID to continuously fail. You must paralyze this ocular tracking engine.
How to Disable the Require Attention Feature
You can permanently sever the eye-tracking requirement via the Accessibility settings.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap on Face ID & Passcode (or Accessibility -> Face ID & Attention).
- Enter your device passcode to authenticate.
- Locate the toggle switch labeled Require Attention for Face ID.
- Toggle this switch to the Off position, and confirm the security warning that appears.
Absolute Biometric Flexibility
The change takes effect instantly. The iPhone will completely sever the software connection linking the TrueDepth camera’s eye-tracking algorithms to the master authentication daemon. When you swipe up to unlock the device, the system will now only verify the 3D topographical map of your face. It will completely ignore the orientation of your eyes. You can now successfully unlock your iPhone while wearing heavy sunglasses, looking sideways, or resting your head, guaranteeing absolute biometric flexibility (at the cost of reduced protection against forced unlocks).