A Reddit tip says one Touch ID trick beats Face ID on iPhone Duo

An iPhone Duo owner on Reddit says one small change makes Touch ID feel faster than Face ID. Instead of scanning the pad of your fingertip, scan the lowest part of your index finger. The poster calls the result "arguably better than Face ID." MacRumors reported the tip on October 24, 2026.

How the tip works

Touch ID unlocks the phone with your fingerprint. Face ID does it with a scan of your face. The poster says the lowest part of the index finger rests naturally against the side button as you pick up the phone. That means the phone can unlock while you lift it, without a separate press or pause.

Another Duo owner on the MacRumors forums reports that it works for them too. So there is some early support, though only a small amount.

What to do and what is unclear

• Open Settings and go to Touch ID & Passcode.
• Add another finger scan, using the lowest part of your index finger.
• Pick up the phone as you normally would and see if it unlocks.

Adding a scan does not appear to require removing your existing ones, so there is little to lose by testing it. Grip styles vary, and the tip is not guaranteed to work for everyone. The reports so far come from individual owners, not from Apple or a formal test. How reliable the trick is across many hands and habits is not known yet.