Auto Unlock is one of the novelties that most caught the attention of users of both an Apple Watch and a Mac, since it allows us to quickly unlock our Mac without having to write the damn password every time we turn on or wake up our computer.
Many of the new functions that the company offers us every year in the new version of the operating system that it launches, they are not available for all Macs. Currently we do not know the exact reason but within a few months surely some journalist touches noses will take it out of the Cupertino-based company the reasons why Auto Unlock is not compatible with all Macs on the market.
One of the requirements could be to have bluetooth 4.x, bluetooth that some older computers have but that the OS X version does not recognize it, or Apple wants it not to recognize it, as is the case with the 2011 MacBook Air, since using third-party applications I can enable the Handoff and Continuity that my MacBook's age should not work. But let's put the ramblings aside and get to what really matters.
If you have not yet seen the operation of Auto Unlock, then we leave you a video that our colleague Luis Padilla has published in iPad News, and where We can see how when you open the screen of your brand new MacBook with the Apple Watch on your wrist, it automatically unlocks without having to enter the password.
Auto Unlock Requirements
- Have a Mac from 2013 or later that is running macOS Sierra or later.
- Apple Watch with watchOS 3 os later.
- iPhone with iOS 10 or later.
- Both the Mac, iPhone, and Apple Watch must be associated with the same iCloud account.
- Our Apple ID must use Two Factor Authentication.
What I do not understand is the need to have the iPhone with iOS 10, when this function does not work with the iPhone only with the Apple Watch
Because in order to install watchOS 3 and take advantage of this function, you can only do it if you have iOS 10 on your iPhone.
All Apple Watch software installations are done through the iPhone.
It is likely that if we install watchOS 3 and downgrade the iPhone to iOS 9 it will not link with the Apple Watch. Apple sometimes does very strange things.
Can you do auto unlock without Apple Watch? Only with the iPhone with iOS 10?
At the moment it can only be done with the Apple Watch.
Does a macbook pro mid 2012 support this function?
At first it is from the 2013 models, but if it has bluetooth 4.0 it will probably work, but until the final version is released we will not know.
I have everything updated and activated and yet I do not get the option on the macbook to unlock from the watch
Hola!
Well, you shouldn't have a problem since it works fine in the betas. Is your Mac from 2013 or higher?
regards
It is a MacBook Pro Mid 2012, it has bluetooth 4.x, I have called apple and they tell me that there should be no problems, however I do not have the option
I could already activate the function and it was not complicated. It is a matter of following the wizard and the function is really good and useful.
Hello good ! I have a macbook air 2013 and the apple watch updated to watchOS 3 and even the iPhone with iOS 10 the same way it does not link me, it appears in the system preferences option and everything comes out with the check but when I close and open the macbook I ask for password.
Just as additional data, it didn't work for me until I rebooted both devices.
Good morning, I just fixed that one of the settings you should do, after activating the double factor, is to go to SETTINGS-> SECURITY AND PRIVACY-> Allow the Apple Watch to unlock the MAC
Estimates, I upgraded all my computers, the macbook to MacOS Sierra version 10.12, my iPhone to OS 10.0.2 and my apple watch to version 3.0, the macbook and the iPhone are with double security factor, I go into settings > security and privacy and I do not get the option to unlock the mac with the apple watch, I have tried to reset the apple watch and it still does not appear.
in the mac settings menu in the search engine I get hidden setting if the clock is not linked.
how can I solve that? Thanks for the help.
Hi, I have a Mac 2012 but that option does not appear in system preferences .... how can it be enabled?
My mac gave me the option and it has disappeared. What do you think is due?
I have Macbook 2016, iPhone 7 plus and apple watch (sierra, iOS 10 and watch os 3)
I also have double factor verification enabled.
Before I had the option to unlock with my apple watch, I never activated it. Today I wanted to activate it and there is no longer the option
Hello, I have a mid-2011 iMac, can I put something in the Bluetooth on the Mac to be able to unlock it with the apple watch? Thank you