HT206995: Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch

Learn about Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch
PedroM85

Q: Your Mac was unable to communicate with your Apple Watch

Hi,

 

I do not know if anyone else have found this situation but I'm not able to activate the "Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac" feature activated.

All the devices are on the same Wi-Fi, all logged in with the same Apple ID, passcode activated on the Watch but still nothing.

 

I have the FileVault activated on my Macbook Air. Can this influence?

Watch Sport 42MM (1st gen), watchOS 3

Posted on Sep 21, 2016 5:06 AM

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Q: Your Mac was unable to communicate with your Apple Watch

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  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 21, 2016 5:11 AM in response to PedroM85
    Level 7 (34,609 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 5:11 AM in response to PedroM85

    Hi

     

    Check that you have followed all of the steps here:

     

    Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch - Apple Support

  • by kaixendog,

    kaixendog kaixendog Sep 21, 2016 5:46 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 5:46 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    I have followed all of the steps to the letter.  I am on the same WiFi network, I have a 2015 Macbook, I am running the latest WatchOS, I have two factor authentication on, I'm using the same Apple ID on all devices.  I am still getting the message "Your Mac was unable to communicate with your Apple Watch."  I wonder if the firewall being on is causing the problem and, if so, what exceptions do I need to make.  I don't like running any computer without a firewall turned on.

  • by PedroM85,

    PedroM85 PedroM85 Sep 21, 2016 5:48 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 5:48 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    As stated and linked on this thread, all the instructions were followed.

  • by kaixendog,

    kaixendog kaixendog Sep 21, 2016 6:03 AM in response to PedroM85
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 6:03 AM in response to PedroM85

    After some searching - I found some that had success with turning handoff off and back on.  I did that on my  Mac, but no dice.  I rebooted my Mac, no dice.  I finally tried turning handoff off and back on on my iPhone.  This did the trick.  Now the unlock with my watch is working.  Maybe this will help someone else.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 21, 2016 7:01 AM in response to kaixendog
    Level 7 (34,609 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 7:01 AM in response to kaixendog

    Great - thank you for sharing that information!

  • by PedroM85,

    PedroM85 PedroM85 Sep 21, 2016 7:23 AM in response to kaixendog
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 7:23 AM in response to kaixendog

    Thank you for the input. In my case, did not change anything. Handoff shut off, then turned back on, still the same message.

  • by MSUBob,

    MSUBob MSUBob Sep 21, 2016 10:44 AM in response to PedroM85
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 10:44 AM in response to PedroM85

    I'm having the same issue.  Late 2013 iMac and first gen Apple Watch.

  • by PedroM85,

    PedroM85 PedroM85 Sep 21, 2016 12:13 PM in response to PedroM85
    Level 1 (9 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 12:13 PM in response to PedroM85

    Ok, apparently, disabling FileVault solved this situation.

    Can someone really confirm this? If so, this is a major security failure.

  • by MSUBob,

    MSUBob MSUBob Sep 21, 2016 2:11 PM in response to PedroM85
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 2:11 PM in response to PedroM85

    I don't have FileVault activated, so I don't think that's the key.

  • by BandTrumpet7,

    BandTrumpet7 BandTrumpet7 Sep 21, 2016 4:14 PM in response to PedroM85
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple Music
    Sep 21, 2016 4:14 PM in response to PedroM85

    Similar situation. It appears for my (late-2013) iMac but it just spins and spins at "Turning on". I have FileVault enabled as well. Tried changing "Require password" to "Immediately" and toggled Handoff but no luck Not a dealbreaker by any means, but it sure looked cool in the demo!

     

    Screen Shot 2016-09-21 at 7.05.59 PM.png

  • by Kengilroy,

    Kengilroy Kengilroy Sep 21, 2016 4:22 PM in response to kaixendog
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 4:22 PM in response to kaixendog

    I tried it and didn't work. Do you have Handoff enabled in the watch app? I keep seeing "Unlocking with Apple Watch..." but it always fails. I have a late 2013 iMac, iPhone 5s and 1st gen Apple Watch. All have up to date software.

  • by Don Wise,

    Don Wise Don Wise Sep 21, 2016 6:35 PM in response to PedroM85
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 6:35 PM in response to PedroM85

    I'm having the same issue; followed the instructions to the letter as well.  Late MacPro 2013 with all software current and up to date.

  • by Don Wise,

    Don Wise Don Wise Sep 21, 2016 6:37 PM in response to PedroM85
    Level 1 (19 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 21, 2016 6:37 PM in response to PedroM85

    OK, apparently after logging into this thread and entering my 2-factor authentication PIN, and then going back to settings and clicking the checkbox to activate, lo and behold it took and is working...

  • by WolF22,

    WolF22 WolF22 Sep 22, 2016 10:31 PM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (8 points)
    Sep 22, 2016 10:31 PM in response to Jonathan UK

    I have spent hours & hours trying to get my 1st generation Apple Watch to unlock my iMac late 2014. I did everything apple said and everything everybody suggested, with no joy. Then I received a call on my iPhone and I noticed that my iMac did not ring at the same like it normal does. So I went into faceTime preferences and signed out then back in again. (I remembered I had this problem before and this how I got the iMac to ring again with my mobile number, set calls from iPhone ticked on) I also signed in & out of Messages on the iMac. I then called my Iphone to make sure the iMac rang at the same time which it did. Then I went back to security & privacy general and ticked Allow your Apple Watch to unlock you Mac & bugger me it worked. I hope it works for you, good luck. WolF

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