abbjoer
Level 1 (12 points)
Mac OS X

Q: Unlock with watch won't work, despite being enabled

I am unable to unlock my mid 2014 Macbook Pro Retina with my Apple Watch.

I have managed to enable it in the System Preferences, and all options should be fine, but when I open my Mac, it just asks me for my password. I have rebooted both my Mac and my watch, but it still won't work.

 

Does anyone know how to solve this?

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Mid 2014), iOS 10, Fully updated watch, phone and Mac

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 5:13 AM

by léonie,Solvedanswer
léonie léonie
Level 10 (108,884 points)
iCloud
A:

Have you checked, if your watch is on the same Wi-Fi as your Mac? Sometimes the watch is using a different Wi-Fi if it cannot connect to the iPhone, but remembers a Wi-Fi it connected to previously.

 

Is Blue Tooth enabled on the Mac?

You have checked all items in this list:  Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch - Apple Support ?

Posted on Sep 22, 2016 6:52 AM

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abbjoer

Q: Unlock with watch won't work, despite being enabled

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  • by Ella Fitzgerald,

    Ella Fitzgerald Ella Fitzgerald Sep 22, 2016 5:17 AM in response to abbjoer
    Level 4 (2,872 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 22, 2016 5:17 AM in response to abbjoer

    You can try to follow these steps http://www.cultofmac.com/441405/how-to-use-apple-watch-to-unlock-your-mac-in-mac os-sierra/

  • by abbjoer,

    abbjoer abbjoer Sep 22, 2016 5:21 AM in response to Ella Fitzgerald
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 5:21 AM in response to Ella Fitzgerald

    I have managed to enable it, the problem is that, despite being enabled, it isn't working. The only thing in that guide I haven't done, is check disable automatic login, as that option doesn't appear for me (I think this is because FileVault is enabled, which disables automatic login).

  • by lkrupp,

    lkrupp lkrupp Sep 22, 2016 5:32 AM in response to abbjoer
    Level 5 (4,262 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 5:32 AM in response to abbjoer

    There may be a misunderstanding of what how this feature works. Unlocking is not the same as logging in. The feature works when your Mac’s screen has been locked, usually after a set period of time.

  • by abbjoer,

    abbjoer abbjoer Sep 22, 2016 5:52 AM in response to lkrupp
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 5:52 AM in response to lkrupp

    I know, but it never works, whether i have just raised the screen after closing it, or returning to my mac after being away for a time. I am aware of the fact that i cannot use the watch to login after rebooting.

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 22, 2016 5:59 AM in response to abbjoer
    Level 10 (108,884 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 22, 2016 5:59 AM in response to abbjoer

    Does your Mac show the message "Unlocking with Apple Watch" while showing the "busy" indicator and then is prompting for your password nevertheless after keeping you waiting?  Or does it not recognize the presence of the watch at all?

  • by abbjoer,

    abbjoer abbjoer Sep 22, 2016 6:00 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 6:00 AM in response to léonie

    It does not react to the watch at all. I get the password screen at once.

  • by léonie,Solvedanswer

    léonie léonie Sep 22, 2016 6:52 AM in response to abbjoer
    Level 10 (108,884 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 22, 2016 6:52 AM in response to abbjoer

    Have you checked, if your watch is on the same Wi-Fi as your Mac? Sometimes the watch is using a different Wi-Fi if it cannot connect to the iPhone, but remembers a Wi-Fi it connected to previously.

     

    Is Blue Tooth enabled on the Mac?

    You have checked all items in this list:  Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch - Apple Support ?

  • by abbjoer,

    abbjoer abbjoer Sep 22, 2016 6:51 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (12 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 22, 2016 6:51 AM in response to léonie

    Bluetooth, that's what I'd missed. Was certain it was turned on, but never actually checked it. Thank you!

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 22, 2016 6:55 AM in response to abbjoer
    Level 10 (108,884 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 22, 2016 6:55 AM in response to abbjoer

    You're welcome

  • by femitchell,Helpful

    femitchell femitchell Sep 23, 2016 4:18 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 23, 2016 4:18 AM in response to léonie

    I have done all of the steps, but still not working. I can get it to work if I take the computer off the wifi network and instead join it to the personal hotspot on the paired iPhone, but as soon as I switch back to normal wifi network connection it displays 'unlocking with Apple Watch' for a few seconds and then reverts to wanting a password.

     

    Any ideas?

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 23, 2016 4:31 AM in response to femitchell
    Level 10 (108,884 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 23, 2016 4:31 AM in response to femitchell

    That is what happening too, when I am in my office. I have two macs on the desktop, and each is using a different Wi-Fi, because they are backing up to different Time Capsules. Depending on which network the Apple Watch is connected to, it will unlock one of the Macs, but not the other. The paired iPhone, the watch, and the Mac need to be connected to the same network.

    When I am at home, with only one network, and when I ensure that the iPhone and the watch connect to the Wi-Fi the Mac is using, it is working.

  • by femitchell,

    femitchell femitchell Sep 23, 2016 4:39 AM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (27 points)
    Notebooks
    Sep 23, 2016 4:39 AM in response to léonie

    I have 2 networks here. One uses Airport Express as network extenders and one is the weaker one directly from my router. I have tried on both, making sure the iPhone and Mac are connected to same network every time and neither works although they are on the same network. The only time it does work is if I connect the Mac to the iPhone's hotspot.

     

    It is a late 2013 Mac Pro, so by all accounts it should work...

  • by Alrizo,

    Alrizo Alrizo Sep 25, 2016 7:45 PM in response to léonie
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Sep 25, 2016 7:45 PM in response to léonie

    I have successfully activated unlock in Settings  but still  have "unlocking with apple watch" message with busy indicator at the locked screen. After 10 sec or so it defaults to password so i have to enter it.. Tried couple times, the watch is on my wrist and unlocked.. same Wifi, bluetooth enabled...

  • by léonie,

    léonie léonie Sep 25, 2016 10:45 PM in response to Alrizo
    Level 10 (108,884 points)
    iCloud
    Sep 25, 2016 10:45 PM in response to Alrizo

    Are there any error messages or diagnostic messages in the Console window, when you try to unlock your Mac? Launch the Console from Applications > Utilities and keep it running in the background, so you can look there the next time an unlock fails.

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