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MacBook Air running latest OS not recognizing that Apple Watch is signed to iCloud.

Even though all permissions are in place, and I've triple checked that everything (watch, phone, laptop) are signed in to iCloud, the laptop is not recognizing that watch is signed in so can't activate "unlock with Apple Watch." What am I missing or is it a bug in the latest OS as it was fine before?


jboltwv

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.2

Posted on Mar 19, 2021 8:12 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 19, 2021 8:29 AM

See this tip from the support document that you linked here from.


If you're having difficulty getting Auto Unlock to work, try these solutions:

  • In Security & Privacy preferences, deselect ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac,” then restart your Mac and turn this setting back on.
  • Make sure that your Mac isn't using Internet sharing or screen sharing.

Learn about more Continuity features for your Apple devices.


I've got a 2019 MacBook Air running Big Sur and it will still unlock with my Apple Watch. It will fail occasionally, and I will also see an error saying wireless connection to Watch is weak, but just before logging into the ASC here this morning, it unlocked it just fine. The step to turn it off and then restart the Mac will usually straighten it out.

3 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 19, 2021 8:29 AM in response to jboltwv

See this tip from the support document that you linked here from.


If you're having difficulty getting Auto Unlock to work, try these solutions:

  • In Security & Privacy preferences, deselect ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac,” then restart your Mac and turn this setting back on.
  • Make sure that your Mac isn't using Internet sharing or screen sharing.

Learn about more Continuity features for your Apple devices.


I've got a 2019 MacBook Air running Big Sur and it will still unlock with my Apple Watch. It will fail occasionally, and I will also see an error saying wireless connection to Watch is weak, but just before logging into the ASC here this morning, it unlocked it just fine. The step to turn it off and then restart the Mac will usually straighten it out.

MacBook Air running latest OS not recognizing that Apple Watch is signed to iCloud.

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