Unlocking M1 MBA with Apple Watch

[rhaezorblue]

I have a M1 MBA which I run in clamshell mode, connected to a CalDigit dock, and a LG 32" 4K monitor. Apple Watch 44MM series 6 LTE.

I'm not sure if this behavior is the fault of MacOS, my Apple Watch or the MBA. I have "Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac" enabled.

When trying to wake up my MBA, I hear the Apple Watch make the "unlock" noise 3 times sometimes.. the screen can turn on briefly after the 1st or 2nd unlock noise, but then go off again.. finally coming back on after the 3rd unlock noise. Anyone else experiencing this?

 

[jdb8167]

I have a M1 MBA which I run in clamshell mode, connected to a CalDigit dock, and a LG 32" 4K monitor. Apple Watch 44MM series 6 LTE.

I'm not sure if this behavior is the fault of MacOS, my Apple Watch or the MBA. I have "Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac" enabled.

When trying to wake up my MBA, I hear the Apple Watch make the "unlock" noise 3 times sometimes.. the screen can turn on briefly after the 1st or 2nd unlock noise, but then go off again.. finally coming back on after the 3rd unlock noise. Anyone else experiencing this?

I don't use my Apple Watch to unlock my M1 MBA but with my LG 4K display I get the exact same behavior with the new Magic Keyboard with Touch ID in clamshell mode. The display comes on and then goes off while I repeatedly press the shift key until the display finally stays on. This is on Monterey so Apple still hasn't gotten their act together when it comes to external displays and the M1 Macs. At least it always turns on now and stays on eventually.

 

[jz0309]

I have a M1 MBA which I run in clamshell mode, connected to a CalDigit dock, and a LG 32" 4K monitor. Apple Watch 44MM series 6 LTE.

I'm not sure if this behavior is the fault of MacOS, my Apple Watch or the MBA. I have "Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac" enabled.

When trying to wake up my MBA, I hear the Apple Watch make the "unlock" noise 3 times sometimes.. the screen can turn on briefly after the 1st or 2nd unlock noise, but then go off again.. finally coming back on after the 3rd unlock noise. Anyone else experiencing this?

I do not use an external monitor with my MBA and have no issues unlocking via AW.
Seems related then to clamshell mode, what OS? I’d contact Apple support…

 

[rhaezorblue]

Sounds like maybe the side effect of the M1's less than perfect external monitor support..

 

[jdb8167]

I do not use an external monitor with my MBA and have no issues unlocking via AW.
Seems related then to clamshell mode, what OS? I’d contact Apple support…

Monterey for me. If Apple doesn't know about problems with external monitors by now...

Sounds like maybe the side effect of the M1's less than perfect external monitor support..

Yes. Before I had the Magic Keyboard with TouchID it did the same thing some of the time. With the touchID it does it every time. I'd assume that because the Apple Watch is also automatically unlocking the computer it is acting in a similar way. Like I said though, at least it is always waking and unlocking now under Monterey. On versions before 11.5 (Big Sur), that wasn't always the case. Sometimes it required unplugging the USB-C cable and replugging it.

I've only had the Magic Keyboard after I already installed Monterey so I have no idea what the MK TouchID does under Big Sur.

 

[rhaezorblue]

Monterey for me. If Apple doesn't know about problems with external monitors by now...

Yes. Before I had the Magic Keyboard with TouchID it did the same thing some of the time. With the touchID it does it every time. I'd assume that because the Apple Watch is also automatically unlocking the computer it is acting in a similar way. Like I said though, at least it is always waking and unlocking now under Monterey. On versions before 11.5 (Big Sur), that wasn't always the case. Sometimes it required unplugging the USB-C cable and replugging it.

I've only had the Magic Keyboard after I already installed Monterey so I have no idea what the MK TouchID does under Big Sur.

Well I'm looking forward to Monterey then!