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Apple Watch 6 won’t unlock MacBook Pro

Happy owner of a brand new Apple Watch 6, watchOS 7.2. Tried to set-up the unlock feature on my MacBook but get an error about my watch not using my AppleID, which is it is (use my ID on all my apple devices)

Tried to turn off and on BT on both devices, and rebooted them but still not able to get it set up. Anyone got an idea?

Apple Watch, watchOS 4

Posted on Nov 5, 2020 3:02 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Nov 5, 2020 3:15 PM

Check out this thread on fixing Apple Watch unlocking Mac

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251803595?answerId=253458029022#253458029022


Then follow with this thread

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251826134?answerId=253504359022#253504359022


And


I also found that it took awhile for the iCloud Keychain records to propagate and merge on all the systems. More so when you have multiple devices sharing the keychain (I have 4 Macs, the iPhone, and the Apple Watch). I followed both of the above threads, but it was not reliably working until the next day, when I tried again. And I did have to click the enable check box twice the next day, but then it stuck.


And this thread says they also had to toggle the Apple Watch -> Settings -> Siri -> Listen for "Hey Siri" option off then on

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251803595?answerId=253782332022#253782332022


Hints (you will understand when you read the first and second threads):

Applications -> Utilities -> Keychain Access


Finder -> Go menu -> ~/Library/Sharing/AutoUnlock


System Preferences -> iCloud -> Keychain

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6 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 5, 2020 3:15 PM in response to quirijn

Check out this thread on fixing Apple Watch unlocking Mac

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251803595?answerId=253458029022#253458029022


Then follow with this thread

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251826134?answerId=253504359022#253504359022


And


I also found that it took awhile for the iCloud Keychain records to propagate and merge on all the systems. More so when you have multiple devices sharing the keychain (I have 4 Macs, the iPhone, and the Apple Watch). I followed both of the above threads, but it was not reliably working until the next day, when I tried again. And I did have to click the enable check box twice the next day, but then it stuck.


And this thread says they also had to toggle the Apple Watch -> Settings -> Siri -> Listen for "Hey Siri" option off then on

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251803595?answerId=253782332022#253782332022


Hints (you will understand when you read the first and second threads):

Applications -> Utilities -> Keychain Access


Finder -> Go menu -> ~/Library/Sharing/AutoUnlock


System Preferences -> iCloud -> Keychain

Nov 10, 2020 11:27 PM in response to BobHarris

The issue is not on the watch I guess...

watchOS 7.1, iOS 14.2 and my Mac is macOS 10.15.7 (I check for updates at least once a week)


There is nothing on the Watch I can set or enable I understand now... My issue now is on macOS not showing the enable option:



Somehow after the last update last Friday the option disappeared.

Nov 10, 2020 5:31 AM in response to BobHarris

Thanks, will look into all this.


The day after posting I ran some updates on my mac, phone and watch, only to find out the option in the macOS settings Security & Privacy is gone?

The first parts deleteing stuff from the keychain was no problem, but the last part of enabling it again doesn't work without the option visible....


Nov 11, 2020 1:06 PM in response to quirijn

Someone just reported they had a hub (dock) attached to their Mac, and when they removed it, they got the option.


And thinking back, while my Mac was in the work office building 24/7 and attached to a Thunderbolt 3 dock, I did not have the option to unlock.


Some days after I started working from home because of Corvid-19, I was not using the dock, and for some other reason I was in the Security Preferences and noticed I had the Apple Watch unlock option.


MAYBE, the dock was also my problem for the first 2 years I had my work Mac. I did not make that association until just a few minutes ago.


Anyway, if you have external devices attached, try removing them, at least long enough to see if that gives you the option. Maybe a reboot, SMC reset and NVRAM reset as well.

Apple Watch 6 won’t unlock MacBook Pro

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