FrankO23

Q: Apple Watch unlocking Mac not working

I have a first-generation Apple Watch and a spring 2015 MacBook Pro, on which I've just installed Sierra. When I first tried to enable unlocking the Mac with the Apple Watch it didn't pair after a number of tries, but eventually it accepted it.

 

Now, however, I find that if I leave my MacBook for a few minutes and come back, it will say that the Apple Watch will unlock the Mac, the little waiting wheel goes around and around, but after maybe 8 or 9 seconds it just falls back to the password entry screen. The net result is a significant delay in getting back on the MacBook. After this happened a few times, I disabled unlocking with the Apple Watch in Preferences.

 

Any ideas why this is happening? Normally my iPhone is also nearby, and the watch is paired to it -- does this make any difference?

Posted on Sep 25, 2016 7:01 PM

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Q: Apple Watch unlocking Mac not working

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  • by dgturc83,Helpful

    dgturc83 dgturc83 Sep 27, 2016 4:48 PM in response to FrankO23
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Sep 27, 2016 4:48 PM in response to FrankO23

    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 John Paterson1,

    John Paterson1 John Paterson1 Sep 26, 2016 6:03 PM in response to dgturc83
    Level 2 (179 points)
    Sep 26, 2016 6:03 PM in response to dgturc83

    I have both Magic Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard paired. This feature is barely working. How lame could the auto-unlock be if you have to go back to USB mouse and keyboard to have it reliable. I think Apple has a lot more work to do to get it fixed.

  • by John Paterson1,

    John Paterson1 John Paterson1 Sep 26, 2016 6:28 PM in response to dgturc83
    Level 2 (179 points)
    Sep 26, 2016 6:28 PM in response to dgturc83

    EDIT: I turned off both wireless mouse/keyboard. Suddenly auto-unlock seems reliable with USB mouse/keyboard.  Thanks for the tip, dgturc83. So, now I am thinking it has to due with Bluetooth itself on the iMac. I just toggled BT off and on, and will see if this may be the answer. A few tests have been A-OK. Will see if it is just temporary...

  • by FrankO23,

    FrankO23 FrankO23 Sep 27, 2016 4:50 PM in response to dgturc83
    Level 1 (11 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 27, 2016 4:50 PM in response to dgturc83

    Thanks. On the MacBook I deleted a couple of seldom-used Bluetooth devices and hoped that that might solve it, but it seems as though the problem is persisting. I'm hoping that the next macOS upgrade might get it worked out.

  • by Alireza81,

    Alireza81 Alireza81 Sep 28, 2016 6:54 AM in response to dgturc83
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 28, 2016 6:54 AM in response to dgturc83

    thanks so much

  • by DimaWindy,

    DimaWindy DimaWindy Sep 28, 2016 8:06 PM in response to FrankO23
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 28, 2016 8:06 PM in response to FrankO23

    I had the same issue of first generation AppleWatch OS3 auto unlock feature working intermittently with late 2013 iMac Sierra 10.12.

    I do use bluetooth mouse and keyboard. One of the possibilities might be related to Apple Watch screen being physically on. Tried it side by side Apple Watch unlocked on my wrist with screen off 50% rate of success, with screen on 100% chance of success. My guess it will be improved in the near future, but for now this might help.

  • by Csongi,Apple recommended

    Csongi Csongi Sep 29, 2016 4:55 AM in response to FrankO23
    Level 1 (16 points)
    Sep 29, 2016 4:55 AM in response to FrankO23

    I had the same problem on my 2015 iMac (with wireless mouse and keyboard) and after a bit of experimentation I found a way to make it work again: All I did was I turned on Airplane mode on my Apple Watch and when I turned it back off it started working again.

  • by Brentino,

    Brentino Brentino Sep 29, 2016 9:27 AM in response to Csongi
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 29, 2016 9:27 AM in response to Csongi

    FTW... Thanks

  • by DanielHo,

    DanielHo DanielHo Sep 29, 2016 9:27 AM in response to Csongi
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 29, 2016 9:27 AM in response to Csongi

    My Unlocking with Apple Watch was working reliably until I paired a new AW2.

     

    The unlocking was intermittent and then stopped working altogether. I tried everything, including restarting the AW numerous times, but to no avail.

     

    I finally tried turning on the Airplane Mode and BAM...it is unlocking reliably again. Thanks!

  • by Stamatis Kapetanakis,

    Stamatis Kapetanakis Stamatis Kapetanakis Oct 6, 2016 3:59 AM in response to FrankO23
    Level 1 (14 points)
    Apple Watch
    Oct 6, 2016 3:59 AM in response to FrankO23

    all of the above have been unhelpful for me... I think mine stop working after flying with the devices (and putting them into airplane mode)... since then it tries to unlock the mac but fails after about 10 sec and just presents me with a password field... prior to this had been working like a dream

     

    I've tried all the usual advice and all my devices are on the same network, bluetooth is on etc etc. I followed advice here and unpaired all my other bluetooth devices, put watch into airplane mode and off again (and iPhone) but to no avail...

     

    Any other suggestions would be most appreciated!

  • by c130efe,

    c130efe c130efe Oct 6, 2016 4:45 AM in response to FrankO23
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 6, 2016 4:45 AM in response to FrankO23

    I'm having a similar issue, my mac says that it is Unlocking with apple watch for about 20 seconds but then it just reverts back to asking for a password.  One thing that I have found is that if I turn the bluetooth off on my iPhone and force the watch to connect via wifi the apple watch unlock works without issue.  As soon as I turn bluetooth back on it goes back to its old behavior.  I'm using an apple watch series 2, iPhone 7, and 13"early 2015 MacBook Pro.

  • by gregucla,

    gregucla gregucla Oct 7, 2016 3:25 PM in response to FrankO23
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 7, 2016 3:25 PM in response to FrankO23

    I have similar problem. Watch version 2, mid 2013 MacBook air,  Running sierra and most recent watch software.  My watch has been successfully unlocking my mac for the past week.  However, today it just suddenly stopped, i.e. tries to unlock it but just get the spinning wheel followed by the requirement to login in.  I have unpaired and paired my watch but this does not fix the problem.  Please help because I love this feature

  • by gregucla,

    gregucla gregucla Oct 8, 2016 12:39 PM in response to gregucla
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Oct 8, 2016 12:39 PM in response to gregucla

    UPDATE.  My watch is now unlocking my Mac.   The pairing and impairing did not work but shutting down my Mac, my watch, and my iPhone followed by first turning on my iphon, followed by watch, followed by turning on Mac solve my problem.  Note my watch to unlock Mac was previously working but stopped yesterday.   This simple shutting down and bringing. Them back up resolved the issue.  Just FYI.

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