When the Apple Watch's Auto Unlock works, it's magical. You open or approach your Mac while wearing your Apple Watch and, instead of having to type in your — hopefully long, strong — password, it just logs you in. No fuss. No muss.
May 15, 2019 Unlocking a Mac with the Apple Watch may seem like a simple thing, but it's one of the countless tricks the device has up its sleeve designed to make your. Oct 17, 2019 The ability to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch has been around since watchOS 3. And you can still use this handy feature when you’re within range of your Mac. But now you can do even more with your Mac and Apple Watch combination as of watchOS 6 including approving requests and viewing passwords.
But when it's not working, you might feel anger, frustration, blame, recriminations, along with having to type in that — hopefully long, strong — password. Not so much fun.
So what can you do when Auto Unlock doesn't work? Here's an in-depth guide to help you out.
Some basic Auto Unlock troubleshooting
If you can't enable Auto Unlock (or it was working, but stopped), here are a few of more obvious problems we've run across:
With watchOS 7, Apple Watch automatically detects when you begin washing and helps you keep going for the amount of time recommended by global health organizations. Automatic detection Using its motion sensors and microphone, Apple Watch automatically detects handwashing and starts a 20‑second timer.
Unlock Mac With Apple Watch
You can also check your setup process and make sure everything's still working there: Mac quit app on close.
These quick fixes fail to address your issue? Check out our more in-depth troubleshooting options below.
Is Automatic Login enabled?
If so, you should disable it.
Is your Apple Watch paired correctly?
This has happened to iMore staffers before: Editor Lory Gil had forgotten to pair her existing Apple Watch with her new iPhone, which momentarily broke Auto Unlock.
Reset the radios
Auto unlock requires Bluetooth 4.2 and Wi-Fi to be up and running on both your Apple Watch and Mac in order to work. If one or both radios have been turned off on one or both devices, or somehow stopped responding, Auto Unlock will likewise stop working. Cycling them can sometimes jump start everything back into action.
On your Apple Watch:
On your Mac:
Once you're done, try auto-unlock again. If it works, great. If not, keep reading.
Reboot everything
The next thing to try is a hard reset. Make all the 'reboot Windows' jokes you want but it's a cliche for a reason!
On your Apple Watch:
On your Mac:
Once you've rebooted, auto-unlock will be temporarily disabled. Enter your password to re-enable it. Best restaurant menu design software for mac. Then let your Mac sleep and try auto-unlock again.
Check for updates
Apple's Bluetooth and Wi-Fi stacks—the set of software that controls the radios—aren't without occasional quirks. Sometimes, new versions of watchOS or macOS introduce compatibility problems; other times, they fix them. If you're having Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity problems, you're better off updating than not. If it's already broken, the update is your chance for a fix.
On your iPhone:
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On your Mac:
Once you're done updating, try to use auto-unlock again — after you've logged in follow with a reboot to re-enable it! If it works, awesome. If not, there's even more to try!
Re-pair your Apple Watch
Mac app to hack local wifi. Re-pairing your Apple Watch is a huge pain, but if something has gone wrong with the connection between your iPhone and Apple Watch, secure information won't be transmitted properly, and that will stop auto-unlock dead.
Once your Apple Watch has been unpaired, repeat the pairing process, restoring from your most recent backup. You'll have to re-enable Auto Unlock in your Mac's System Preferences again, but once that's done, auto-unlock should be back up and running. If not, you have one option left..
Contact Apple
Sometimes a problem really is a problem. Like any electronics, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi radios and the various connections to them can have problems. If you have AppleCare+, don't walk, run to your local Apple Store to get it looked at.
Other questions?Apple Watch Cannot Unlock Mac
Let us know below.
Updated December 2019: Updated to reflect macOS Catalina and watchOS 6.
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