Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 13 Users Experiencing 'Unable to Communicate with Apple Watch' Bug With Mask Unlocking
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
iOS 15 is just SH?T..... I live in Australia and I can't even connect Apple Watch 6 to cellular yet with iPhone 13 Pro max because not supported by my carrier Telstra spent 7 hrs yesterday with apple and Telstra until Telstra finally said the new phone was not supported yet.
I updated M1 iPad Pro to latest iOS 15 broke 10 apps that won't work now so I tried 15.1 beta got a few working again but does not seem many developers are updating there apps to support 15 as well.
Sold my iPhone 12 Pro 3 months ago for $300 android Realme phone never really like android software but at least I had no problems now I spend $2019 on a iPhone 13 pro Max software and it is useless and can't connect my Apple Watch to it with this same bug "JUST A JOKE APPLE" more money then any other company in the world and can't deliver software you can use on day one after a whole year a disgrace. What's the point of all the betas if there is so many bugs you can't use your phone. This is what happens when you get locked into an echo system and sucked in with advertising.
When you live on a pension save for a year because you only get $500 a week to live this just sucks APPLE.
I updated M1 iPad Pro to latest iOS 15 broke 10 apps that won't work now so I tried 15.1 beta got a few working again but does not seem many developers are updating there apps to support 15 as well.
Sold my iPhone 12 Pro 3 months ago for $300 android Realme phone never really like android software but at least I had no problems now I spend $2019 on a iPhone 13 pro Max software and it is useless and can't connect my Apple Watch to it with this same bug "JUST A JOKE APPLE" more money then any other company in the world and can't deliver software you can use on day one after a whole year a disgrace. What's the point of all the betas if there is so many bugs you can't use your phone. This is what happens when you get locked into an echo system and sucked in with advertising.
When you live on a pension save for a year because you only get $500 a week to live this just sucks APPLE.
Well. It's broken for me. Hopefully it gets fixed before I have to travel next week.
I was able to fix this by turning off my old phone, restarting my Apple Watch, then I was able to sync it through the Apple Watch app. Hope that helps!
Why not try to downgrade to iOS 14.8 even with a new phone. No backup with a new phone but it is new so what the hell. Apple is still signing 14.8 so going to the download page may work out for you.
But: I don’t know for sure so you are on your own now. Maybe no promotion or macro - the horror!
But: I don’t know for sure so you are on your own now. Maybe no promotion or macro - the horror!
You can't downgrade to iOS 14.8 on a series 13 phone. iOS 15 is what you have to start with.
And you can unlock the phone via watch with an obstruction over your face?
“You can't downgrade to iOS 14.8 on a series 13 phone. iOS 15 is what you have to start with.”
I never tired it but with iOS 14 being carried on indefinitely maybe someone could try just for kicks and giggles and tell us what happened. If no go then I guess iPhone 12 and lower can revert. Be a maverick, be an adventurer! Walk that razors edge possibly bricking your iPhone 13! Or, just get a message that the Apple Gods won’t allow it. Would be fun if it did happen and what works and what got crippled.
I never tired it but with iOS 14 being carried on indefinitely maybe someone could try just for kicks and giggles and tell us what happened. If no go then I guess iPhone 12 and lower can revert. Be a maverick, be an adventurer! Walk that razors edge possibly bricking your iPhone 13! Or, just get a message that the Apple Gods won’t allow it. Would be fun if it did happen and what works and what got crippled.
This has been driving me insane. Im in Australia so had the phone for almost 20 hours and already unbearable.
Could be a "Turn on first time on iOS 15" issue. Might not be a problem if turned on, in iOS 14 and upgrading to iOS 15.
I'm wondering the same thing. If it's just the unlock with a mask feature that's borked until a software update then I can live with it. If I can't use my Apple watches, then I'm not even going to activate this new phone and stay on my 12 Pro Max.
My new phone should arrive shortly. In preparation I disabled Unlock with Apple Watch on my old phone. Hoping that the issue is that it somehow gets confused and can’t figure out which phone it should be unlocking.
I'm on the same bandwagon. Transferred by iPhone 12 Pro Max to a new 13 Pro Max today with an Apple Watch Series 6. Now the unlock with mask doesn't work anymore.
Also, unlocking my M1 Mac Mini with the Apple Watch doesn't work anymore either, with the same exact error message, but on the Mac instead of the iPhone.
I also tried the "keychain surgery" method, to no avail. To me it looks more like a watchOS 8 bug which only happens after restoring the Apple Watch or setting it up as new (as opposed to just upgrading from watchOS 7 and keeping it paired). I came to this conclusion because it also happens between Apple Watch and Mac (with no iPhone involved).
Also, unlocking my M1 Mac Mini with the Apple Watch doesn't work anymore either, with the same exact error message, but on the Mac instead of the iPhone.
I also tried the "keychain surgery" method, to no avail. To me it looks more like a watchOS 8 bug which only happens after restoring the Apple Watch or setting it up as new (as opposed to just upgrading from watchOS 7 and keeping it paired). I came to this conclusion because it also happens between Apple Watch and Mac (with no iPhone involved).
My watch works ok, it’s “just” the mask unlock. I’m not sure if notifications work, I had quite quiet afternoon and to be honest I need to figure out how the whole Focus works 🤷🏻♂️
All other watch features work perfectly, unlocking the phone immediately unlocks the watch. You just cannot enable the Unlock With Apple Watch setting on the 13s. It was fine on my 12. From all reports it’s just the 13s. I’m glad I saw all the reports before I tried unpairing my watch. The setup from the previous phone was seamless, I did the direct transfer, it’s always been an iCloud restore previously but this may have been even better and only took a little over 30 minutes including the update to the 346 version of ios 15.
This problem that several others are having, sounds like the exact same thing the Mac and watch experienced not too long ago. It was fixed with an update.
What I Did…
After my iPhone 13 Pro was setup. I ended up resetting my Apple Watch and setup as new. It let me restore from a backup so not all lost. LTE Watch seems to be back 100% functional
After my iPhone 13 Pro was setup. I ended up resetting my Apple Watch and setup as new. It let me restore from a backup so not all lost. LTE Watch seems to be back 100% functional
Can't be a watchOS 8 bug -- I have the same glitch between my new 13 Pro and my Series 6, which I haven't upgraded to 8 yet.
Yeah my watch is working and the phone knows the watch exists --- like it shows up in the watch app and stuff. It's just the unlock with watch that isn't working.
So my 13 Pro arrived. Much to my surprise after reading this thread I had zero issues. Unboxed, powered up, followed prompts and transferred initially from my 11 Pro. Was promoted to restore from iCloud backup etc. went through that, rebooted, promoted to air with my Series 6 AW, worked without issue. After this I updated the phone phone software before doing anything else. (Well, ok, I grilled some burgers and downed a few beers while waiting) 😁
Not sure why I had no issues but honestly it was the easiest transfer/restore and setup I have gone through.
I am much relieved and happy at this point.
Not sure why I had no issues but honestly it was the easiest transfer/restore and setup I have gone through.
I am much relieved and happy at this point.
(But I
omg I had so many other issues. I spent like an hour on chat with Verizon trying to get it to activate. Really annoying.