I can use System Settings on my iMac to allow my Apple Watch to unlock the Mac. This works for a bit, and then stops working. Sometimes I see "unlocking with Apple Watch" on the login screen, after which the unlock fails. The system appears to be unstable, even though I can use the Watch to verify purchases etc.
Is there a way to make this function work continuously?
iMac 27″
Troubleshooting unlock Mac using Apple Watch
Apple Watch not unlocking Mac (resolved) - Apple Community
The above generally works.
I unlock my Mac 19 out of 20 times. And a lot of times, I just have to tap the escape key to dismiss the login screen, then tap any-key again to try unlocking with the Apple Watch. And the need for the escape key is generally first thing in the morning when I am waking the Mac up from sleep. The rest of the day, it is configured to not sleep while plugged into power.
As I said this generally works, but maybe once every 20-30-maybe-40 times it will not, and I have to enter my password, or fingerprint.
I would from home, and the company Mac is profiled to start the screen saver/Lock Screen after 15 minutes of idle, so I have to unlock my Mac multiple times a day. It almost always works.
Generally someone has to press a key in the keyboard. So why are they sitting at your desk and you did not notice as you walked by?
Also it is very common for people to walk away from their desk without locking their screen (break room, rest room, lunch, meetings, etc…), so until the screen saver kicks in, you are exposed as well.
If your job has very sensitive data, then it would be bad to have easy access and unlocking. But that is not everyone.
Also those that work from home are at less risk.
And there are a lot of personal Macs, where it is useful.
And unless everyone in your home knows your Apple Watch passcode, they cannot take your Watch while you sleeping.
BobHarris wrote:
Generally someone has to press a key in the keyboard. So why are they sitting at your desk and you did not notice as you walked by?
Also it is very common for people to walk away from their desk without locking their screen (break room, rest room, lunch, meetings, etc…), so until the screen saver kicks in, you are exposed as well.
If your job has very sensitive data, then it would be bad to have easy access and unlocking. But that is not everyone.
Also those that work from home are at less risk.
And there are a lot of personal Macs, where it is useful.
And unless everyone in your home knows your Apple Watch passcode, they cannot take your Watch while you sleeping.
Yes I don't disagree. Also it only wakes up from a sleep, not a lock which I would always advise in an office.
From what I read it is a bit of a duck shoot. I turned mine off 2 years ago for this reason.
If you work in an open office it could be a security risk, unlocking as you walk past.
How can I make sure unlocking Mac with Apple Watch always works?
