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unable to unlock Mac with Apple Watch

My Apple Watch stopped unlocking my MacBook Pro. I've followed the recommended solutions (unblock in preferences, turn off/on MacBook and confirmed two-factor ID), but I get a screen splash that says:

"Your Mac was unable to communicate with your Apple Watch. Make sure your Apple Watch is unlocked, on your wrist, and powered on."


Using Big Sur OS and v. 7.1 on watch.


Is this a known issue? It started happening a couple of days ago.


MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.0

Posted on Nov 24, 2020 10:55 AM

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2 replies

Nov 25, 2020 1:59 PM in response to rskolin

Update to watchOS 7.1, as it has a fix for unlocking Macs



If that does not work, it should, but if it does not work, then read the following threads


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=253458029022#253458029022

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


unable to unlock Mac with Apple Watch

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