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How To Open Mac With Apple Watch



Here’s a DIY guide on how to unlock Mac with Apple Watch. The procedure may seem lengthy, but it is worth the effort. Requirements to Use the Auto Unlock Feature: Mac with 2013 or recent macOS Sierra. The Apple Watch with watchOS 3 beta 2 or anything recent. Connection of both (Mac and Apple Watch) with identical iCloud account. Before enabling the ability to automatically unlock a Mac with an Apple Watch, you’ll need to meet a few simple requirements; you will need a Mac running Mac OS Sierra 10.12 or newer, you will need an Apple Watch running WatchOS 3 or newer, and the Mac must be a mid-2013 or later model. Also, note that unlocking a Mac with an Apple Watch requires a computer from 2013 or later. If you already have that set up, it's time to turn on the feature to pair your Apple Watch with your Mac. How to unlock your Mac with an Apple Watch. Due to the advance of the current technology, especially cloud computing, you can perform cool tasks that seemed quite impossible not so long ago, for example, unlocking your Mac using your Apple Watch. This removes the need to enter a password every time the Mac is turned on or restored from Sleep mode.

Auto Unlock works when you're wearing your unlocked watch and are very close to your Mac. If necessary, move your watch a little closer.

How to automatically log in

Mac os x snow leopard retail dvd free download. This feature gives you instant access to your Mac when you're wearing your Apple Watch. Just wake up your Mac and you’re ready to go—without typing a password.

The first time you log in after you turn on, restart, or log out of your Mac, you must log in by entering your password manually. After that, Apple Watch logs in for you.

How to approve other password requests

You can also use your Apple Watch to approve other requests to enter your administrator password. This feature requires watchOS 6 and macOS Catalina. It works anywhere you need to type your Mac password, such as when viewing passwords in Safari preferences, unlocking a locked note, approving an app installation, or unlocking settings in System Preferences.

For example, when you click the lock to make a change in System Preferences, your Mac prompts you to approve with Apple Watch or Touch ID:


To automatically enter your password without having to type it, just double-click the side button on your Apple Watch:

How to set up Auto Unlock

  1. Make sure that your Mac and Apple Watch meet the system requirements for Auto Unlock.
  2. Make sure that your devices are set up as follows:
    • Your Mac has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
    • Your Mac and Apple Watch are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, and your Apple ID is using two-factor authentication.
    • Your Apple Watch is using a passcode.
  3. Choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy. Select ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or ”Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.”

If you're not sure whether your Mac supports Auto Unlock, press and hold the Option key while choosing Apple menu > System Information. Apple shortcut keys symbols. Select Wi-Fi in the sidebar, then look for ”Auto Unlock: Supported” on the right:

Learn more

If you're having difficulty getting Auto Unlock to work, try these solutions:

  • In Security & Privacy preferences, deselect ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or ”Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.” Then restart your Mac and turn this setting back on.
  • Make sure that your Mac isn't using Internet sharing or screen sharing.

Learn about more Continuity features for your Apple devices.

Auto Unlock Mac using your Apple Watch is a nice feature to avoid entering the password. This feature is available with all Apple Watch but limited to Macs manufactured in 2013 and later. For any reason, if you can’t unlock Mac with Apple Watch, there’s nothing to disappoint. There are certain things to keep in mind to get it to work correctly. Apple wireless keyboard replacement.

Apart from the pre-requisites, we have also penned down some fixes that may resolve the issue. Before you jump to the fixes, I’ll insist you go through some basic troubleshooting and then move to the advanced part of the post.

Unable to Unlock Mac with Apple Watch? Try below-given fixes

Important Notes:

Pair Apple Watch With Mac

  • Make sure your Mac is of 2013 or later model
  • Check whether your Apple Watch and Mac have the same iCloud account
  • You’ll need two-factor authentication enabled and setup on both, Mac and Apple Watch
  • You’ll need watchOS 3 or later and macOS Sierra or later to use Auto Unlock
  • Your Mac and Apple Watch should have Passcode enabled and set up

Now that you have an idea of pre-required things let’s start with fixes if troubleshooting mentioned above hasn’t helped you.

#1. Disable Automatic Login on Mac

If you have enabled Automatic Login on Mac, you’ll need to disable it. To do so, open System Preferences by clicking the Apple logo, followed by clicking Users & Groups.

Click the lock icon at the bottom-left to make changes, enter the administrator password.

Then click on Login Options. https://lastpuppy.weebly.com/john-mayer-continuum-tablature-pdf-writer.html.

On the right side of the window, select Off from the dropdown menu beside Automatic Login.

Now check if you can unlock Mac using Apple Watch. If it doesn’t, keep reading.

#2. Boot Up Password required for Apple Watch and Mac

When you restart your Mac or Apple Watch, you need to enter the password before you can use the auto-unlock feature. This is identical to Touch ID on iPhone, which requires you to enter Passcode after you restart your iPhone. It is a security feature and not a bug. If you have restarted your Apple Watch, or Mac, or both, you need to enter the password/Passcode for the first time.

#3. Is your Apple Watch Paired Correctly?

Apple watch mac unlock not working

To operate different devices flawlessly in the Apple ecosystem, you need to keep basic things in mind. Same iCloud account and proper pairing. Check whether you have paired your Apple Watch correctly with your iPhone.

Without proper pairing, Auto-Unlock feature won’t work. Still, haven’t fixed the unlocking issue? Keep reading.

#4. Check Radios

Auto-Unlock feature requires Wifi and Bluetooth turned on. Check whether you have accidentally turned off the same on Apple Watch and your Mac.

Macbook not recognizing external hard drive. Try unlocking your Mac with Apple Watch. Did it work? Nope, let’s try something else.

#5. Reset Radios on Mac and Apple Watch

Sometimes big problems have one of the tiniest solutions. Try resetting Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on Apple Watch and Mac.

On Apple Watch:

  • Swipe up on the watch face to open the control center on Apple Watch
  • Tap on Airplane Mode to switch off all radios
  • After a minute, tap Airplane Mode again to restart radios.

Postal 3 free download. On your Mac:

  • Click Wifi icon → Turn Wi-Fi off
  • Click Bluetooth → Turn Bluetooth off

After a minute, Turn both of them back ON and check if you can unlock your Mac using Apple Watch. If not, keep reading.

#6. Disable/Enable Allow Apple Watch to Unlock on your Mac

On your Mac, open System Preferences → Security & Privacy. By default, you’ll be on the General tab. If you are not, click on General tab and then uncheck the box beside Allow Apple Watch to unlock your Mac. Check again in few seconds to turn it back on.

#7. Disable Internet Sharing on Mac

Auto Unlock does not work with Internet Sharing enabled on your Mac. If it is enabled, make sure you disable it by going to System Preferences → Sharing and then, unchecking the box beside Internet Sharing in the left sidebar of the window.

#8. Update OS Your Mac and Apple Watch

Connect Apple Watch To Mac

Radios on Mac and Apple Watch usually receive updates when Apple find any bug in their connectivity. Check whether watchOS or macOS update is available. If it is, make sure you update it right away and then see if things are working usually.

Update watchOS

Step #1. Open Watch app on your iPhone and then select My Watch tab at the bottom.

Step #2. Now, tap on General → Software Update.

Check out if there is an update waiting for you. Install the update if it’s there.

Update OS on your Mac

Step #1. Open Mac App Store and select Updates tab in the top left corner.

Step #2. If you find macOS software update, click to install it.

After the software update, you will, most likely, be able to overcome the issue.

#9. Restart devices

Restarting things is generally not required with Apple devices, yet it is always better to give a try when nothing seems to be helping. Restart your Apple Watch and Mac and then unlock them the first time with Passcode and password respectively. Now check again if you can open your Mac using Apple Watch. If it doesn’t, keep reading.

#10. Unpair and Re-pair your Apple Watch

I know this is really a tedious thing to do, but this mostly solves the most critical Apple Watch issue. On your iPhone launch the Watch app → My Watch and then tap the [Name]’s Apple Watch.

Next, tap on the Info button on the right and then, touch on Unpair Apple Watch. After it is unpaired, pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone again and check if Auto Unlock is working now. If everything fails to work, the last option is to get in touch with the Apple Support.

That’s all for now!

Wrapping up…

I hope some of the above fixes have helped you resolve your issue of unlocking Mac with Apple Watch. Apart from these fixes, if you have got any other way to get it done, don’t forget to share it.

You may also like to refer:

Do share your feedback with us in the comment section?

Jignesh Padhiyar is the co-founder of iGeeksBlog.com who has a keen eye for news, rumors and all the unusual stuff that happens around Apple products. During his tight schedule, Jignesh finds some moments of respite to share side-splitting contents on social media.

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