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boston04and07

macrumors 68000
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May 13, 2008
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Hi all. Apologies if this is something that has been discussed...I’ve watched the keynote and have been doing some research but haven’t been able to find an answer to my question, which is this: does anyone know whether alphanumeric passcodes work any differently on the LTE watch than they do currently?

My situation is this: my work email forces me to use an alphanumeric passcode on my iPhone, which is generally fine, but the one issue I have with it is the fact that I need my iPhone nearby in order to unlock my Watch (via the iPhone’s Touch ID). Every now and then, my watch thinks it’s disconnected from my wrist when it hasn’t, which is annoying when my iPhone isn’t readily nearby. Basically this means I don’t have access to the Watch until I have my iPhone handy again.

With an Apple Watch that now has the ability to be more independent of the iPhone, has anyone heard how it will handle this type of situation? It’d really suck if, during the (albeit rare) times my Watch thinks it’s disconnected from my wrist, or if I need to take it off for some other reason, I then become cut off from it until I get back to my iPhone. I’d be interested in the LTE version for going on walks without having to have my iPhone with me, but if I need my iPhone in order to always unlock the Watch, that would not work so well...

If you guys have heard anything I’d love to know!
 
It's unlikely that your company is going to enforce an alphanumeric pass code on your watch and I doubt apple support that. My company requires that on my iPhone but I can have whatever on my watch.

Incidentally you can set a pin code on your watch and still use phone touchID to unlock it. But on those occasions your phone isn't nearby you can enter your pin.
 
It's unlikely that your company is going to enforce an alphanumeric pass code on your watch and I doubt apple support that. My company requires that on my iPhone but I can have whatever on my watch.

Incidentally you can set a pin code on your watch and still use phone touchID to unlock it. But on those occasions your phone isn't nearby you can enter your pin.

Well, not exactly...my Apple Watch definitely needs my iPhone’s Touch ID in order to unlock it. I just checked in the Watch app on my iPhone and the “Use Passcode” option was greyed out. Additionally, when my Watch isn’t on my wrist and I put it on, a message always appears on the screen that says “Device Locked: First put on Apple Watch, then unlock your iPhone.” And I know that my email account is what’s requiring my iPhone itself to use the alphanumeric passcode as when I first added it, I was prompted to change my 4 digit PIN code to an alphanumeric passcode.

That’s how it is currently...my question for anyone who knows was whether the new LTE version gives us a better way of handling alphanumeric passcodes, or whether it changes the requirement that an alphanumeric passcode on the iPhone + the inability to use a simple PIN code on the Watch. If I could still have a numeric PIN code that it’d let me enter, or if it even gave me some way of inputting an alphanumeric passcode directly on the watch, that’d be great.
 
Well, not exactly...my Apple Watch definitely needs my iPhone’s Touch ID in order to unlock it. I just checked in the Watch app on my iPhone and the “Use Passcode” option was greyed out. Additionally, when my Watch isn’t on my wrist and I put it on, a message always appears on the screen that says “Device Locked: First put on Apple Watch, then unlock your iPhone.” And I know that my email account is what’s requiring my iPhone itself to use the alphanumeric passcode as when I first added it, I was prompted to change my 4 digit PIN code to an alphanumeric passcode.

That’s how it is currently...my question for anyone who knows was whether the new LTE version gives us a better way of handling alphanumeric passcodes, or whether it changes the requirement that an alphanumeric passcode on the iPhone + the inability to use a simple PIN code on the Watch. If I could still have a numeric PIN code that it’d let me enter, or if it even gave me some way of inputting an alphanumeric passcode directly on the watch, that’d be great.

Having worked in IT... I am wondering if your company has device management settings set that are affecting the watch. It could be they don't need to control the watch and have done so by accident. Or it could be an issue with the management software.
 
Hi all. Apologies if this is something that has been discussed...I’ve watched the keynote and have been doing some research but haven’t been able to find an answer to my question, which is this: does anyone know whether alphanumeric passcodes work any differently on the LTE watch than they do currently?

My situation is this: my work email forces me to use an alphanumeric passcode on my iPhone, which is generally fine, but the one issue I have with it is the fact that I need my iPhone nearby in order to unlock my Watch (via the iPhone’s Touch ID). Every now and then, my watch thinks it’s disconnected from my wrist when it hasn’t, which is annoying when my iPhone isn’t readily nearby. Basically this means I don’t have access to the Watch until I have my iPhone handy again.

With an Apple Watch that now has the ability to be more independent of the iPhone, has anyone heard how it will handle this type of situation? It’d really suck if, during the (albeit rare) times my Watch thinks it’s disconnected from my wrist, or if I need to take it off for some other reason, I then become cut off from it until I get back to my iPhone. I’d be interested in the LTE version for going on walks without having to have my iPhone with me, but if I need my iPhone in order to always unlock the Watch, that would not work so well...

If you guys have heard anything I’d love to know!
What do you get on the watch for settings? If you go to settings-passcode do you have more options?
 
Well, not exactly...my Apple Watch definitely needs my iPhone’s Touch ID in order to unlock it. I just checked in the Watch app on my iPhone and the “Use Passcode” option was greyed out. Additionally, when my Watch isn’t on my wrist and I put it on, a message always appears on the screen that says “Device Locked: First put on Apple Watch, then unlock your iPhone.” And I know that my email account is what’s requiring my iPhone itself to use the alphanumeric passcode as when I first added it, I was prompted to change my 4 digit PIN code to an alphanumeric passcode.

That happens if you setup your watch and skip a pass code then turn on unlock with phone. Turn off unlock with phone for now, add a passcode, then turn it back on. You should then be good. I used to be in the same position. At worst, unpair your watch, repair it and set a passcode when prompted, then enable unlock with phone.

You don't get alpha numeric on Watch. And the passcode on your phone is not the same as the passcode on Watch unless you set it as such. Simple pin means 4 digit pin. The non simple pin is a 6 digit pin. Always digit.
 
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Hi all. Apologies if this is something that has been discussed...I’ve watched the keynote and have been doing some research but haven’t been able to find an answer to my question, which is this: does anyone know whether alphanumeric passcodes work any differently on the LTE watch than they do currently?

My situation is this: my work email forces me to use an alphanumeric passcode on my iPhone, which is generally fine, but the one issue I have with it is the fact that I need my iPhone nearby in order to unlock my Watch (via the iPhone’s Touch ID). Every now and then, my watch thinks it’s disconnected from my wrist when it hasn’t, which is annoying when my iPhone isn’t readily nearby. Basically this means I don’t have access to the Watch until I have my iPhone handy again.

With an Apple Watch that now has the ability to be more independent of the iPhone, has anyone heard how it will handle this type of situation? It’d really suck if, during the (albeit rare) times my Watch thinks it’s disconnected from my wrist, or if I need to take it off for some other reason, I then become cut off from it until I get back to my iPhone. I’d be interested in the LTE version for going on walks without having to have my iPhone with me, but if I need my iPhone in order to always unlock the Watch, that would not work so well...

If you guys have heard anything I’d love to know!

I Just figured this out! My apple watch would not unlock and needed a alphanumeric passcode that was not possible on apple watch.

1st go into Settings, General, scroll down to 'Device Management' then select management profile, then restrictions...there you will see Passcode. WARNING you will have to delete the Device Management (meaning the work app can no longer can enforce restrictions) and Voila no more locked apple watch.

I hope this works for you guys. Let me know if it does or if you find alternative solutions.
 
I know it’s been a while since I posted this but I’ve figured out the issue. My corporate exchange account can force users to set an alphanumeric passcode on their iPhone, without requiring an actual profile to be installed. Signing into the account in Settings does that by itself. I need my email on my iPhone but neither want nor need it on my Apple Watch, so I disable it on my watch, but I’m still forced out of using a regular passcode on the watch. So stupid - it’s not like anyone could enable the Exchange account from the watch if they somehow got a hold of it and guessed my passcode.
 
I know it’s been a while since I posted this but I’ve figured out the issue. My corporate exchange account can force users to set an alphanumeric passcode on their iPhone, without requiring an actual profile to be installed. Signing into the account in Settings does that by itself. I need my email on my iPhone but neither want nor need it on my Apple Watch, so I disable it on my watch, but I’m still forced out of using a regular passcode on the watch. So stupid - it’s not like anyone could enable the Exchange account from the watch if they somehow got a hold of it and guessed my passcode.

I was closely reading through this thread hoping to hear that they came up with a way to deal with this but it looks like it still hasn't changed. I'm in a similar boat; our IT device management (done through Mobile Iron) enforces alphanumeric passcodes. I contacted IT to get their take on the situation as it makes buying the LTE watch somewhat pointless. They did look in to it and as of some time in June a rep from MobileIron said Apple hasn't provided them with a way to separate the passcode requirement of the phone and the watch when creating the management profile. Hopefully this will change soon!
 
I was closely reading through this thread hoping to hear that they came up with a way to deal with this but it looks like it still hasn't changed. I'm in a similar boat; our IT device management (done through Mobile Iron) enforces alphanumeric passcodes. I contacted IT to get their take on the situation as it makes buying the LTE watch somewhat pointless. They did look in to it and as of some time in June a rep from MobileIron said Apple hasn't provided them with a way to separate the passcode requirement of the phone and the watch when creating the management profile. Hopefully this will change soon!

I really need a fix for this, too. Hoping there is something coming with iOS 12 and/or WatchOS 5.
 
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Anyone able to test if anything like this has been changed on WatchOS 6?

I don’t even want my work email on my watch, and I in fact don’t even have it there. But because I have it on my iPhone, I’m forced to use my iPhone only to unlock my watch. This is so ridiculous.
 
Hi all. Apologies if this is something that has been discussed...I’ve watched the keynote and have been doing some research but haven’t been able to find an answer to my question, which is this: does anyone know whether alphanumeric passcodes work any differently on the LTE watch than they do currently?

My situation is this: my work email forces me to use an alphanumeric passcode on my iPhone, which is generally fine, but the one issue I have with it is the fact that I need my iPhone nearby in order to unlock my Watch (via the iPhone’s Touch ID). Every now and then, my watch thinks it’s disconnected from my wrist when it hasn’t, which is annoying when my iPhone isn’t readily nearby. Basically this means I don’t have access to the Watch until I have my iPhone handy again.

With an Apple Watch that now has the ability to be more independent of the iPhone, has anyone heard how it will handle this type of situation? It’d really suck if, during the (albeit rare) times my Watch thinks it’s disconnected from my wrist, or if I need to take it off for some other reason, I then become cut off from it until I get back to my iPhone. I’d be interested in the LTE version for going on walks without having to have my iPhone with me, but if I need my iPhone in order to always unlock the Watch, that would not work so well...

If you guys have heard anything I’d love to know!
My company requires the iPhone to unlock the Watch.
 
My company requires the iPhone to unlock the Watch.
I'm confused by this thread. If I get this right then you buy a private Apple Watch but then pair it with your work iPhone? This then carries over various aspects of the device management to the watch?
I'm asking because I plan to get a Apple watch S5 cellular soon (first Apple watch for me). However I do not use my work iPhone for any private stuff and rather carry two iPhones because I do NOT trust a company with my private stuff. In that case i shouldn't have any of these issues?
 
I'm confused by this thread. If I get this right then you buy a private Apple Watch but then pair it with your work iPhone? This then carries over various aspects of the device management to the watch?
I'm asking because I plan to get a Apple watch S5 cellular soon (first Apple watch for me). However I do not use my work iPhone for any private stuff and rather carry two iPhones because I do NOT trust a company with my private stuff. In that case i shouldn't have any of these issues?
Yes. MobileIron carries over MDM from the phone to the Watch.
 
I'm confused by this thread. If I get this right then you buy a private Apple Watch but then pair it with your work iPhone? This then carries over various aspects of the device management to the watch?
I'm asking because I plan to get a Apple watch S5 cellular soon (first Apple watch for me). However I do not use my work iPhone for any private stuff and rather carry two iPhones because I do NOT trust a company with my private stuff. In that case i shouldn't have any of these issues?

Correct...if you pair your watch with your personal phone, you will not have any of these issues. If you pair it with your work phone, you're subject to whatever restrictions your employer has placed on the device.
 
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