Watch unlock still prompts for password

I have two Macs: a 3 yr old MacBook Pro and a brand new MacBook. Both have FileVault active. My MBP prompts me for password after the Unlocking With Apple Watch notice but the MacBook unlocks with the watch as it should. So, based on these use cases, FileVault may not be the culprit.

Hi All, read the replies from everyone prior to my reply. All are a hint but don't make a difference for me.

My observations, My MacBook Pro 2017 always worked with my first gen watch, up until I got tired of my battery going flat (on watch) because of the wrist rase feature. (note I never use this, it was enabled when I agreed to the request to use wrist raise.), so I turned off wrist raise on my watch, now my new MacBook will not open with watch, Have to use the fingerprint (password request). That is fine, watch was just an unexpected bonus(briefly).

Hi

Check that you have followed all of the instructions here.

Automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch - Apple Support

Note that the instructions include:

"The first time you log in after you turn on or restart your Mac, log in by entering your password manually. After that, Apple Watch logs in for you."

Do you have any Bluetooth devices connected to you Mac? I was having the same issues with the unlock feature, then I noticed the Bluetooth symbol in the menu bar was showing it was paired (three dots through the center of the symbol) even though I had nothing paired with my laptop. I opened Bluetooth preferences and deleted the two devices listed there that had been previously connected, but were not currently connected. After deleting these items, the Bluetooth symbol returned to its normal unpaired look, and the unlock feature started working 100%.

I then tried experimenting a little. First, I paired my Bose speaker. 100% failure, required my password every time. Next, I unpaired the speaker and paired an Apple Magic mouse. This resulted in about a 50% failure rate but always worked when I clicked cancel then tried logging back in. I have not tried any other devices or multiple like a mouse and keyboard.

That's what bothers me with this. Apple likes to promote wireless BT devices with their computers, yet from the testing I've done, having connected BT devices make this feature unreliable or not function at all. I guess if you can get a wired keyboard and mouse to test if that is the issue, then at least you'll know why.

Bump. I just finished setting all devices and iCloud account to two factor authentication and followed all the steps, tried multiple times to get it working. no dice. says unlocking with watch but prompts for password each time.

Two questions though.

I have a compatible iMac (late 2013). Does display going to sleep (but computer still running) count as an acceptable mode to use this feature once I use spacebar or mouse to wake it? (Can't see why it wouldn't be)

When I enable it (System Pref-> Security & Privacy) by checking the box it asks for my Computer password, but never asks for my iCloud verification/password. Anyone else see this happen/is this normal?

I just tried setting this up last night. For a while, my MacBook unlocked most of the time, but my iMac only unlocked a few times. I had a call with AppleCare this morning, and one thing the technician asked was whether I had FileVault turned on; I do, on both Macs. He was fishing a bit, but he suggested that the problem may have something to do with FileVault. What about others posting here? Do you have FileVault turned on on your Macs?

my watch (first series) unlocks my iMac about 1/3 of the time. I have bluetooth keyboard and trackpad and have also used other BT devices with this computer. From my reading through a few of these posts (and I could be wrong) it looks like if you have any other BT devices that connect to that computer reliability of using Watch to log in is poor. I have not tried deleting other BT devices.

I am having this issue. I do not have File Vault turned on. I am on a Macbook air early 2015. I have 2 bluetooth devices listed that are not usually connected when I am unlocking my macbook air.

This is the answer. I deleted everything from the Bluetooth list in Bluetooth Preferences. Turned Bluetooth off and on and it immediately worked. Thanks dgturc83!

This worked for me too.