hi
this used to work
but now when I toggle unlock with watch on MacBook , I enter password and it greys out
this used to work
but now when I toggle unlock with watch on MacBook , I enter password and it greys out
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cant unlock MacBook with watch
- Thread starter Rugbydman
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I honestly can’t remember when was the last time this feature worked for me.
works 99+% of the time for me, on 2 Macs. there was a OS update earlier in the year that fixed something, can't remember which one
Works most of the time for me. But, given that this is the first time I've even bothered to use the Unlock with Watch feature and that all my other Macs still require a password, entering my Mac's password is no big chore.
As for Touch ID, that has proven so unreliable on both iPhones, iPads, and my iMac, that I didn't even bother to set it up on my new MBA. On my other devices, Touch ID works for the first few times after I set it up but then stops working. Since they have major problems getting acceptable electronic fingerprints on me whenever I apply for a government job (VA Hospital, etc.), I suspect it is something unique to my fingerprints--probably related to the fact that I took anatomy 50 years ago at a time when no one gloved up. I suspect that a year or more of chronic exposure to formalin wore down my fingerprints massively, although I have no proof thereof.
As for Touch ID, that has proven so unreliable on both iPhones, iPads, and my iMac, that I didn't even bother to set it up on my new MBA. On my other devices, Touch ID works for the first few times after I set it up but then stops working. Since they have major problems getting acceptable electronic fingerprints on me whenever I apply for a government job (VA Hospital, etc.), I suspect it is something unique to my fingerprints--probably related to the fact that I took anatomy 50 years ago at a time when no one gloved up. I suspect that a year or more of chronic exposure to formalin wore down my fingerprints massively, although I have no proof thereof.
I have never been able to get it to work on my MBP, I run newest OS on both, when I wake up MBP it says opening with Apple Watch then the password box pops up and I have to enter password to open. but when ever I have to enter my Apple ID password it automatically works with Apple Watch, I don't have to do anything. I think I remember reading where it will only work with silicone MacBooks, is this true, mine is an intel.
Same here, very unreliable and I see no pattern.
Sometimes it even says it is unlocking my iMac with my watch and it takes ages and ends with the normal login prompt and a still locked iMac.
Intel iMac from 2019 and AW 7.
Mine like I said has never unlocked my MacBook, every time the "unlocking with Apple Watch" appears for like maybe 3 seconds that login box appears, but works great for apple id.
I used to have some problems with Auto Unlock on an Intel MBP (never on my Intel iMac). Deleting all entries for it from Keychain, and re-adding cleared up the issue outside of fairly rare failures for poor connection.
I've had zero problems with it on my M2 MBA.
I've had zero problems with it on my M2 MBA.
After reading this thread I started paying more attention to how Unlock with Watch was working on the one machine I've bothered to set it up on--my new 13" M2 MBA. Over the last week or so, I've only had one or two instances where the MBA did not unlock with my Apple Watch. On a few occasions, I got the login box for typing in my MBA's passcode but when I moved the Watch closer to the screen (or more likely the spot on the MBA itself where the sensor is located), the Watch took over and unlocked the Mac.
In retrospect, I suspect that other times when I felt like it wasn't working, I had simply chosen to enter the passcode rather than trying deliberately to move the Watch closer and giving it time to be sensed and do its thing. If you are having problems with a setup that appears to work only intermittently, you might like to try moving the Watch closer to your Mac, while temporarily ignoring the login box.
In retrospect, I suspect that other times when I felt like it wasn't working, I had simply chosen to enter the passcode rather than trying deliberately to move the Watch closer and giving it time to be sensed and do its thing. If you are having problems with a setup that appears to work only intermittently, you might like to try moving the Watch closer to your Mac, while temporarily ignoring the login box.
testing it out on my machine, the unlock process seems to be sensed immediately on wake, since it says "unlocking with apple watch" but it takes 3-5 seconds for the process to complete. meanwhile if i just tap the touchid button instead of the trackpad, the unlock is immediate. imo the whole thing feels like a feature in search of a problem.
Or hit the ESC key and then hit the spacebar to re-wake the device. Basically doing the get closer. 9/10 times works. But then again, depending how good a typist one is, might just be “easier” to enter the password.
Most of the time when I do see this problem is when the machine has gone to sleep and I was at a distance that is around the limits of Bluetooth (~30ft) away from the machine. Takes a moment for the Mac and Watch to get in sync.
(Add: if unlock refuses to work no matter what, these steps can be tried to reset everything; has worked for me in the past)
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Alas, for some reason TouchID has never worked properly for me on any of my AAPL devices. It might work a few times right after I setup a new fingerprint but then it stops working.
Since any time I start a new federal job, they have MAJOR problems getting my fingerprints into their digital print system, I suspect it has to do with my fingerprints themselves--possibly related to exposing my fingertips to formalin daily during anatomy and neuroanatomy in med school (50 years ago we did anatomy ungloved).
I use the auto-unlock feature of my AW7 on two MacBook Pros, one Intel and the other M1pro. Most of the time it just works but occasionally it will prompt for a password instead. I accept that as it still save me effort.
I do have had a problem after any update to macOS - it always stops working after the update. This happens on both Intel and M1. I have used a number of suggestions from MacRumors but none were as simple as the solution I have come up with:
1. In System Preferences > Security &Privacy > General (or System Settings > Touch ID & Password) turn off the auto-unlock feature.
2. Reboot the system
3. Go back to the System settings and turn the auto-unlock feature on.
This works for me and I hope it works for you!
I do have had a problem after any update to macOS - it always stops working after the update. This happens on both Intel and M1. I have used a number of suggestions from MacRumors but none were as simple as the solution I have come up with:
1. In System Preferences > Security &Privacy > General (or System Settings > Touch ID & Password) turn off the auto-unlock feature.
2. Reboot the system
3. Go back to the System settings and turn the auto-unlock feature on.
This works for me and I hope it works for you!
