Apple Intelligence now features Image Playground, Genmoji, Writing Tools enhancements, seamless support for ChatGPT, and visual intelligence.

Apple Intelligence has also begun language expansion with localized English support for Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and the U.K. Learn more >

You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

ryanaho Author

Level 1

4 points

Watch no longer unlocks my MacBook air

I got the series 5 watch in June. Ever since my watch would automatically unlock my laptop when I would open. Recently, probably within the last 2 months, it no longer works. It used to say "unlocking with apple watch" and would load for a few minutes before giving up and saying it needs my passcode. Now it no longer acknowledges my watch and automatically prompts me to type in my passcode. Once in a great while it will say its trying to unlock with my watch but it hasn't succeeded at all these last two months. Im not sure the issue, I have pretty good wifi and my watch is connected to my computer. Any ideas how to fix this?

Posted on Oct 18, 2020 10:01 AM

Top-ranking reply

ChrisJ4203

Level 10

230,750 points

Posted on Oct 18, 2020 10:17 AM

Go to System Preferences on your Mac, then Security & Privacy. Check to see if checkmark is on by Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac. If it is turn it off, then restart your Mac. After restart, go back in and turn that back on. After that, wait for the Mac to go to sleep and it should work after that. Every once in a while I have to do that to my MacBook Air. It seems it will not work on occasion, but after doing that, it will.

View in context

Watch no longer unlocks my MacBook air

Similar questions