Unlocking my Mac with my Apple Watch still requires a password

Question

Level 1

14 points

Unlocking my Mac with my Apple Watch still requires a password

When I try to unlock my Mac with my Apple Watch, I get a spinning wheel and the message "Unlocking with Apple Watch" and then after about 2 seconds I still get asked for my password.

Specs:

- Apple Watch 2 with Watch OS 3

- iMac (Retina 5K, 27'', ultimo 2014) running macOS Sierra (10.12)

- iPhone 7 with iOS 10

- Bluetooth is enabled on all 3 devices

- All 3 devices are connected to the same WiFi network

- Two-factor authentication is enabled for my Apple ID

- All devices are signed in using the same Apple ID

- The only other devices paired with and connected to my Mac are "Apple Magic Trackpad" and "System Administrator's Mouse" (an Apple Magic Mouse)

- iCloud Keychain is enabled on both my Mac and my iPhone

- Allowing my Apple Watch to unlock my Mac is checked in my security settings

- Apple Watch automatically locks itself when it loses arm contact and is unlocked and connected to my iPhone when I try to unlock my iMac

- Apple Watch is set to require a pass code

Solutions I already tried:

- Rebooted my iPhone, Apple Watch and iMac

- Unpaired and re-paired my Apple Watch

- Changed my Apple Watch pass code to 10 digits

- Disabled Bluetooth on my iPhone, waited 30 seconds and tried to log in again, then reactivated it and tried again

- Removed Bluetooth pairing of my iMac to all devices except mouse and trackpad

- Rebooted iMac, iPhone and Apple Watch again

Still no luck. This hasn't worked even once.

iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, Late 2014), macOS Sierra (10.12), iPhone 7, iOS10, Watch 2, WatchOS3

Posted on Oct 10, 2016 2:23 PM

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Answer 1

Jan 26, 2017 11:48 PM in response to Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg--can you help me out as well? I have one Mac where unlock works 100% of the time, and two others on the same version of Sierra (10.12.3) where if the Mac has been sleeping for more than a couple of minutes, unlock fails every time. Unlock does work on those Macs though if I use the Mac, close the lid and open it right away. It fails only if the Mac has been sleeping for more than a few minutes. Here's the output from logs for two of the failed attempts:

bash-3.2$ log stream --predicate 'category == "AutoUnlock" AND eventMessage contains "fail with error"'

Filtering the log data using "category == "AutoUnlock" AND eventMessage CONTAINS "fail with error""

Timestamp Thread Type Activity PID

2017-01-26 23:22:37.209395-0800 0x1d773 Default 0x0 485 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=138 "Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer}

2017-01-26 23:37:12.133245-0800 0x20153 Default 0x0 485 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=138 "Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer}

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Answer 2

Jan 27, 2017 7:37 PM in response to Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg--I also tried making sure that my watch knew about the 2.4ghz SSID. I added a 2.4ghz SSID on my phone, then turned off Bluetooth on the phone. The watch connected to the 2.4ghz network (said "Connected' with the green cloud). I turned Bluetooth back on on the phone, but Auto Unlock still failed with the same error.

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Answer 3

Jan 27, 2017 9:31 PM in response to Snoop Dogg

section of log just before the failure. when it works normally, the time of flight is returned. I also tried creating another account on the same Mac, that one had the issue too. it looks like basically the Mac tries to find the watch, it takes longer than the pre-set limit of 5 seconds, then gives up.

2017-01-27 20:55:25.932329-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Received SDUnlockSessionAuthToken
2017-01-27 20:55:25.932392-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] invalidateResponseTimer
2017-01-27 20:55:25.932568-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Ranging key exists YES
2017-01-27 20:55:25.932635-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Using ranging key (size: 64, realKey YES)
2017-01-27 20:55:25.932829-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Starting AWDL {
"AWDL_IF_MAC_ADDRESS" = <2e350935 f6f6>;
"AWDL_INFO_ASSISTED_DISCOVERY_METRIC" = 2;
"AWDL_INFO_PEER_MASTER_CHANNEL" = 6;
"AWDL_INFO_PREFERRED_CHANNEL" = 0;
"AWDL_INFO_SUPPORTED_CHANNEL_FLAGS" = 0;

}

2017-01-27 20:55:25.958057-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Restarting response timer
2017-01-27 20:55:30.959193-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Timer fired
2017-01-27 20:55:30.959304-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Sending SDUnlockSessionConfirmation
2017-01-27 20:55:30.959406-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] invalidateResponseTimer
2017-01-27 20:55:30.959465-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Restarting confirmation timer
2017-01-27 20:55:31.026905-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Invalidating confirmation timer
2017-01-27 20:55:31.027056-0800 0xa1a	Default	0x0	416	sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Auth lock session notifying delegate with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=138 "Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer}

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Answer 4

Feb 23, 2017 7:11 PM in response to NanashiDE

$ log stream --predicate 'category == "AutoUnlock" AND eventMessage contains "fail with error"'

Filtering the log data using "category == "AutoUnlock" AND eventMessage CONTAINS "fail with error""

Timestamp Thread Type Activity PID

2017-02-23 22:10:17.198607-0500 0x44f57f Default 0x0 249 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=144 "Watch Not On Wrist" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Watch Not On Wrist}

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Answer 5

B-McD

Level 1

8 points

Mar 3, 2017 7:50 PM in response to Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dog, I'm in the same boat. Using brand new MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2016), iPhone 7 Plus, and Watch Series 2. All Apple devices are running current MacOS, iOS, & WatchOS, Unlocking from watch worked great for about a day and now this happened all of a sudden:

2017-03-03 22:18:30.595889-0500 0x10124 Default 0x0 388 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3933 "Ranging Timeout (-3933)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3933)}

2017-03-03 22:32:21.837720-0500 0x1d451 Default 0x0 388 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=138 "Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer}

2017-03-03 22:34:31.641350-0500 0x1fa9c Default 0x0 388 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=137 "Ranging Timeout: Results Not Returned" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout: Results Not Returned}

2017-03-03 22:36:54.320697-0500 0x2373f Default 0x0 388 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=137 "Ranging Timeout: Results Not Returned" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout: Results Not Returned}

I have tired the easy stuff in this thread, power cycled all, forgot wifi, disabled Bluetooth, etc, but no dice.

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Answer 6

B-McD

Level 1

8 points

Mar 3, 2017 8:14 PM in response to B-McD

I finally resolved by disabling & re-enabling handoff on Mac and iPhone and then reboot Mac.

Mac: Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, click General, then select “Allow Handoff between this Mac and your iCloud devices.”

iPhone: Go to Settings > General > Handoff & Suggested Apps, then tap to turn on Handoff.

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Answer 7

Jul 11, 2017 8:52 AM in response to Snoop Dogg

Mine does the same, here's my error log snippet:

Timestamp Thread Type Activity PID

2017-07-11 16:42:57.794238+0100 0x5eadc1
Default 0x0 462 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3930 "Failed to Start AWDL" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Failed to Start AWDL}

Edit: I don't know if it's a direct connection between Watch and Mac or if it's a connection via the iPhone... Thus I'm unsure as to whether the iPhone running public beta of ios11 might or might not be involved.

I can't say for certainty whether the watch unlock feature broke at the exact same point or not of installing the beta.

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Answer 8

bibuwyj

Level 1

24 points

Jul 16, 2017 9:06 PM in response to NanashiDE

I had the same issue previously but as of today, my auto-unlock has been enabled without any action on my part. the auto unlock feature has somehow resolved itself…. I didn’t make any changes but the watch now unlocks the mac even when bluetooth is turned on on the iPhone

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Answer 9

Aug 4, 2017 7:10 AM in response to Snoop Dogg

Hi,

I have had intermittent success using Watch Unlock with my 12" MB across multiple OS updates. Seems to work best when I'm not on corporate wifi (WPA2 Enterprise) networks. My work wifi is 5GHz, and I don't have a choice to choose 2.4GHz.

Mac: Early 2016 12" MacBook

OS: 10.12.6

watch: Series 2

watchOS: 3.2.3

Here's the output of the log stream command

sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=132 "Unable to Find Proxy Watch" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Unable to Find Proxy Watch}

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

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Answer 10

Jan 27, 2017 10:49 AM in response to Snoop Dogg

as I mentioned, it's on 3.1.3. one other clue may be found in my other post:

Apple watch unlock not reliable if Mac on 5ghz wifi

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Answer 11

Snoop Dogg

Level 4

1,502 points

Oct 10, 2016 11:48 PM in response to NanashiDE

OK, well figuring this out may require that you dive into Terminal so hopefully you're OK with this. Open the Terminal application and paste in this exact line and hit return to start showing the logs.

log stream --predicate 'category == "AutoUnlock" AND eventMessage contains "fail with error"'

Then while keeping this window open, attempt an Auto Unlock. If the unlock failed the Terminal window should be showing the failure reason. Reply here with the failure reason and then we'll know what problem we're trying to solve.

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Answer 12

NanashiDE Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 10, 2016 11:47 PM in response to Snoop Dogg

Sure. No problem at all.

2016-10-11 08:38:05.579227+0200 0x78fe0 Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

I also took the liberty to check previous messages:

2016-10-09 02:00:17.440414+0200 0x3dac5c Default 0x0 368 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=144 "Watch Not On Wrist" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Watch Not On Wrist}

2016-10-09 20:43:45.615549+0200 0x412ca9 Default 0x0 368 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=131 "Apple Watch Not Found" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Apple Watch Not Found}

2016-10-10 01:09:05.367209+0200 0x4a55a6 Default 0x0 368 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=137 "Ranging Timeout: Results Not Returned" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout: Results Not Returned}

2016-10-10 01:09:20.139304+0200 0x4a5d8e Default 0x0 368 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 01:14:38.408594+0200 0x4af9d4 Default 0x0 368 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 01:19:27.225417+0200 0x6757 Default 0x0 315 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 01:20:02.380784+0200 0x7b36 Default 0x0 315 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 01:25:10.955860+0200 0xa912 Default 0x0 315 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=144 "Watch Not On Wrist" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Watch Not On Wrist}

2016-10-10 01:25:34.242473+0200 0xa70a Default 0x0 315 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 01:26:14.718411+0200 0xd61d Default 0x0 315 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 01:26:28.052476+0200 0xa70a Default 0x0 315 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 01:36:00.176342+0200 0x12f4 Default 0x0 314 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 01:36:20.515840+0200 0x41e8 Default 0x0 314 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 02:21:49.421004+0200 0xd2f6 Default 0x0 314 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 02:22:09.645488+0200 0xde4e Default 0x0 314 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 22:07:11.120513+0200 0x55b1c Default 0x0 314 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 22:34:05.819845+0200 0x7df3e Default 0x0 314 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 22:48:57.127910+0200 0x92a2f Default 0x0 314 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 22:49:38.144354+0200 0x93bfa Default 0x0 314 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=138 "Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout: Couldn’t Find Peer}

2016-10-10 22:57:54.865731+0200 0x289a Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=144 "Watch Not On Wrist" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Watch Not On Wrist}

2016-10-10 22:58:24.289835+0200 0x4694 Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=144 "Watch Not On Wrist" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Watch Not On Wrist}

2016-10-10 22:59:40.254899+0200 0x711a Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 23:00:06.383221+0200 0x79b5 Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 23:02:55.585872+0200 0xccf0 Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 23:08:30.341400+0200 0xfcae Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-10 23:35:41.352801+0200 0x2c48c Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3906 "Ranging Timeout (-3906)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3906)}

2016-10-11 01:43:48.007461+0200 0x4548b Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=SFAutoUnlockErrorDomain Code=144 "Watch Not On Wrist" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Watch Not On Wrist}

2016-10-11 08:33:07.243492+0200 0x74992 Default 0x0 346 sharingd: [com.apple.sharing.AutoUnlock] Client ack'd did fail with error: Error Domain=com.apple.wifi.apple80211API.error Code=-3933 "Ranging Timeout (-3933)" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Ranging Timeout (-3933)}

So this seems to be the reason most of the time. Trying again holding the watch directly in front of the computer yields the same result.

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Answer 13

Snoop Dogg

Level 4

1,502 points

Oct 10, 2016 11:56 PM in response to NanashiDE

OK, you're seeing error -3906. Out of curiosity what country did you buy your iMac in? If you have access you should try upgrading to the latest macOS Sierra 10.12.1 software update seeds and see if that helps.

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Answer 14

NanashiDE Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 11, 2016 12:01 AM in response to Snoop Dogg

Bought it in Germany from the Apple online store. I'll have to check if I have access after work in about 10 hours.

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Answer 15

NanashiDE Author

Level 1

14 points

Oct 11, 2016 12:28 AM in response to Snoop Dogg

Actually, I took the time for one more test before heading off to work.

The error message pointed me to the right direction. My Apple Watch actually wasn't as connected to my WiFi network as I thought.

My WiFi router has a MAC filter enabled and I never authorized my Apple Watch's MAC address.

So I did that, then turned off my Apple Watch, forgot the WiFi network on my iPhone, disabled Bluetooth there, reconnected to my WiFi network, reenabled Bluetooth, restarted the Apple Watch and then tried again.

My next unlock attempt then worked. 🙂

Thanks for the help! 🙂

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