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macgeek01

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Apr 2, 2013
841
79
As far as I can tell it only works after you have put the watch on and unlocked manually. At this point it will work after you lock the watch manually while still wearing. Am I missing something? Thanks.
 
I don't really understand what you are saying. Sorry. But the purpose of this feature is, for example, in the morning you put your watch on... And then start your day and unlock your iPhone. It will automatically unlock your watch for you too. That way you don't have to do both. All it does is make it easier to just put your watch on and forget about it. As opposed to if the setting is off, you put your watch on, unlock it, then unlock your phone, then start your day. Or you put your watch on, forget to unlock it, but unlock your iPhone, and then you start wondering why you aren't receiving notifications on your watch.

Bottom line is its just to save a minor step I believe.
 
I don't really understand what you are saying. Sorry. But the purpose of this feature is, for example, in the morning you put your watch on... And then start your day and unlock your iPhone. It will automatically unlock your watch for you too. That way you don't have to do both. All it does is make it easier to just put your watch on and forget about it. As opposed to if the setting is off, you put your watch on, unlock it, then unlock your phone, then start your day. Or you put your watch on, forget to unlock it, but unlock your iPhone, and then you start wondering why you aren't receiving notifications on your watch.

Bottom line is its just to save a minor step I believe.

In my experience you can't unlock the watch from the iPhone when you first put it on. It only works after I have put it on and unlocked directly from the watch if I then manually lock while still wearing.
 
In my experience you can't unlock the watch from the iPhone when you first put it on. It only works after I have put it on and unlocked directly from the watch if I then manually lock while still wearing.

You're experiencing it wrong.
 
If you take the watch off it locks, if you put it back on the watch is still locked. With watch still on and locked, unlock your iPhone and the watch automatically unlocks, no code require on the watch.
 
Last edited:
I agree - my unlock works the way you seem to be wishing it would. I put on the watch, unlock my phone with Touch ID, and the watch is unlocked.
 
If you take the watch off it locks, if you put it back on the watch is still locked. With watch still on and locked, unlock your iPhone and the watch automatically unlocks, no code require on the watch.

This is useful if you want to show the somebody the watch real quick
You put it on them and instead of doing the pass code in front of them you unlock your phone to unlock the watch
 
This is useful if you want to show the somebody the watch real quick
You put it on them and instead of doing the pass code in front of them you unlock your phone to unlock the watch

That is how I thought it is supposed to work which could be beneficial. I going to test more. Thanks.
 
Thus far it's worked just fine that I've been able to put on my Watch in the morning, unlock my Watch with TouchID on my phone, re-lock my phone and go about my day.
 
Unrelated question

Somebody can take your Apple watch and do a restore even if is locked with a passcode

And start using it as new ?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204567

Yup, and that article explains exactly how to do it when locked:

Hold side button until shutdown option appears.

Force touch and erase watch option appears.

Watch is now set back to factory defaults and can be paired to any compatible iPhone.

Would be nice to see some type of activation lock similar to iPhone.
 
What do you mean , it would restore as new , you just enter your Apple ID

I believe they meant someone wouldn't be able to make purchases with your accounts after a reset not that they won't be able to make purchases with their own credentials.
 
I had one moment where the unlock watch when unlocking iPhone feature didn't seem to be working. Turned out I had Bluetooth off. For whatever reason, the feature doesn't seem to work when only connected via Wi-Fi.

At least, that seemed to be the case for me. Otherwise, it has worked as advertised. I strap on the watch then unlock my phone to see all the notifications I missed since when your watch is off you, notifications just go to the phone. It's a pretty natural progression for starting the day and is especially nice for us security conscious people who do not settle for a weak 4 digit passcode... typing passcodes in on the watch is a pain.
 
The iPhones Touch ID will unlock both, make sure the setting is on
 
I had one moment where the unlock watch when unlocking iPhone feature didn't seem to be working. Turned out I had Bluetooth off. For whatever reason, the feature doesn't seem to work when only connected via Wi-Fi.

At least, that seemed to be the case for me. Otherwise, it has worked as advertised. I strap on the watch then unlock my phone to see all the notifications I missed since when your watch is off you, notifications just go to the phone. It's a pretty natural progression for starting the day and is especially nice for us security conscious people who do not settle for a weak 4 digit passcode... typing passcodes in on the watch is a pain.

Perhaps this is why it wasn't working for me. I may have been out of Bluetooth range.

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The iPhones Touch ID will unlock both, make sure the setting is on

I was also able to get it to work when unlocked the iPhone with 4 digit passcode.

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Without having to supply the previously used Apple ID first?



Indeed, that's what I had expected :eek:

No Apple ID required to erase.
 
No Apple ID required to erase.

Bugger, I hope that gets fixed soon.

EDIT I mean, erasing without Apple ID is fine, but it shouldn't allow to be set up as a new watch without asking for the previous Apple ID. Like the iPhone, so it's more or less worthless to thieves.
 
In my experience you can't unlock the watch from the iPhone when you first put it on. It only works after I have put it on and unlocked directly from the watch if I then manually lock while still wearing.

Why would you manually lock the watch while still wearing it?
 
Why would you manually lock the watch while still wearing it?

I thought this was the only time the feature worked which was the reason I thought the ability was pointless. Others informed it does work the way I thought was intended and is now working for me.
 
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