Soon, you could recover your Facebook account using nothing but your face.

Facebook is testing a facial recognition system that will verify users who are locked out of their accounts.

The feature is designed as an alternative to the text or email verification tools used to reset passwords and is currently being trialled on a 'small number' of users.

Soon, you could recover your Facebook account using nothing but your face. Facebook is testing a facial recognition system that will verify users who are locked out of their accounts

It follows a move by Apple to bring facial recognition technology to its new flagship phone, the iPhone X.

To use the technology, Facebook users will hold their phone up to their face, according to Matt Navarra of The Next Web.

Facebook will then scan their face and compare the image to photos and videos on the site.

Images that are a match to the account could unlock it.

'We are testing a new feature for people who want to quickly and easily verify account ownership during the account recovery process,' a Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch.

'This optional feature is available only on devices you’ve already used to log in.

'It is another step, alongside two-factor authentication via SMS, that were taking to make sure account owners can confirm their identity.

The feature is designed as an alternative to the text or email verification tools used to reset passwords and is currently being trialled on a 'small number' of users

Facebook had previously tested a system of giving users between three and five ‘trusted contacts’.

HOW WILL IT WORK? To use the technology, Facebook users will hold their phone up to their face. Facebook will then scan the face and compare the image to photos and videos on the site that user is tagged it. Images that are a match could unlock the account. Advertisement

In the event that they were locked out, Facebook would send a code to be forwarded to the user so they could log back in.

It is not yet known whether or when Facebook might be rolled out more widely.

However, it appears to be part of wider plans to integrate facial recognition technology more widely into the social media service.

Last year, Facebook purchased FacioMetrics, a facial recognition software firm, in a push to integrate the technology into the platform.

By scanning the faces of millions of users around the world, the software could measure reactions to develop gesture-based controls, such as smiling for a like.

Facebook said that it has bought facial recognition start-up FacioMetrics, potentially using the technology for photo or video effects to better challenge rival Snapchat.