How to Add a Second Face or Fingerprint on a Phone

You want a second person, a second hand, or a second look of your own face to unlock the phone. iPhone allows one extra face and up to five fingerprints, and Android allows several of each.

Add an alternate appearance with Face ID

On an iPhone with Face ID, go to Settings, Face ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and tap Set Up an Alternate Appearance. Follow the two circular scans. Apple designed this for a different look of the same person, such as with and without heavy makeup or glasses, but it enrolls whoever does the scan, so a partner or family member can register here. Only one alternate appearance is allowed.

Add a fingerprint with Touch ID

On an iPhone or iPad with a Home button or a Touch ID top button, go to Settings, Touch ID & Passcode, enter your passcode, and tap Add a Fingerprint. Rest the finger on the sensor repeatedly until the scan completes. Up to five fingerprints can be stored, and you can rename each one by tapping it in the list.

Add a fingerprint or face on Android

Go to Settings, Security & privacy (labeled Security on some phones), then the fingerprint or face unlock section, and tap Add fingerprint or set up face unlock. On a Pixel the path is Settings, Security & privacy, Device unlock, Face & Fingerprint Unlock. On a Samsung phone it is Settings, Security and privacy, Biometrics, then Fingerprints or Face recognition. Enter your PIN or pattern when asked and follow the scan.

Test the new scan on the lock screen

Lock the phone and unlock with the new face or finger. If it fails repeatedly, delete the entry and scan again in better light or with a dry finger.

If the second person is a child. Anyone enrolled can unlock everything, including banking and password apps that accept the phone's biometrics. On Android, a separate user profile under Settings, System, Users (or Multiple users) gives a child their own space and their own unlock. iPhone has no equivalent, so enroll only someone you would hand the unlocked phone to.

If you need to remove a face on iPhone. There is no way to delete only the alternate appearance. Reset Face ID removes all enrolled faces, and you set up your own again afterward.