What biometric unlock does
Biometric unlock lets you reopen your pod with Face ID, a fingerprint, or your device PIN instead of typing your family password every time. It uses passkeys (WebAuthn) — the same passwordless standard your bank and Google use — and works in the installed app and in your browser.
Biometric unlock is a convenience layer over your family password — not a replacement for it. Your password always works, and losing or replacing your device never locks you out of your pod. Keep your password somewhere safe.
How to turn it on
Open Settings → Account.
Under Biometric login, tap Set up and confirm with your device biometrics.
That's it — next time you sign in on that device, you'll be offered a one-tap biometric unlock.
How it stays private
- Your biometrics never leave your device — Face ID / fingerprint data is handled by your phone or computer’s secure hardware, and beanies.family never sees it.
- The passkey unwraps your family key on your device; beanies only ever stores the wrapped (encrypted) key. See How Your Data Is Encrypted.
- A passkey you create on one device can sync to your other devices on the same platform (iCloud Keychain for Apple, Google Password Manager for Android/Chrome) — but not across ecosystems.
Which devices support it
Biometric unlock needs a reasonably recent device: iOS 16+, a modern Android with the system passkey/credential manager, or an up-to-date desktop browser. On older devices — or any device without biometric hardware set up — beanies.family simply asks for your password instead. Nothing breaks; you just sign in the usual way.
If a device can’t use biometrics, you’ll see a short note and the password field instead of a dead end. You can always fall back to your password on any device, anytime.