FaceUnlock

FaceUnlock is a free, open-source macOS utility that lets a regular webcam recognize your face to unlock a locked Mac. It is not Apple's Face ID: the app verifies your face on-device, then types your existing macOS login password into the lock screen rather than replacing the system's authentication.

Face recognition at the lock screen

FaceUnlock enrolls seven views of your face using the ArcFace recognition model. When the display wakes, or you press Space or Return at the lock screen, it checks the camera for a face match and movement-based liveness. A successful check enters your password; a failed or timed-out scan leaves normal password entry available.

• Processes recognition locally with Core ML, with Apple Neural Engine acceleration on compatible Apple Silicon Macs.
• Checks faces centered in the camera view and uses movement-based liveness detection to reject static photos.
• Allows extra face captures under different lighting, an adjustable match threshold, and optional automatic scanning when your face is centered.
• Runs as a menu bar agent, with configurable Dock visibility, launch-at-login behavior, an unlock delay, and a local activity log.

Password handling and security trade-offs

The developer says face data and the saved Mac password are AES-GCM encrypted; the password is held in Keychain, with Touch ID involved in authorizing access. Setup requires Camera and Accessibility permissions, because the app must inject the login password at the lock screen. Recognition does not require cloud processing or an account.

This is a convenience feature, not an equivalent to hardware-backed Face ID. Its liveness check uses ordinary camera images rather than depth sensing, so sophisticated spoofing remains a concern. Users must also be comfortable entrusting a third-party app with an encrypted copy of their Mac password.

Installation and compatibility

FaceUnlock is available through the developer's Homebrew tap or GitHub Releases. It is not currently notarized, so macOS may block its first launch; review the developer's installation instructions and the security implications before overriding a warning.

The official website and Xcode build settings specify macOS 26.5, although the README and release notes still list macOS 14 or later. Compatibility with older systems is therefore uncertain. Version 1.1.0 is a universal build for Apple Silicon and Intel, with Apple Silicon recommended for recognition performance. A built-in, external, or Continuity Camera is required.

The application code uses the MIT license, but its InsightFace recognition model carries a separate non-commercial research license.