Apple Watch6 does not unlock Schlage Encode Plus with NFC but iPhone does

I have tried all the listed "fixes" (not in any order)(I do not have a HomeHub. I am purely using bluetooth for now)

1- deleting/adding home kit on iPhone 13 Pro Max

2- toggle on/off background refresh on iPhone and Apple Watch Ultra 2

3- adding Schlage Encode Plus hardware using the picture on the back of the user manual (QR code under the battery cover does not work)

4- adding Schlage Encode Plus hardware by tapping top of iPhone to Schlage Encode Plus without the battery cover on

5- new batteries

6- restarting iPhone

7- restarting Apple Watch Ultra 2

8- adding Schlage Encode Plus using the Schlage App, then setting it up through Home Kit within the Schlage App

9- holding Apple Watch within 2 cm of Schlage Encode Plus for 30 seconds (multiple opening cycles)

10- adding Schlage Encode Plus using the HomeKit App only

11- making sure iPhone and Apple Watch are both up to date

All of the above "solutions"did not work. Apple Watch says either "try again" or "done", Schalage Encode Plus *beeps* and then nothing happens. All the while, tapping the top of my iPhone against the battery cover would instantaneously unlock the Schlage Encode Plus hardware

I was ready to give up having gone down the rabbit hole for more than a week. Today, I decided to check on the Apple Watch to see if there was an update ready to be installed.

THERE WAS AN UPDATE!!!!

It took 10 mins to download and install (I initiated the download on my iPhone). I didn't have much hope but after the update, I decided to tap my Apple Watch on the battery cover of the Schlage Encode Plus and...

IT FINALLY UNLOCKED.

Goodluck brothers/sisters...godspeed

Extra Points: My Apple Watch never unlocked my MacBook Air 2022 M2. I would always have to use the Touch ID on the laptop. Today, whenever the Mac Air needed authentication, my Apple Watch notified me to press the button below the crown. HOW COOL IS THAT?

On your phone, go to the Watch app and go to ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’. From there tap on your Home Key and make sure Express Mode’ is turned on. The will allow you to use your watch the same as your phone without needing to double tap. Hope this helps!

Absolutely!

When you double-tap the side button of your Apple Watch, it opens your Apple Wallet, which displays all the cards you've added, including payment cards/digital keys. In your initial process, you were double tapping this button on your watch and navigating to the "Card" that has the House icon. That cards actual name is "Home Key", and you were just manually accessing it.

From your phone:

1. Open the Watch app.
2. Navigate to Wallet & Apple Pay.
3. Under the section Other Cards On Your Watch, you should see your "Home Key" listed.
4. Tapping on that 'Home Key' will allow you to enable Express Mode, allowing you to open the lock without having to manually navigate to it through the double click.

Let me know if this helps explain it better. Otherwise I'm happy to go into more detail!

So here is an update: I called Schlage back, just to verify some information, but in doing so I caught a different tech. At the end of that call I asked if he happened to know the number to reach Apple Tech Support, and this tech did know it--800-275-2273--so I called. Apple was very cooperative, even knowing my iphone and watch were out of warranty. They were not able to make it work however, even after going thru 3 tiers of tech support and 2 hours on the phone. Bottom line they said we need to test this with another phone/watch to determine if the problem is within the Apple world or the Schlage world.

After 2 hours, I was pretty tired and discouraged with the whole thing, so I resisted loading the Schlage app on my wife's iphone/watch. The next day, a different "test" occurred to me: I had previously purchased an Aqara U50 lock, which includes the same Homekit support and still had that lock. So I installed it and, easy as pie, both my iphone and the watch worked on the Aqara U50! I actually like the Aqara lock just fine so I'm going to keep it. I do think the Schlage lock is probably a "tougher" lock, but not by a lot. And it was only $100 vs $300, so overall I'm happy.

And I'm including this update here in the Apple discussion thread to reinforce, at least in my case, this was not an Apple problem. And by the way, you don't need to push anything on the watch in order for it to open the lock. It works simply by holding it next to the lock. With this technology, I now think it doesn't matter what lock you choose--your phone and watch become the key--but its gotta work.

Ok.

Apple Watch Series 9 fully updated

iphone 15 pro max fully updated.

I recently upgraded my phone - everything transferred over but like many others the watch wouldn’t unlock the Schlage.

tried the various machinations listed and it still didn’t work.

what did work (and I’m not sure what was the essential steps but here’s what I did to get it working )

• disabled express mode for the lock ON THE WATCH.
• confirmed that it was also now disabled on the Watch app on the iPhone
• Enabled express mode on for the lock on the watch
• Confirm that it was also enabled now on the iPhone
• Rebooted both both the watch and the phone
• And there it was, I could now just put my watch against the lock and it would unlock

Hope that helpful

A variation of this worked for me too! I disabled express for my watch on my iPhone and watch. Then rebooted both. Then enabled express directly on my watch. It did the trick and now works. This will be a very useful functionality.

Removing the lock from the Home app and readding it back to the Home app did work. For some reason going through the Schlage app them Home app doesn’t work.

NKBS3 wrote:

On your phone, go to the Watch app and go to ‘Wallet & Apple Pay’. From there tap on your Home Key and make sure Express Mode’ is turned on.

What do you mean by "Home Key"? A screenshot would be great.

Thank you! This was exactly what I was missing. I had express mode enabled on my phone, but not on "Other cards on your watch". Enabling this and giving it a minute did the trick.

To those having issues using NFC on your Apple Watch to unlock the Schlage Encode Plus after upgrading to a new iPhone, know that you can view the cards on your watch by double tapping the button under the dial. If you don't see your "Home Card" listed, then you need to enable Express Mode as NKBS3 mentioned. After enabling this the card will sync to your watch. Once the sync is complete you should be able to unlock the door by simply holding your watch to the center of the lock.

I had to remove the lock from my phone and completely reset everything up again - will now open with a watch tap.

after I signed back in it took about an hour but started working (assuming you are running into same issue where it is in your wallet and shows “done”but nothing happens). I did take batteries out of the locks during that time as well. If you are not in that “done” state you are having a different issue. Good luck and keep us posted.

So how are you using your watch to unlock the door currently if your Home Key isn't on your watch? Are you just opening the Home App and tapping the lock? If you get the Home Key added to your watch, it will give you the options for the instructions I have been providing.

Also, (Wallet & Apple Pay) is just where the setting is found, which is why it's relevant to the posters original question. Let me know if the screenshots help!

Do they have a number to call for sales? If so, call that. Those numbers are always answered. Then, politely but firmly, ask to be connected to a live support person. If that is impossible, never buy anything from the company again.

I took this issue to Schlage directly (888-805-9837) and they don't know anything about the Apple Watch. Very willing to help with resetting their lock, adding to Homekit, etc, but when all that did not work, politely referred me to Apple.