Hey MacNo. As of October 12, 2026, Face ID for Mac does not exist: no Mac ships with it. Apple's Macs unlock with your login password, Touch ID (on Macs or Magic Keyboards that have the sensor), or an Apple Watch through Auto Unlock. Face ID is still limited to iPhone and iPad Pro. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in October 2025 that a Mac version remained "years away," and October 2026 reports on the next MacBook Pro do not mention it.
Disclosure: this article is published by Hey Mac, a free, open-source face unlock app for macOS made by the author. We cover it in one section on third-party options, along with its limits.
Key Takeaways
- No Mac, including the current MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iMac, has Face ID or a TrueDepth camera.
- Apple's built-in options are password, Touch ID, Apple Watch Auto Unlock, and passkeys approved with Touch ID or your iPhone.
- Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported in October 2025 that a shift from Touch ID to Face ID on Mac "remains years away." October 2026 reports on the touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro do not list Face ID.
- Third-party face unlock apps can use the regular webcam, but without a depth sensor they are a convenience feature, not a Face ID equivalent.
Why Doesn't the Mac Have Face ID?
The Mac lacks Face ID because Face ID depends on dedicated depth-sensing hardware that Macs have never shipped with. A normal webcam is not enough.
Face ID needs the TrueDepth camera
According to Apple Support, the TrueDepth camera "captures accurate face data by projecting and analyzing thousands of invisible dots to create a depth map of your face and also captures an infrared image." That data is matched inside the Secure Enclave. Apple says Face ID "always requires depth information, which isn't found in print or 2D digital photographs," and puts the chance of a random person unlocking your device at less than 1 in 1,000,000.
The MacBook notch, despite looking like the iPhone's, holds a standard camera. Macworld noted in October 2025 that the notch "didn't contain the same array of TrueDepth sensors."
The lid is very thin
A laptop display lid is thinner than a phone. Macworld's October 2025 report says Apple is "still working on making the Face ID sensors thin enough to fit in the MacBook display" (Macworld). Apple has not published an official reason tied to thickness, so treat this as reported, not confirmed.
Apple's stated reason: Touch ID is convenient
Apple has given one public explanation. In a 2021 interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple VP Tom Boger said Touch ID is more convenient on a laptop because your hands are already on the keyboard (MacRumors, Oct 29, 2021).
What Your Mac Has Instead of Face ID
Your Mac already has two ways to skip typing the login password most of the time, plus passkeys for signing in to websites and apps.
Touch ID
If your Mac or Magic Keyboard has Touch ID, the sensor sits at the top right of the keyboard. Per Apple's Mac User Guide, you can use it to unlock your Mac, approve Apple Pay and App Store purchases, autofill passwords, and switch users.
To set it up:
- Open Apple menu > System Settings > Touch ID & Password.
- Click Add Fingerprint, enter your password, and follow the prompts.
- Turn on the uses you want, such as Unlock your Mac.
You can add up to three fingerprints per user account (up to five per Mac). Apple notes you must still enter your password when you start your Mac, every 48 hours, and after five incorrect fingerprint attempts.
Touch ID on a separate Magic Keyboard works only with Macs with Apple silicon; on an Intel Mac the keyboard types normally but the sensor does nothing.
Apple Watch Auto Unlock
If you wear an Apple Watch, your Mac can log you in automatically when you wake it. Apple Support lists the requirements: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices, the same Apple Account with two-factor authentication, and a passcode on the watch.
To turn it on (macOS Ventura or later):
- Open Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Touch ID & Password (or Login Password, depending on your Mac).
- In the Apple Watch section, turn on the setting for your watch.
The first login after a restart still needs your password. After that, waking the Mac while wearing your unlocked watch logs you in. You can also double-click the watch's side button to approve admin password requests.
Passkeys with Touch ID or your iPhone's Face ID
For websites and apps, passkeys replace passwords. Apple's Passwords guide says you can approve a passkey with Touch ID on your Mac, or scan a QR code with your iPhone or iPad and verify with Face ID there. That is the closest Apple gets to "Face ID on Mac" today: your face, verified on your phone, signing you in on the Mac.
Will MacBook Get Face ID? The Rumor Timeline
Face ID on Mac has been rumored for more than five years and has not shipped. Everything below is reporting or rumor, not an Apple announcement.
| Date | What was reported | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-2020 | Code in a macOS Big Sur beta referenced "PearlCamera," the internal name for TrueDepth | Macworld, Jan 2021, citing 9to5Mac |
| Jan 2021 | Bloomberg reported Face ID was planned for a future iMac but unlikely in the first redesigned model | Macworld, Jan 2021 |
| 2021 | Gurman said he'd bet Face ID would reach the Mac "within a couple of years" | MacRumors, Oct 2025 |
| Oct 2021 | Apple's Tom Boger said Touch ID is more convenient on a laptop | MacRumors, Oct 2021 |
| 2022 | Gurman said Apple had "definitely" been working on it, but "time will tell if they launch it" | MacRumors, Oct 2025 |
| Oct 16, 2025 | Gurman: Apple is exploring "a shift from the Touch ID fingerprint scanner to Face ID. But that remains years away." | MacRumors, BGR |
| Sep 2026 | iPhone 18 Pro moves the Face ID module beneath the display, a step toward fitting Face ID into thinner screens without a visible cutout | 9to5Mac, Sep 30, 2026 |
| Oct 8, 2026 | Bloomberg: touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro with a Dynamic Island expected on or around October 27; Face ID not among reported features | MacRumors, AppleInsider |
What the October 2026 MacBook Pro reports say
The redesigned MacBook Pro is reported to bring an OLED display, touchscreen support, and a Dynamic Island built around "a hole-punch-sized cutout for the computer's camera," per Gurman as quoted by 9to5Mac on Oct 7, 2026. MacRumors' feature recap lists OLED, touch, Dynamic Island, new chips, a thinner and "significantly lighter" design, and cellular. Face ID is not on either list, and 9to5Mac wrote on Sep 28, 2026 that "MacBook Face ID still isn't included."
Our read: a Face ID MacBook in 2026 looks unlikely based on current reporting. A touchscreen Mac could change Apple's convenience argument later, as MacRumors suggested, but that is speculation. We will update this page after Apple's announcement.
How to Get Face Unlock on a Mac Today
You can unlock a Mac with your face today using a third-party app and the built-in camera. These apps are not Face ID, and you should know why before installing one.
How webcam face unlock works
Third-party face unlock apps use the Mac's regular FaceTime camera. They typically capture a 2D image, turn your face into a numeric template, and compare it with the one you enrolled (Hey Mac, for example, documents this approach). When it matches, the app unlocks the Mac or the protected item.
Is webcam face unlock secure?
A standard webcam has no depth projector and no infrared sensor. Face ID's protection against photos and masks comes from that depth data, according to Apple. So:
- Webcam apps are a convenience layer. Some, including Hey Mac, add a liveness check that helps reject photos or screens, but a 2D camera cannot match TrueDepth.
- Keep a strong password. Your password and Touch ID remain the real security boundary.
- Think about your setting. At home, convenience may win. On a shared office desk, Touch ID or Apple Watch is safer.
- Check privacy. Prefer apps that process recognition on-device and do not store face photos.
One option: Hey Mac
Hey Mac is our free, open-source (MIT) app. You wake the Mac, look at the screen, and it unlocks. It can also lock individual apps behind your face, Touch ID, or password (see how to lock apps on Mac).
What it does and does not do, from its own documentation:
- Recognition runs on-device through Core ML and the Apple Neural Engine. It never saves face photos; only an encrypted numeric face template is stored in the macOS Keychain.
- It includes a liveness check that helps reject photos and screens, but it is not as secure as iPhone Face ID because Macs have no depth sensor.
- It does not replace your password or Touch ID. Both keep working.
- It needs an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later), macOS 14 Sonoma or later, and a camera.
- It is not yet notarized by Apple, so on first launch you approve it in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Open Anyway.
You can install it with the DMG from GitHub or brew install --cask iharshitmaurya/tap/heymac, and read the source code. Questions go to the community page.
Hey Mac is one of several apps in this space. For a fair side-by-side of the options, including Apple's built-in tools, see our comparison of the best face unlock apps for Mac.
FAQ
Does any Mac have Face ID in 2026?
No. As of October 12, 2026, no MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, or Mac Pro has Face ID. Apple's Face ID support page covers only iPhone and iPad Pro (Apple Support).
Does the MacBook notch have Face ID?
No. The notch houses a standard camera, not the TrueDepth sensor array used for Face ID (Macworld).
Will the touchscreen MacBook Pro have Face ID?
Current reports say no. Bloomberg-based coverage from October 2026 lists OLED, touch, and a Dynamic Island, but not Face ID (MacRumors). Apple has not announced the product, so check back after the launch.
Can I unlock my Mac with my iPhone's Face ID?
Not for the Mac's lock screen. You can use your iPhone's Face ID to approve passkey sign-ins on your Mac by scanning a QR code (Apple Support). For hands-free unlock, Apple Watch Auto Unlock is Apple's built-in option.
Is webcam face unlock safe?
It is safe enough for convenience if you keep a strong password, but it is less secure than Face ID because a regular camera has no depth data. Use Touch ID or your password for sensitive environments.
Does Touch ID work with external monitors?
Yes, with a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, but only on a Mac with Apple silicon. A MacBook's built-in sensor is on its keyboard, so it is out of reach when the lid is closed and you work on an external display.
About the author
Harshit Maurya is the developer of Hey Mac, an open-source face unlock and app lock app for macOS written in Swift and Core ML. Source code and build notes are on GitHub.
Sources
- Apple Support, "About Face ID advanced technology" (published Sep 18, 2026): https://support.apple.com/en-us/102381
- Apple Support, "Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch" (published Jul 13, 2026): https://support.apple.com/en-us/102442
- Apple Mac User Guide, "Use Touch ID on Mac": https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-touch-id-mchl16fbf90a/mac
- Apple Platform Security, "Magic Keyboard with Touch ID": https://support.apple.com/guide/security/magic-keyboard-with-touch-id-secf60513daa/web
- Apple Passwords User Guide, "Sign in to an account on your Mac with a passkey": https://support.apple.com/guide/passwords/passkeys-mchl4af65d1a/mac
- MacRumors, "Face ID for Mac Remains Distant Despite Years of Rumors" (Oct 16, 2025): https://www.macrumors.com/2025/10/16/mac-face-id-years-away/
- MacRumors, "Apple Executives Address Lack of Face ID and Touchscreens on Macs" (Oct 29, 2021): https://www.macrumors.com/2021/10/29/apple-face-id-touchscreens-macs/
- MacRumors, "Apple to Launch Touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro and OLED iPad mini on October 27" (Oct 8, 2026): https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/08/apple-october-27-macbook-pro/
- MacRumors, "'MacBook Ultra' Rumored to Have Seven New Features" (Oct 7, 2026): https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/07/macbook-ultra-rumored-new-features/
- Macworld, "Sorry, Mac users, it looks like Face ID is still 'years away'" (Oct 17, 2025): https://www.macworld.com/article/2945142/sorry-mac-users-it-looks-like-face-id-is-still-years-away.html
- Macworld, "When will Face ID come to Mac?" (Jan 25, 2021): https://www.macworld.com/article/674675/when-will-face-id-come-to-mac.html
- BGR, "Will Apple Ever Replace Mac's Touch ID With Face ID?" (Oct 17, 2025): https://www.bgr.com/1999329/will-apple-replace-mac-touch-id-with-face-id/
- 9to5Mac, "MacBook Pro redesign is coming, with three features we've waited years for" (Sep 28, 2026): https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/28/macbook-pro-redesign-is-coming-with-three-features-weve-waited-years-for/
- 9to5Mac, "Redesigned MacBook Pro will reportedly include these three changes" (Oct 7, 2026): https://9to5mac.com/2026/10/07/redesigned-macbook-pro-will-reportedly-include-these-three-changes/
- 9to5Mac, "The clever way Apple embedded Face ID beneath the iPhone 18 Pro screen" (Sep 30, 2026): https://9to5mac.com/2026/09/30/the-clever-way-apple-embedded-face-id-beneath-the-iphone-18-pro-screen/
- AppleInsider, "Touchscreen MacBook Pro & OLED iPad mini rumored for October 27 Apple event" (Oct 8, 2026): https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/10/08/touchscreen-macbook-pro-oled-ipad-mini-coming-at-october-27-apple-event
- Hey Mac source code and releases: https://github.com/iharshitmaurya/HeyMac