How To Unlock Your Mac With Your Apple Watch?

One of the main reasons I am always Team Apple in the never-ending Apple vs. Android debate is how seamlessly all of Apple’s products work together.

I can easily copy something on my Mac and paste it on my iPhone and vice versa. Another great example of this is how I can unlock my MacBook right from my wrist using my Apple Watch.

Here’s how to set it up and start unlocking your Mac with your Apple Watch.

Before you begin#

Make sure you have a password set on your Apple Watch and that both devices are logged into the same Apple Account using two-factor authentication before you proceed to the next steps.

On macOS Ventura 13 and later#

Step 1: Click on the Apple menu and select System Settings.

Step 2: Click on Touch ID & Password in the sidebar.

Step 3: Under the Apple Watch section, toggle on your watch’s name for Use Apple Watch to unlock your applications and your Mac.

On earlier versions of macOS#

Step 1: Click on the Apple menu and select System Preferences.

Step 2: Click on Security & Privacy.

Step 3: Click on Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac or Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.

Step 4: To unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch, make sure it is unlocked and you are near the Mac.

Step 5: When your Mac wakes up, you will feel a vibration on your Apple Watch, and the watch will display “Name of your Mac: Unlocked by this Apple Watch”.

To log in and approve passwords on your Mac#

So when we try to install an app or change a system setting, Mac will ask for its password in order to apply that change. With the Auto Unlock, the same thing is possible right from my Apple Watch.

Simply double-press the side button on the Apple Watch, and without having to enter the password manually, the password request is approved. 

If your Mac is asking for a password and Auto Unlock from Apple Watch doesn’t work#

Auto Unlock works when the Mac sleeps, but is unlocked. There will be a few times when the Auto Unlock feature doesn’t work and asks you to input the password on your Mac instead. This happens because:

• When you restart your bag.
• When the Mac shuts down and is powered back on.
• When a user account is logged out.

When such a prompt occurs, just put in your password once and the Auto Unlock will start working again.

Which Models Support Auto Unlock From Apple Watch#

For unlocking your Mac from your Apple Watch, you must have an Apple Watch with the software watchOS 3 and above, and a Mac with the software macOS Sierra and above. For people who have Apple Watch Series 3 or above, must have a Mac running macOS High Sierra and above in order to unlock your Mac from your Apple Watch.

The auto unlock also works to approve password requests on my Mac for installing a new app or something. However, for this, you must have an Apple Watch running watchOS 6 and later, and a Mac with macOS Catalina and later. 

If you’re unsure of this option working for your devices, there’s another way to check this right from your Mac. Just press and hold the Option/Alt key on your keyboard while you select System Information in the Apple Menu. Select the Wi-Fi option from the sidebar and look for “Auto Unlock: Supported”. If “Supported” is not written beside Auto Unlock, that means your Mac doesn’t support this feature.

Troubleshooting tips for Apple Watch Not Unlocking Mac#

If you’re having trouble unlocking your Mac or approving password requests with your Apple Watch, try these troubleshooting tips:

• Try moving closer to your Mac while wearing your Apple Watch, and wake up your Mac by pressing any key on the keyboard. 
• Turn off and then turn on the Auto Unlock again.
• See if both your devices are up to date, and if not, update their software.
• If your Apple Watch isn’t listed as a trusted device in your Apple ID settings, it could prevent the Auto Unlock from working seamlessly. Try unpairing and re-pairing it with your iPhone.
• Make sure the screen and internet sharing is disabled by going to System Settings > Sharing and toggle off these options.
• Restart your Mac and your Apple Watch.
• Contact Apple Support if none of these troubleshooting tips work.

Wrap Up#

The Auto Unlock is just another feather in the cap of Apple’s seamless ecosystem. I have fallen in love with its convenience and it is hard to go back. It not only saves time but also protects me from entering my passwords in a public setting, where anyone can peek at my Mac’s password. 

Be it getting back to work or approving password requests, this small feature has made a huge difference in my productivity.