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iPhone 13 Users Experiencing 'Unable to Communicate with Apple Watch' Bug With Mask Unlocking

No Problem with AW unlock here.
Setup iPhone 13 pro Max as new Device, installed Update, factory reset and restore from iCloud backup. Just enabled AW unlocking in FaceID settings again. Works
 
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tymaster50 said:
Annoying fix but I backed up to iCloud, wiped my phone, and then restored from backup and paired my watch again and it worked. Took only a few minutes to do
Click to expand...

Lucky you that just took you "a few minutes". If I have to restore my iPhone from iCloud I will spend hours fixing all my apps that don't work anymore. So many apps which still lose their logins when restore from iCloud, it's a shame.
 
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I was a little skeptical about all this until 9pm last night when I finally transferred to new iPhone 13 P. Just like everyone else, can't enable Watch unlocking the iPhone. Verizon activation with existing 5G sim didn't go as smoothly as a 12 mini last year, but finally done.

The best part? That my Available Storage is no longer more than the phone capacity? 😂?
 
cmaier said:
From the logs, looks to me like it is trying to use the same session key as for the old device, which doesn’t work. Setting up as new iphone generates a new session key. That said, the session keys reset themselves periodically, so maybe it all just starts working overnight or tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Which logs and where are you looking pls...?
 
0s and 1s said:
I’m also seeing this on my MacBook Pro. I’m no longer able to use my Watch to unlock it.
Click to expand...
This can often be fixed by unckecking the box (if it is checked) in macOS settings, restart both devices and iPhone, then try to enable it again.

I've had to do the Keychain surgery twice on different Macs over the past 2 years. If you go that route, be very careful what you delete.
 
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I can confirm that after updating the software, then restoring the phone after software update, it allows me to activate the feature again.

ugh. Maybe I’ll avoid doing this in the future and just not buy any more apple products.

ya hear that, Tim Apple?
 
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flexiboy1912 said:
Nice to see months of testing resulted in breaking something that "just worked" before - poor testing
Click to expand...
Not poor testing. I’ve been on iOS 15 & watchOS 8 since the first beta and this wasn’t an issue until the official release a few days ago.
 
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SOLVED

I have contacted AppleCare Support today ... Basically there are two options:

1. Wait until next update which will solve the issue. And use code / no mask in meanwhile.

2. Workaround:
- Make a NEW Back-up for the iPhone13 (Pro).
- Erase phone and keep Cell-Plan (e-SIM) data.
- Restore from backup iPhone13 NOT from original backup (iPhone11/12 etc).
- Go to 'settings' > 'Face ID & Passcode' V 'Unlock with Apple Watch' ... now the toggle switch and connection should work!

Please let me know if it works or not!

Edit: Worked fine after lengthly backup-restore process.. (Kept Dataplan settings e-SIM , but had to rebuild the rest)
Do not need to set op as new phone. Just erase and make sure to load the newest backup from moments ago.

Alkmaarder
iPhone 13 Pro Max,
iOS 15.0 (19A346) < This new iOS from update , NOT the iOS 15.0 out of the box!

Apple Watch 5, 44mm (no LTE),
WatchOS 8.0 (19R346)

Apple Watch 6, 44mm (no LTE),
WatchOS 8.0 (19R346)

PNG image.png
 
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I called Apple Support about this issue and their guidance was to wipe the iPhone 13 Pro and restore from backup. SIGH. I guess I will live without this feature for the time being. iPhone 13 Pro running current build of Public Beta 15.1.
 
I’m running the public betas of iOS 15.1 and Watch os 8.1 on my iPhone 13 Pro and series 6 Watch, respectively.

I’m having the same problem. So it’s not just on iOS 15; this is an iPhone 13 issue.

I hope Apple fixes it soon, because I’ve grown to rely on the Watch to unlock seamlessly when I’m out in public. This is going to get very annoying very quickly.
 
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It’s a shame restoring is the only solution at the moment. It’s a pain the ass to restore, especially adding Apple Pay cards again, making sure you sign in to service apps, repair Tesla key / bluetooth. I guess I’ll just wait for an easier solution.
 
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I too am having the same issue, iPhone 13 Pro Max with an Watch series 6. Unpair and re-pair steps were tried on my own before seeing this post. Glad to know I'm not alone, but definitely unfortunate to not have this feature currently.
 
bidwalj said:
It’s a shame restoring is the only solution at the moment. It’s a pain the ass to restore, especially adding Apple Pay cards again, making sure you sign in to service apps, repair Tesla key / bluetooth. I guess I’ll just wait for an easier solution.
Click to expand...

Yep. Word on the street is we should be getting a .0.1 release on tuesday that solves the problem.
 
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