Apple Vision Pro replaces Face ID with Optic ID — here’s how it works

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Optic ID is Apple's take on the iris scanner, and it debuts on Vision Pro

Apple Vision Pro
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

iPhones and iPads come with either Touch ID or Face ID, depending on the model you choose, offering a convenient way to confirm your identity without having to type in a passcode every time you need to use your device. But what happens when you have a headset, like Apple Vision Pro, which isn’t really suited to either? That’s where Optic ID comes into play.

Optic ID is an iris scanner, which can scan the colored part of your eyes to confirm that the correct person is using the Vision Pro headset. This scanning is done thanks to the Vision Pro’s eye-tracking system, with “eye-safe near-infrared light” illuminating the eye for the internal cameras to capture images of your iris.

These images are then sent to the secure enclave section of the M2 chip’s neural engine. It’s there that the system compares the new scan to your existing biometric profile. All that data is encrypted and stored on your device, according to Apple, and never on the cloud.

Apparently the odds of someone unlocking a Vision Pro with Optic ID are around one in a million — which is similar to Face ID. This is because the system matches "detailed iris structure in the near-infrared domain," which "reveals highly unique patterns independent of iris pigmentation."

Apple also says that Optic ID will update your biometric profile every time you use it. That way the system can adapt to how your irises change over time and in different conditions. Meaning you won’t find yourself locked out of the Vision Pro, and forced to type in a passcode, simply because your eyes changed just a little bit too much. 

But like Touch ID and Face ID there are situations where Optic ID will not be available. Including when your headset has just been switched on or restarted or you haven’t used it for 48 hours. Similarly you’ll need to enter a passcode if you haven’t used a passcode in 6 and a half days, and Optic ID hasn’t unlocked the Vision Pro in the last 4 hours. 

However it is possible to use Optic ID if your iPhone is nearby. Though you will need to set this up on a device with iOS 17.1 or later, using the guide on Apple’s support site.

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Tom Pritchard
Tom Pritchard
UK Phones Editor

Tom is the Tom's Guide's UK Phones Editor, tackling the latest smartphone news and vocally expressing his opinions about upcoming features or changes. It's long way from his days as editor of Gizmodo UK, when pretty much everything was on the table. He’s usually found trying to squeeze another giant Lego set onto the shelf, draining very large cups of coffee, or complaining about how terrible his Smart TV is.