Cannot escape the passcode on my Apple Watch when using an Exchange email account on my iPhone - any good ideas?

Question

Cannot escape the passcode on my Apple Watch when using an Exchange email account on my iPhone - any good ideas?

Admittedly using the passcode on the Apple Watch is not such a bad thing - but it can be a bit annoying when I have to do it every time I want to access any of the apps. Which is why I would love to at least have the option to turn passcode off. I'm using my calendar at work (MS Outlook) as my main calendar for both private and work related stuff and have set that up on my iPhone using the Exchange option. As long as I have the Exchange connection set up I cannot select the 'Turn passcode off' option in the Apple Watch app - it is dark grey. When I delete the Exchange account I can access the option without any problems. If I then turn back on the Exchange account I get the message on my Apple Watch that I need to set a new passcode.

Any good ideas?

Apple Watch, watchOS 1.0.1

Posted on Aug 8, 2015 9:25 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

stew7710

Level 1

9 points

Sep 1, 2017 7:22 PM in response to ClausP Denmark

Having a similar issue with my work Exchange/Office 365 account. Is there a way to disable the Exchange account on the Apple Watch so that the iPhone IT security protocols are not shared with the Watch? I don't need my work email on my Apple Watch, but I do need it on my iPhone.

I tried "Include Mail" and only selected my iCloud account and not the Exchange account.

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Answer 2

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,895 points

Aug 9, 2015 4:08 AM in response to ClausP Denmark

Hi Claus

Do you have Wrist Detection enabled?

Apple Watch app on iPhone > My Watch > General > Wrist Detection

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Answer 3

Jonathan UK

Level 10

163,895 points

Aug 8, 2015 10:27 AM in response to ClausP Denmark

Hi Claus

Try this:

Remove the Exchange email account from your iPhone.
Set a complex / long passcode (ie 5+ digits rather than a simple, 4-digit passcode) on each of your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Re-enable the Exchange email account.

To set a complex passcode on:

iPhone: Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > disable Simple Passcode > set a complex passcode.
Apple Watch > Apple Watch app on iPhone > Passcode > disable Simple Passcode > set a complex passcode (or via Apple Watch > Settings > Passcode).

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Answer 4

Aug 8, 2015 12:36 PM in response to Jonathan UK

Hi Jonathan,

thanks for your reply - unfortunately it didn't do the trick. I removed the Outlook exchange account, replaced the passcodes on both iPhone and Apple Watch by a 6 digit number code but as soon as I re-entered the Exchange account the watch asked for a passcode again and the 'turn off passcode' was back to dark grey in the watch app on my phone.

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Answer 5

Aug 8, 2015 1:23 PM in response to ClausP Denmark

This is probably a security measure that was installed by your IT administrator. I doubt that there is a way around it if you want to view Exchange emails on your watch. You can try asking the IT department if this feature is really necessary.

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Answer 6

Aug 9, 2015 3:03 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Hi Lawrence,

I think you might be right - the security policy at my company's IT dept. is quite paranoid so I guess that's where the problem lies. I guess I have to weigh pros and cons about the exchange connection with work or try to find another way to keep my work and private calendar sync'ed.

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