HT206995: Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch

Learn about Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch
mlobb73

Q: Watch unlock still prompts for password

I've got everything setup properly to auto unlock based on the support article and when I wake my two Macs they say they are unlocking from the Watch, but then they still prompt me for a password. Am I missing something?

Posted on Sep 25, 2016 12:15 PM

Close

Q: Watch unlock still prompts for password

  • All replies
  • Helpful answers

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 25, 2016 3:00 PM in response to mlobb73
    Level 8 (36,816 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 25, 2016 3:00 PM in response to mlobb73

    Hi

     

    Check that you have followed all of the instructions here.

     

     

    Note that the instructions include:

     

    • "The first time you log in after you turn on or restart your Mac, log in by entering your password manually. After that, Apple Watch logs in for you."
  • by dgturc83,

    dgturc83 dgturc83 Sep 25, 2016 5:25 PM in response to mlobb73
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Sep 25, 2016 5:25 PM in response to mlobb73

    Do you have any Bluetooth devices connected to you Mac? I was having the same issues with the unlock feature, then I noticed the Bluetooth symbol in the menu bar was showing it was paired (three dots through the center of the symbol) even though I had nothing paired with my laptop. I opened Bluetooth preferences and deleted the two devices listed there that had been previously connected, but were not currently connected. After deleting these items, the Bluetooth symbol returned to its normal unpaired look, and the unlock feature started working 100%.

     

    I then tried experimenting a little. First, I paired my Bose speaker. 100% failure, required my password every time. Next, I unpaired the speaker and paired an Apple Magic mouse. This resulted in about a 50% failure rate but always worked when I clicked cancel then tried logging back in. I have not tried any other devices or multiple like a mouse and keyboard.

  • by mlobb73,

    mlobb73 mlobb73 Sep 26, 2016 1:11 PM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 26, 2016 1:11 PM in response to Jonathan UK

    Thanks Jon. I've tried all of that and it still prompts for a password after it says the Watch is unlocking it.

  • by mlobb73,

    mlobb73 mlobb73 Sep 26, 2016 1:12 PM in response to dgturc83
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 26, 2016 1:12 PM in response to dgturc83

    Yes, I have Bluetooth devices connected but they are my mouse and keyboard for my iMac so I can't do anything without them.

  • by dgturc83,

    dgturc83 dgturc83 Sep 26, 2016 1:35 PM in response to mlobb73
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Sep 26, 2016 1:35 PM in response to mlobb73

    That's what bothers me with this. Apple likes to promote wireless BT devices with their computers, yet from the testing I've done, having connected BT devices make this feature unreliable or not function at all. I guess if you can get a wired keyboard and mouse to test if that is the issue, then at least you'll know why.

  • by gordincolorado,

    gordincolorado gordincolorado Oct 5, 2016 6:44 PM in response to mlobb73
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Apple Watch
    Oct 5, 2016 6:44 PM in response to mlobb73

    Bump.  I just finished setting all devices and iCloud account to two factor authentication and followed all the steps, tried multiple times to get it working.  no dice. says unlocking with watch but prompts for password each time.

     

    Two questions though.

     

    I have a compatible iMac (late 2013).  Does display going to sleep (but computer still running) count as an acceptable mode to use this feature once I use spacebar or mouse to wake it?  (Can't see why it wouldn't be)

     

    When I enable it (System Pref-> Security & Privacy) by checking the box it asks for my Computer password, but never asks for my iCloud verification/password.  Anyone else see this happen/is this normal?

  • by Kirk McElhearn,

    Kirk McElhearn Kirk McElhearn Oct 6, 2016 3:22 AM in response to mlobb73
    Level 2 (159 points)
    Oct 6, 2016 3:22 AM in response to mlobb73

    I just tried setting this up last night. For a while, my MacBook unlocked most of the time, but my iMac only unlocked a few times. I had a call with AppleCare this morning, and one thing the technician asked was whether I had FileVault turned on; I do, on both Macs. He was fishing a bit, but he suggested that the problem may have something to do with FileVault. What about others posting here? Do you have FileVault turned on on your Macs?

  • by WJMalan,

    WJMalan WJMalan Oct 7, 2016 9:19 AM in response to dgturc83
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 7, 2016 9:19 AM in response to dgturc83

    my watch (first series) unlocks my iMac about 1/3 of the time. I have bluetooth keyboard and trackpad and have also used other BT devices with this computer. From my reading through a few of these posts (and I could be wrong) it looks like if you have any other BT devices that connect to that computer reliability of using Watch to log in is poor. I have not tried deleting other BT devices.

  • by g30360,

    g30360 g30360 Oct 7, 2016 11:56 AM in response to Kirk McElhearn
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 7, 2016 11:56 AM in response to Kirk McElhearn

    I am having this issue. I do not have File Vault turned on. I am on a Macbook air early 2015. I have 2 bluetooth devices listed that are not usually connected when I am unlocking my macbook air.