Apple Watch doesn't unlock Mac mini M1

I have the following and this is what worked for me:

M1 MBP Base Model

iPad Pro 12.9 latest model

iPhone 11 max pro

Apple Watch series 6

1. Make sure all are on the same WiFi network and Bluetooth enabled.
2. iCloud On on all devices
3. Signed In in all devices with same Apple ID
4. On the MBP, make sure to UNcheck the box “Use your Apple Watch to unlock...” in System Preferences > Security & Privacy
5. Sign Out of Apple ID ONLY on iPhone.
6. Restart MBP
7. Sign In with same Apple ID ONLY on iPhone
8. After signing in is completed on iPhone, go to System Preferences on iPad Pro and MacBook Pro and click Update Settings.
9. After all are updated, make sure your iPhone and Apple Watch are BOTH unlocked, then on MBP check the box “Use your Apple Watch to unlock...” in System Preferences > Security & Privacy
10. Now test it out; it should work. But you will have to re-add cards in your Wallet and Apple Pay for your iPhone and Apple Watch.

I had this problem and tried all of the mentioned solutions. However signing the Watch out of iCloud, signing back in and restarting the Watch sorted it. Works just fine now.

I have had this issue in two different flavors: First, I received a message when I attempted to check the box in Settings to turn on "unlock with Apple Watch" that said it could not communicate with my Apple Watch. Support tried many things, including unpairing iPhone with Apple Watch and that appeared to correct it. But it only worked a couple of times and then a new issue arose.

The next issue was that it would say "Unlocking with Apple Watch" at login, but then would still require a password. This *appears* to be related to Bluetooth interference or something similar. If I plug in both my wireless keyboard and wireless trackpad with lightning cables and reboot my Mac mini, Apple Watch seems to function properly and unlocks my Mac. I suspect if I remove the cables and go wireless again with the keyboard and trackpad, that soon it will fail again.

You might try this or some variant of it and, if successful, hope that Apple gains insight and can rectify the issue with a software update (hopefully!)

I hope this helps.

UPDATE: An update to my previous post, I have had my wireless bluetooth apple keyboard and trackpad connected via lightning cables now for almost two days (NOT via Bluetooth) and the Apple Watch has been successful 100% of the time. Obviously this is not a solution, but seems to point to my suspicion that the issue is related to Bluetooth and potential issues the new M1 Mac mini has with it.

Turning off Hand Off on the Mac and on my iPhone, then re-enabling the Phone then the Mac sorted this for me on my M1 MacBook Pro.

Have an M1 Mac mini and an Apple Watch 6 with this same problem. Glad to report that this issue is solved with the latest releases for both devices.

I decided to install the latest watchOS beta and that seems to have fixed the problem.

After spending hours on the phone with apple support and them promising to call me back but never calling . I’ve just about given up and accepted the situation. I’ve tried every solution posted online with no luck . I’m hoping a forthcoming update to Big Sur will resolve it . For now I’m having to type in my password like a caveman. 😀

I have a similar issue but with my Macbook Air M1, it allowed me to enable it in Security & Privacy but it doesn't work.

Every time I wake my mac it just won't unlock it via my Apple watch and I still need to key-in my password or touch ID (which sometimes doesn't work either).

Hope it's just a software bug that needs to be quashed on the next update.

Have this same issue (unlocking with apple watch) with Mac mini M1. Have had for 2 weeks and it worked for a day or so then now starts with "unlocking" then goes to the password prompt. Was wondering if any updates on how to get this working again. thanks

Same problem with MacBook Air M1 - software issue?

yeah - I have the same issue........

Yes, and my M1 MacBook Pro. I've unpaired the watch (as directed by support) and no dice.

Same problem with MacBook Pro M1