Level 1

40 points

Can't unlock macOS High Sierra with Apple Watch Series 3

Hi, I understand that the Apple Watch Series 3 has a new W2 wireless chip in that isn't (yet) supported with macOS Sierra. However, macOS High Sierra is supposed to be compatible with it but it won't let me turn it on. This was all working fine with my original (Series 0) Apple Watch on both Sierra and now on High Sierra. The error message that I get is this generic one:

Your Mac was unable to communicate with your Apple Watch.

Make sure your Apple Watch is unlocked, on your wrist, and powered on.

I've tried to turn the feature on at least 10 times hoping that at some point it would work, but to no avail. I have tried rebooting the watch and rebooting the Mac. I have since turned off my Series 0 watch from being able to unlock it. I have two-factor authentication turned on (required, obviously). I can't think of anything else to try.

None of the other threads out there are helpful because they are all talking about getting older versions of the watch and/or Mac to work.

Apple Watch Series 3, watchOS 4

Posted on Sep 27, 2017 3:38 PM

Top-ranking reply

XianNewman

Level 1

19 points

Posted on Oct 5, 2017 10:08 AM

I tried everything.

Changing Mac password

Disabling/enabing Handoff

Unpair/repair Watch

etc.

None of these helped because my Mac was looking for some outdated token on my Watch.

Finally reached out to Apple support. This worked:

1. System Preferences > iCloud > turn off Keychain

2. Keychain Access > Preferences > Reset My Default Keychains

3. Reboot Mac

4. You'll be asked to enter your iCloud password - enter it, then give iCloud time to sync up.

5. System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Click the lock to make changes (ensure it's UNLOCKED - if it already is, skip this step)

6. Check Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac

Because I never signed out of iCloud, and deleted my iCloud data, my Mac didn't have to redownload anything. Instead, it did a quick sync-up.= after I entered my iCloud password.

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40 replies

rivasvk

Level 1

16 points

Nov 3, 2017 10:34 AM in response to XianNewman

aaaah finally!!! THANK YOU sooo much ;-)

Nov 5, 2017 9:12 AM in response to XianNewman

Thank you so much for your helpful response—you are a lifesaver!

Nov 6, 2017 7:39 PM in response to XianNewman

Thanks! I've been scratching my head for weeks. Finally came across this post. Worked perfectly. Thank you for the clear directions.

Nov 9, 2017 9:51 PM in response to harleytimn

It’s 11/09/2017 and the problem persist. ;-(

UGARx

Level 1

4 points

Nov 18, 2017 4:54 AM in response to harleytimn

Eureka! I also tried everything with MacBook Pro (2013) and new Series 3 Watch. Solution provided worked perfectly. Thanks!

Nov 20, 2017 5:19 AM in response to WolF22

Thank you mate!!!!

robipow

Level 1

4 points

Nov 28, 2017 1:19 PM in response to XianNewman

Although this did work as far as opening my MacBook Pro with my Apple Watch... I lost all my passwords.

robipow

Level 1

4 points

Nov 28, 2017 1:24 PM in response to XianNewman

Beware... I lost all my passwords doing this.

pslawing

Level 1

9 points

Jan 13, 2018 4:39 PM in response to WolF22

This is the only thing that worked! I tried everything on this group forum! Thank you.

WolF22

Level 1

14 points

Oct 8, 2017 7:16 AM in response to aaronfromlake worth

Hi my glitch seems to be related to having an old mobile me account that I had to use with iCloud when mobile me got closed down a few years ago. I was not allowed to use my iTunes account for iCloud, so I have an old mobile me account for iCloud, messages and FaceTime and a separate account for iTunes music and apps. My wife has just one Apple ID account for both iCloud and iTunes and her Watch has never missed a beat unlocking her Mac. The latest Mac OS update broke my Watch unlocking again but just signing out and back into FaceTime on my Mac does the trick. Good luck WolF

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Can't unlock macOS High Sierra with Apple Watch Series 3