Since upgrading to Big Sur on my Macbook Pro, my Apple Watch won't unlock it. I followed the trouble-shooting recs of unchecking the box "use your Apple Watch to unlock...", then restarting, then rechecking. No dice. Any ideas?
MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.0
Hi there, DrJJBra.
It appears that you're having a problem unlocking your MacBook Pro on macOS Big Sur with your Apple Watch. Good job on the troubleshooting you've tried, and we're glad to help with this.
Unlock your Mac and approve requests with Apple Watch - Apple Support -- Just to make sure, review the information on this page of the macOS User Guide. Note that you cannot use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac after starting, restarting, or if you logged out of your user account before your Mac goes to sleep.
Change the login password on Mac - Apple Support -- It has been discovered that the Auto Unlock feature supports the use of the following characters in your login password:
If you need to change your password, restart your Mac after you're done. See if you can unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch.
If you're still unable to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch, put your Watch in Airplane mode, and turn off Bluetooth on your Mac as close to “at the same time” as you’re able. Disconnect any USB devices (except for a USB keyboard or Mouse). If you have any other Bluetooth devices nearby, remove them or put them in Airplane mode. See if you're able to unlock again.
Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support
Turn Bluetooth on or off on Mac - Apple Support
How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support -- If you still are unable, restart your Mac in safe mode and see if it works, You can test by locking the screen of your Mac.
Get back to us when you're able with the results.
Take care.
Hi there, DrJJBra.
It appears that you're having a problem unlocking your MacBook Pro on macOS Big Sur with your Apple Watch. Good job on the troubleshooting you've tried, and we're glad to help with this.
Unlock your Mac and approve requests with Apple Watch - Apple Support -- Just to make sure, review the information on this page of the macOS User Guide. Note that you cannot use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac after starting, restarting, or if you logged out of your user account before your Mac goes to sleep.
Change the login password on Mac - Apple Support -- It has been discovered that the Auto Unlock feature supports the use of the following characters in your login password:
If you need to change your password, restart your Mac after you're done. See if you can unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch.
If you're still unable to unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch, put your Watch in Airplane mode, and turn off Bluetooth on your Mac as close to “at the same time” as you’re able. Disconnect any USB devices (except for a USB keyboard or Mouse). If you have any other Bluetooth devices nearby, remove them or put them in Airplane mode. See if you're able to unlock again.
Use Control Center on Apple Watch - Apple Support
Turn Bluetooth on or off on Mac - Apple Support
How to use safe mode on your Mac - Apple Support -- If you still are unable, restart your Mac in safe mode and see if it works, You can test by locking the screen of your Mac.
Get back to us when you're able with the results.
Take care.
I was having this issue. I was able to fix it by changing my login password and removing ! as one of the characters. Following the limited allowable characters that are listed above now works with auto unlocking my iMac with Apple Watch.
Please, Apple, please remove a silly restriction on what characters can be used in a password! Doesn't that make passwords slightly easier to crack? Even if that's an invalid point, it's super frustrating as a user to have to understand each little difference from one system's allowable characters to the next. It's hard enough. This is clearly an issue where it doesn't "just work".
apple watch not unlocking macbook
