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Apps Unable to use Apple Watch to unlock macOS Notes

symphony

symphony

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 25, 2016
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Auto Unlock works when unlocking my device, and some system authentication lets me use my Apple Watch to verify on my Mac. But I can’t use my Apple Watch to unlock notes on my Mac like I used to since updating to macOS Big Sur.

Anyone else got this or have a solution?
 
I think I’ll go ahead and file a bug report for this one.

Encouraging other people who experience this issue to go to https://feedbackassistant.apple.com/ in order to report this as well.

Also just for reference, I’m using a 2014 MBA, a Series 4 Watch, and unlock from sleep + Safari Passwords unlock still works. It’s just the Locked Notes which isn’t working for me anymore since I upgraded to Big Sur.
 
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A2084 said:
I think I’ll go ahead and file a bug report for this one.

Encouraging other people who experience this issue to go to https://feedbackassistant.apple.com/ in order to report this as well.

Also just for reference, I’m using a 2014 MBA, a Series 4 Watch, and unlock from sleep + Safari Passwords unlock still works. It’s just the Locked Notes which isn’t working for me anymore since I upgraded to Big Sur.
Click to expand...
Can you send a feedback for me too please
 
I've also got this issue, I spent a bit of time looking at Hidden Keychain items and trying to fix it, but Notes definitely do not unlock with my Apple Watch anymore - everything else works fine (unlocking the Mac, unlocking Preference Panes and deleting things that require authentication).

I wonder if they've disabled it and not told anybody?
 
dog.cow said:
I've also got this issue, I spent a bit of time looking at Hidden Keychain items and trying to fix it, but Notes definitely do not unlock with my Apple Watch anymore - everything else works fine (unlocking the Mac, unlocking Preference Panes and deleting things that require authentication).

I wonder if they've disabled it and not told anybody?
Click to expand...
Actually, after a few researches on the forums, I found out a way to solve this issue.

If you turned on the “Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac” feature, but it stopped working, here’s how to fix it:


  • Go to Apple menu > System Preferences
  • Choose Security & Privacy
  • Click General
  • Uncheck Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac
Now restart your Mac and Apple Watch. On your Mac, go to the Apple menu and choose Restart. On your Apple Watch, press and hold the long flat button next to the Digital Crown, then swipe Power Off. After your Apple Watch finishes powering down, press the long button again to turn it back on.

Once your Mac and Apple Watch are back up and running, go to the Security & Privacy preferences on your Mac again and turn on Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.


It worked on my Mac. I hope it will works on your Mac too.
 
Last edited:
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Resetting the system preferences (deselecting the unlock with Apple watch) and rebooting my Mac and Watch and turning on the allow watch to unlock Mac did not help for opening Notes. Everything else seems to work and allows the watch to unlock so figuring it is an issue with Big Sur.
 
Magnificent said:
Actually, after a few researches on the forums, I found out a way to solve this issue.

If you turned on the “Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac” feature, but it stopped working, here’s how to fix it:


  • Go to Apple menu > System Preferences
  • Choose Security & Privacy
  • Click General
  • Uncheck Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac
Now restart your Mac and Apple Watch. On your Mac, go to the Apple menu and choose Restart. On your Apple Watch, press and hold the long flat button next to the Digital Crown, then swipe Power Off. After your Apple Watch finishes powering down, press the long button again to turn it back on.

Once your Mac and Apple Watch are back up and running, go to the Security & Privacy preferences on your Mac again and turn on Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.


It worked on my Mac. I hope it will works on your Mac too.
Click to expand...
Just tried this twice. Didn't work. Noticed that on the first try locked Notes didn't offer me the option to use my fingerprint until I first unlocked using password...now back to allowing me to use my print but the watch still doesn't offer to unlock Notes. I remember this working at one time also. Guess it's a bug which will 'just start working ' again after its resolved? Were there any nuances as to the sequence you used per the above?
 
Once you do the things that describe above it can be reset again and doesn't work. I think there is also a bug. I hope this will fix with the new update.
Now I checked and it doesn't work on my Mac either
 
I also have the same issue. The watch unlocks other aspects of my Mac but notes no longer unlocks after Big Sur.
 
I read on  discussion forum where a user "macTooth"reported: "I had the same problem and went through a long process with Apple support. Eventually the engineers said that they just dropped the functionality of unlocking notes with Apple Watch in Big Sur. Support also told me that anyone who wants this feature returned to macOS should go to https://apple.com/feedback and let them know. Does it work for anyone on Big Sur?
 
ike185 said:
I read on  discussion forum where a user "macTooth"reported: "I had the same problem and went through a long process with Apple support. Eventually the engineers said that they just dropped the functionality of unlocking notes with Apple Watch in Big Sur. Support also told me that anyone who wants this feature returned to macOS should go to https://apple.com/feedback and let them know. Does it work for anyone on Big Sur?
Click to expand...
Nope. Why would they drop this? It makes no sense.
 
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