Why can't Apple Watch unlock the iPhone?

[ManicMarc]

It could, but it wouldn't be as fast as a TouchID or FaceID. The delay is due to the "time of flight" sensing the watch and Mac do to ensure you're actually within close proximity of your Mac. So it would only be useful for people using an iPhone 5 or earlier which aren't even supported by the latest versions of iOS/watchOS.

Very few Macs on the other hand have a fingerprint or face scanner, and so using the watch is almost always faster than typing a password.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I'll leave aside the "someone takes your iPhone while it's unlocked" scenario - yes, it's a consideration, but I don't think it would be a primary consideration.

I think the primary reason the feature doesn't exist is "friction." In this case, the steps necessary to perform the function.

Once the Watch is on your wrist and is unlocked, it remains unlocked. So, when you sit at the Mac there are no steps necessary to unlock the Mac - it's one of those things that can seem nearly magical. It's a zero-steps action. (Well, one step - tapping a key on the Mac keyboard to wake-from-sleep, which I'd have to do regardless.)

With an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch... If it is already unlocked, the Mac unlock would be equally friction-free. However, if the iOS device is locked (which is a fairly high probability unless you set Auto-Lock to "Never"), then there is the friction of "First, unlock your iPhone." The actions necessary to unlock the phone come close to the actions necessary to enter the Mac password.

"Unlock your iPhone to unlock your Mac" is unintuitive. It's like picking up a remote control to turn on a TV or stereo when the actual power button of the TV/stereo is within arm's reach. Why go through a middleman?

 

[Duncan68]

I'll leave aside the "someone takes your iPhone while it's unlocked" scenario - yes, it's a consideration, but I don't think it would be a primary consideration.

I think the primary reason the feature doesn't exist is "friction." In this case, the steps necessary to perform the function.

Once the Watch is on your wrist and is unlocked, it remains unlocked. So, when you sit at the Mac there are no steps necessary to unlock the Mac - it's one of those things that can seem nearly magical. It's a zero-steps action. (Well, one step - tapping a key on the Mac keyboard to wake-from-sleep, which I'd have to do regardless.)

With an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch... If it is already unlocked, the Mac unlock would be equally friction-free. However, if the iOS device is locked (which is a fairly high probability unless you set Auto-Lock to "Never"), then there is the friction of "First, unlock your iPhone." The actions necessary to unlock the phone come close to the actions necessary to enter the Mac password.

"Unlock your iPhone to unlock your Mac" is unintuitive. It's like picking up a remote control to turn on a TV or stereo when the actual power button of the TV/stereo is within arm's reach. Why go through a middleman?

Unlocking your iPhone with Face ID, which then unlocks your Mac, is still easier than typing in a password on your Mac.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Unlocking your iPhone with Face ID, which then unlocks your Mac, is still easier than typing in a password on your Mac.

That depends on the person. I'm a touch-typist - my passwords are entered in a very quick burst of activity. A person who has to look down at the keyboard to see what he/she is doing and uses one or both index fingers to type the password... Face ID could be significantly more convenient.

Personally (as we are each different), picking up my iPhone so that it recognizes my face, then putting it down and then placing my hands on the keyboard doesn't seem significantly easier than sitting down at my desk, placing my hands on the keyboard and typing the password. Regardless, as I have a Watch, logging in is easier than either of the alternatives.

One thing worth mentioning is this is all about wake-from-sleep. You must still type the password following a shutdown/restart, just as a passcode is required on Touch ID/Face ID-protected iOS device after a shutdown/restart.

 

[Duncan68]

That depends on the person. I'm a touch-typist - my passwords are entered in a very quick burst of activity. A person who has to look down at the keyboard to see what he/she is doing and uses one or both index fingers to type the password... Face ID could be significantly more convenient.

Personally (as we are each different), picking up my iPhone so that it recognizes my face, then putting it down and then placing my hands on the keyboard doesn't seem significantly easier than sitting down at my desk, placing my hands on the keyboard and typing the password. Regardless, as I have a Watch, logging in is easier than either of the alternatives.

One thing worth mentioning is this is all about wake-from-sleep. You must still type the password following a shutdown/restart, just as a passcode is required on Touch ID/Face ID-protected iOS device after a shutdown/restart.

I am also a touch typist, but because I have a long and complicated login password on my Mac, for me unlocking with Face ID on the iPhone would be easier. That said, I do have an Apple Watch I use for this purpose and I agree it would beat an iPhone.

 

[ThatsMrsGeek2U]

The original question here has nothing to do with the Mac, it’s why can the phone unlock the watch, but the watch then can’t unlock the phone.

this used to be a general non issue and more of a curiosity with Face ID being so fast, but the widespread use of masks have trashed this feature and i long for my touch ID phone back.

With my face blocked with a mask these days, i need my unlocked and wrist detected watch to unlock my phone when i lift said phone up.

Implementation is simple and would use the existing sensors:
1. watch would need to be unlocked and in wrist detection mode
2. Pair iphone would need to be in tight proximity
3. Use accelerometers, gyroscope and face ID already in place to recognize when the phone is picked up and you’re looking at it but face id failed for some reason.
then
4. If the setting is turned on, use the linked watch as a back up authentication and unlock the phone.

If it’s good enough for apple pay, unlocking your door, unlocking your computer, and all the other things that use similar authenticity measures, it should be fine here.
Of course have it an Opt in option.

 

[ThatsMrsGeek2U]

This is coming out more and more now that good mask rules are becoming more widespread across the country there’s actually some thing over in the political page about it right now with the New York City subway it seems like this would be the best way for Apple to handle peoples habit of pulling down their face mask to unlock the phone