2012 MBP Workaround for Apple Watch Auto-Unlock?

[el-John-o]

I've been searching to no avail, has anyone discovered a hack or workaround that enables auto-unlock on a Mid-2012 MacBook Pro? I know there were some released for enabling handoff and continuity on some pre-BLE Mac's.

It's crazy that it doesn't work because there's no hardware difference. I'm typing this on a Mac Mini which auto-unlocks which is essentially identical to my 2012 MacBook Pro, just without the display. My MBP, of course, has BT4.0 (BTLE), and continuity and handoff works great. So I was hoping maybe someone has gotten a tweak to make this niche, but neat, feature work.

Especially since the mid-2012 MBP is technically a 'current' model, one you can still buy from Apple.

 

[JTToft]

There is a hardware difference. Apple Watch Unlock requires 802.11ac Wi-Fi, which the 2012 MBP doesn't have and can't get.

Your 2014 Mac mini is also extremely far from being "essentially identical" to your 2012 MacBook Pro.

"System requirements for Continuity on Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and Apple Watch"
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204689

 

[el-John-o]

Thank you so much! I didn't realize that.

And yes, that's true. It's got Iris instead of HD4000 and a slightly faster Core i5 CPU; but performance wise they are reasonably similar. However, given that the '14 Mac Mini has the newer airport card; that must be the difference!

I know you say "Can't get", but I did some digging after reading your response and apparently people have been installing the Wireless AC Airport cards in the 2012 non-retina MBP's? Is that not true? People on this forum sure claim to have.

What I've read suggests that you can't actually gain much performance due to the types of antennas used in the MBP; but that you can actually install the card and it'll work. Is that not correct?

Thanks for responding!

 

[JTToft]

I know you say "Can't get", but I did some digging after reading your response and apparently people have been installing the Wireless AC Airport cards in the 2012 non-retina MBP's? Is that not true? People on this forum sure claim to have.

What I've read suggests that you can't actually gain much performance due to the types of antennas used in the MBP; but that you can actually install the card and it'll work. Is that not correct?

- I haven't seen it done successfully. Links please?

Thanks for responding!

- You're quite welcome.

 

[kriss13]

Hi

I have "transplanted" a wifi module from mbpr 2013 (ebay) to my 2012 mbpr 15". I have Capitain, and the wifi and BT works fine, no reinstall nothing. Just rebooted after the card was inserted and bam everything works just as before.
I have to install High Sierra to see exactly if auto unlock via apple watch works (I have first gen iwatch tho).
As you may see in the screenshot, the mbpr generation is 2012 and the fact that indeed there is ac capable now.
The option "Auto Unlock" is not there due to El Capitan limitation maybe.

 

[kriss13]

Well, good news, it works. MBPr 2012, 15", with Broadcom 94360CS (wifi/bt module from MBP 2013 via eBay).

https://cl.ly/16ca07a3ecdd
https://cl.ly/4829fc527ed2