Thanks for the info, I've been contemplating buying a Bluetooth Dongle for my Mac Pro, but now I may look into a replacement combo card instead. Too bad it's a lot more expensive than a $12 dongle.
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How to Unlock Your Mac With Your Apple Watch
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Thanks for the info, I've been contemplating buying a Bluetooth Dongle for my Mac Pro, but now I may look into a replacement combo card instead. Too bad it's a lot more expensive than a $12 dongle.
I suspect the account needs to be logged in already? This just unlocks, not logs in.
Got a Mac Pro (Late 2013) - thought this wasn't working at first.
Then tried putting the watch literally a couple of inches from the machine - and it suddenly worked!!
Initial range tests seem to suggest that you have to be within 3-4 inches (not feet) of your lovely black dustbin to unlock it
Then tried putting the watch literally a couple of inches from the machine - and it suddenly worked!!
Initial range tests seem to suggest that you have to be within 3-4 inches (not feet) of your lovely black dustbin to unlock it
Question. I have two separate user accounts on the computer.
Can you click on one and it uses the watch to log you in? Or will it happen instantly when I fire up my Mac and it just pics a default account?
Can you click on one and it uses the watch to log you in? Or will it happen instantly when I fire up my Mac and it just pics a default account?
Yeah, this is a great feature. Except. It. Doesn't. Work.
Not a big surprise. Universal cut and paste is intermittent at best and for that matter Handoff has been a 50/50 chance on a good day since the day it was introduced...
I am running Watch OS3, Sierra on 5kiMac and retina Macbook. No joy on either of them. Just get the spinning wheel... Have logged in and out of iCloud multiple times, have two-factor going etc.
Not a big surprise. Universal cut and paste is intermittent at best and for that matter Handoff has been a 50/50 chance on a good day since the day it was introduced...
I am running Watch OS3, Sierra on 5kiMac and retina Macbook. No joy on either of them. Just get the spinning wheel... Have logged in and out of iCloud multiple times, have two-factor going etc.
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So, I fixed my issue with the option "unlock with apple watch" not showing up in security.
I unpaired my AW2 from my phone. Then I tried to repair it. It would not. After a third failed attempt, I force restarted my phone. I logged back in and paired it again. It did so immediately. I restored the phone from backup and checked out my Mac. Option was not there so I rebooted. After I logged back in, the option to "unlock with apple watch" was now there. I checked it and in about 60 seconds, it was good.
I tested by reducing the "require password when sleep" to immediately. Put the machine to sleep and then woke it with the spacebar. I saw "unlocking with apple watch" where the password was and was in within 2 seconds.
I think something got fouled up between the phone/watch.
I unpaired my AW2 from my phone. Then I tried to repair it. It would not. After a third failed attempt, I force restarted my phone. I logged back in and paired it again. It did so immediately. I restored the phone from backup and checked out my Mac. Option was not there so I rebooted. After I logged back in, the option to "unlock with apple watch" was now there. I checked it and in about 60 seconds, it was good.
I tested by reducing the "require password when sleep" to immediately. Put the machine to sleep and then woke it with the spacebar. I saw "unlocking with apple watch" where the password was and was in within 2 seconds.
I think something got fouled up between the phone/watch.
lol what? same difference, tell me why it won't work? You carry both of them with you. Just like you can do purchases w touch id on your mac you can also unlock your mac w your iPhone close by and if you are scared you can press your finger w touch id, its even more secure than your watch. This is a technology that can be applied w any apple portable device.
My MBA stopped unlocking from my watch. Tried reseting the watch and MBA a couple times to fix it with no joy. Restarted the phone based on your post and it worked the first time. I guess the watch needs to communicate with the phone for this feature. Going to have to test this theory...
If you seriously can't tell the difference, I don't know what to tell you. Sure, it could be possible with Touch ID, but without? That's a huge security flaw. Someone steals your phone and laptop, - they have access to your computer.
Someone steals your Watch and computer? They don't have access to your computer because your Watch locks when off your wrist. THAT'S the difference.
And if you have to take your phone out of your jacket/pocket and press TouchID to unlock your computer, but by that time it's easier to type the darn password!
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This might be a dumb question.... but does this work with an iMac?
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Same here... I've rebooted my devices three times to no avail.... any luck for you?
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Same here... I've rebooted my devices three times to no avail.... any luck for you?
I use my watch and mac daily and haven't had one failure. Something must be wrong with your computer.
nope sorry like I said, there is no real benefit on keeping it just for the apple watch, it can be done w all the devices.
There is a clear discrepancy between the macOS upgrade page you reference and the Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch KB article (https://support.apple.com/kb/PH25156?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US) -- the former suggests that all 2013 Retina MBP support the Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch feature while the KB article says only mid-2013 Retina MBPs are supported.
It is clear that the KB article is accurate based on the results with my early 2013 15" Retina MBP.
I've ordered the Broadcom Bt 4.0 Wireless 802.11ac Wifi Card Module (Bcm94360cs Bcm94360csax Bcm4360 Bluetooth) for Apple Laptop A1398 A1502 653-0029 to see if this will enable the feature .
Based on the Amazon reviews and questions/answers this appears to be a promising step. It is scheduled to be delivered on Thursday. I will report my results here.
The card can be viewed/ordered here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PDN4H9E/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
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Of course it can technically be done with all the devices. All you, or your significant other, or your sneaky colleague would need to do is to hold your iPhone close to your locked computer, and voila! All your files are available for you (or that guy who wants to steal your work and take credit for it, or that jealous lover who wants to read your emails) to do with as you or they please. It couldn't be any more convenient.
But Apple chose to make it so it only works with an unlocked Apple Watch, which presumably only you have the code to unlock, strapped to your wrist. It's like they think your jealous lover or backstabbing co-worker don't have any business surfing through the files on your computer without your permission.
I've just upgraded my mid-2012 15" rMBP with a BCM94360CSAX card, and it works for me. Under system report the wifi lists as supporting Watch unlock, and the option appears in system preferences.
I'd recommend following the ifixit article. I used a plastic spudger to get the antennas off and push them onto the new card, and to ping the battery connector off. Need a torx 5 for the airport card.
Make sure your watch is near the mac when enabling it (as it would be with your hands at the keyboard). I tried pairing with the MacBook to the side of me and it kept failing to find the Watch, despite seeing the little dots on the Bluetooth icon. and handoff working. After I sat with it in my lap it worked straight away.
I had some fun doing the 2FA dance earlier in the week since I was on 2-step still. I found that signing out of iCloud on the iPhone, then signing back in with 2FA enabled the sign in option under accounts in the Watch app. After signing in again in the Watch app the Watch shows as trusted under iCloud - Devices.
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lmao what a tinfoil hat way of living...
btw touch id breaks your point of 'security'
Its a shame you have to hide things from your lovers, GL w/ that. BTW why are you using your personal computer for work related stuff and why are you taking it to your office and also leaving your iPhone unattended that long so that your evil co-worker has enough time to use it, unlock your personal computer and find random secret files so that he can do whatever lmao.
It unlocks the currently logged in and active account (I.e the one on the lock screen): you can't use it to actually log in to the computer.