How to Fix Apple Watch Not Unlocking Mac?

The “Unlocking with Apple Watch…” message quickly shows up and then disappears, going back to the password screen. This means your Mac couldn’t finish the secure sign-in using your Apple Watch. The most common reason is a weak or unstable Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection between your Mac and Apple Watch.

Other possible reasons include device names that don’t match, problems with saved passwords (keychain issues), old versions of macOS or watchOS, or interference from several saved Wi-Fi networks. Now that you know the causes, let’s discuss the solutions.

1. Check Mac & Apple Watch Compatibility

Compatibility is often the main reason for this issue. To use the auto-unlock feature, both your Apple Watch and Mac need to meet certain requirements:

1. Your Mac should be from mid-2013 or later and running macOS Sierra or newer.
2. Your Apple Watch should be running watchOS 3 or later.
3. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi must be enabled on both devices.
4. You must be signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID on your Mac and Apple Watch.
5. Your Apple ID must have two-factor authentication enabled.
6. You should have a passcode set on both your Mac and Apple Watch.

Also, make sure your Apple Watch is close to your Mac when trying to use auto-unlock.

To check your Mac’s version:

1. Click the Apple logo in the upper left corner.
2. Select About This Mac from the Apple menu.
3. Check your macOS version in the Overview tab.

2. Check Your Connections

Auto-unlock needs both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to be enabled on your Mac and Apple Watch. If one or both are off, auto-unlock won’t work. If you’re having trouble, check both connections on each device and turn them on if needed.

3. Make Sure Both Devices Are Password-Protected

For security, both your Mac and Apple Watch need to have passcodes set. Follow these steps:

• Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
• Tap the Passcode section and turn it on for your Apple Watch.
• Set a passcode for your Apple Watch and ensure your Mac has a user account password as well.

Now check if you can unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch.

4. Reboot Your Devices

Software glitches or temporary system issues may interfere with auto-unlock. Restarting both devices can help:

4.1. To Restart Your Mac

1. Click the Apple icon in the upper left corner.
2. Select Restart.

   

3. Wait for your Mac to reboot.

4.2. To Restart Your Apple Watch

1. Press and hold the side button on your Apple Watch until the menu appears.
2. Swipe the POWER OFF slider.

   

3. After it turns off, press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.
4. Enter your passcode to unlock your watch.

5. Ensure Both Devices Are Signed Into iCloud with the Same Apple ID

You must be signed into iCloud on both your Mac and Apple Watch using the same Apple ID. Here’s how to check:

5.1. On your Mac

1. Open System Preferences.

   

2. Click on Apple ID and verify you’re signed in with your Apple ID.

5.2. On your Apple Watch

1. Go to Settings on your watch.
2. Tap Profile.
3. Confirm your Apple ID matches the one on your Mac.

6. Unpair and Pair Your Apple Watch with the Mac Again

If you’re still having trouble, pairing issues may be to blame. Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch to your Mac by following these steps:

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Go to “My Watch” and tap “All Watches” in the upper left.
3. Tap the “i” icon next to your Apple Watch.
4. Select “Unpair Apple Watch”.

   

5. Confirm the unpairing process.
6. If prompted for cellular Apple Watches, choose “Keep Data Plan” since you’ll pair it again.
7. Enter your Apple ID password and tap “Unpair”.
8. Wait for unpairing to finish.

   

9. Bring your Apple Watch close to your iPhone and follow on-screen steps to pair it again.

After pairing, enable Auto-Unlock and check if the feature works.

7. Toggle Auto-Unlock Off and On

Sometimes simply toggling the auto-unlock feature off and on fixes the issue.

1. Click the Apple logo at the top left of your screen.
2. Go to System Preferences.

   

3. Click Security & Privacy.
4. Under the General tab, uncheck “Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac”.

Restart both your Mac and Apple Watch.

After they’ve restarted:

1. On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General tab.
2. Recheck “Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac”.

Test if the auto-unlock feature is working.

8. Reset Wi-Fi & Bluetooth Connections

Since auto-unlock relies on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, refreshing these connections can often help:

8.1. On Your Mac

1. Click the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons in the menu bar or Control Center.
2. Turn off both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
3. Wait a few seconds, then turn both back on.

   

8.2. On Your Apple Watch

1. Press the Digital Crown to open the App View.
2. Go to the Settings app.
3. Scroll to Wi-Fi and turn it off, wait a few seconds, then turn it back on.

   

4. Repeat these steps for Bluetooth.

   

9. Disable Auto-Login on Your Mac

Automatic login on your Mac can prevent auto-unlock from working. To turn it off:

1. Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups.

   

2. Click the lock icon and enter your password.

   

3. Select Login Options.
4. Make sure Automatic login is set to “Off”.

10. Disable Internet Sharing and Screen Sharing

Sharing your Mac’s internet or screen can also interfere with auto-unlock. To fix this:

1. Go to System Preferences > Sharing.

   

2. Uncheck both Screen Sharing and Internet Sharing if either is enabled.

11. Update Both Apple Watch and Mac

If nothing else works, updating your devices can resolve hidden bugs or compatibility issues.

11.1. Update Apple Watch

1. Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Go to “My Watch” > General > Software Update.

   

3. If an update is available, follow the prompts to download and install.

   

11.2. Update Mac

1. Click the Apple logo, then go to System Preferences > System Update.

   

2. If an update is available, click Update Now and follow the prompts.

The Auto-Unlock feature makes unlocking your Mac fast and easy. When it doesn’t work, it can be quite inconvenient. Thankfully, this guide covers all the main causes and solutions so you can resolve the “Apple Watch Not Unlocking Mac” issue quickly and easily.