Prompt for FaceID/TouchID on iPhone/iPad when app opens

[jeffjumper]

I would like an option to be prompted for FaceID/TouchID each time the app opens. See the Microsoft Outlook app for an example.

There's a trend now for armed robbers to force you to hand them your unlocked phone.
(https://9to5mac.com/2021/07/20/comment-how-new-features-in-ios-15-helped-when-my-iphone-12-was-stolen/)

With my unlocked phone and the iOS Home Assistant app, that robber not only knows where I live but can unlock my doors. That kind of power should be restricted and protected in a similar way to banking apps, etc, by using FaceID/TouchID. Many iOS apps do this now as a double-check when important data is involved. Home Assistant should do this also.

It seems this has been requested before by the community:
(https://community.home-assistant.io/t/any-plans-to-enable-faceid-pin-lock/211445)

[Mariusthvdb]

robbers will simply hold it on front of you.....
maybe we should have a kill switch, completely breaking connection in case of emergency..

[jeffjumper]

I'm not sure what the hesitancy towards this feature is all about. This is a feature commonly implemented in iOS apps that contain sensitive information. My HA instance qualifies.

[Mariusthvdb]

sure, I would like it too, more for this https://community.home-assistant.io/t/any-plans-to-enable-faceid-pin-lock/211445/16?u=mariusthvdb than armed robbers tbh.

[jeffjumper]

Yes, that's why I linked to it in my request. Perhaps posting this item in that thread would get some votes here.

[Mariusthvdb]

bumping this, as there seems to have been no response from anyone on the dev team?

please add the default security measures iOS offers for apps, using Pin/FaceID/TouchID.

[s-e-t-h]

+1 to this request

[groenmarsmannetje]

To me this request sounds like a no brainer. I was surprised that the companion app doesn’t offer this feature yet. It is the most common authentication solution on iOS that you would expect nowadays for every app that contains or gives access to sensitive personal data.

[whereizben]

Agreed, would be great to have - it is on my Android phone, why not my iPad?

[mbuck200]

Bump

[bugzke]

Agreed! Works like a charm on Android, would love to see this on IOS as well.

[pxg14]

Would be great to see this feature, I'd login to HA more often especially remotely using the cloud service if FaceID was available

[ricoroodenburg]

Please add this feature, it’s a very common feature which should be the standard for security.

Please give the user the choice for enabling it instead of the choice of a developer.

[atus]

+1

This is a standard feature in apps managing sensitive/critical information.
It's an opt-in feature, not enforced on anyone.
Many are asking for it.
It exists in Android version of the app.

Why is it a problem to add it to ios?

[gokou88]

+1

Would love to see FaceID/TouchID implemented for the iOS app.

[stephanlarsson]

+1 for this! 👍

[andyli1985]

+1 for this!

[benedettosiddi]

I agree, just yesterday when i was adding alarm, door lock and so on i was searching for biometric second authentication without solution. I would like to see it implemented as soon as it possible. +1

[Depechie]

Seems we can now do it ourselves!
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/automatically-lock-iphone-app-opened/

[Mariusthvdb]

hmm, its. not the same....
it shows the actual lock screen , which one can slide away next.

its not the same as guarding the app with your face-id or code.

so this FR still holds imho
amazing/unbelievable this is still a FR though.....

[Depechie]

Yeah it is not 100% the same… but my Lock Screen is guarded with Face ID. So in my situation it is the setup I want.

[Mariusthvdb]

sure my lock screen is guarded with Face-id too..

feels really bad UX though opening an app, and being presented with the Locked lock screen that does Not auto-open on seeing ones face, but requires the extra slide away action.
Cant imagine that is what anyone wants.

[jensrossbach]

And everyone with access to the phone can delete the automation before starting the app.

[Depechie]

Stated in the post, you best set the same restriction to the shortcuts app then.

Granted it is not what we want and is for from the perfect solution.

[jensrossbach]

At least on my side, the shortcuts app is not listed, so I cannot apply this to the shortcuts app.

This is also stated in the comments.

[Mariusthvdb]

looking for Feature request, I now see this Discussion is only labeled with Hactoberfest, and does not contain the yellow label... please add that? Not sure if the opening author is still around to do so. otherwise we need to ask a dev to do so.

[jeffjumper]

I don't see any way to add/edit the labels on this discussion. Someone with rights will need to do it.

[progrmr]

This discussion is in under "Ideas" so it doesn't really need a Feature-Request tag, everything is assumed to be a feature request (according to @zacwest ).
I'd like to implement this. I've never added this feature to an app, but I looked up what changes would be required. Now I just need to find the free time to get it done and figure out where to add the appropriate changes.

[mroth01]

+1 This would be valuable to those of us who wish for an extra layer of security. It's the same function that some finance apps offer - taking full advantage of the phone's biometrics. Thank you.

[SeanPM5]

With iOS 18 it's possible to lock any app behind Face ID scan. Here's a quick demo showing it with Home Assistant.

ScreenRecording_08-03-2024.14-37-51_1.MP4

So it's gonna be solved on the OS side soon (iOS 18 will release mid-September probably).

[mroth01]

Nice workaround, thank you! It would be stronger to allow HA admins to enforce this centrally for all users, though. Here's a scenario - if a household member doesn't enable this iOS setting, it would leave the home exposed. Best guess is it should be a quick app feature to implement.

[bgoncal]

It's quite tricky to implement this perfectly because while we can protect the app UI, what would happen to the widgets? Siri Shortcuts? Watch? Should them just not work? Or should they work and then anyone can bypass the Face ID by using shortcuts instead?

[Mariusthvdb]

that is a very good point you make.
However, if people chose to open up their Home to widgets, that shouldnt mean a basic feature like fingerprint or faceid should be withheld as generic security feature

If at all possible, I for sure wouldnt want that without the same layer of security. Having said that, I am completely unaware if this would be possible.

As always those faceid/fingerscan options is optional, so, if available, people can always chose Not to use it.

Imho, this would not be a valid reason not to implement biometrics

[s-e-t-h]

Many applications have this feature, it cannot be that hard to implement. No offence to the HA iOS dev(s).

[Mariusthvdb]

wait, I missed this #1806 (comment)

which is wonderful news.