How to Unlock a Mac with an Apple Watch

If you own a Mac (model 2013 or later) running macOS 10.13 or later, your Apple Watch can seamlessly unlock your Mac upon waking from sleep. However, this feature requires you to be signed in to iCloud using the same Apple Account on both your Mac and Apple Watch.

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To enable Auto Unlock, ensure that your devices are set up as follows:

• Your Mac should have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.

• Both your Mac and Apple Watch should be signed in to iCloud using the same Apple Account, and your Apple Account should have two-factor authentication enabled.

• Your Apple Watch should be using a passcode.

Now, proceed with one of the following methods:

• If you’re using macOS 13 or later, select Apple menu > System Settings, then click Login Password.

• If you’re using macOS 12 or earlier, select Apple menu > System Preferences, click Security & Privacy, and then click General.

In the General pane, select “Use Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac.” If you have multiple Apple Watches, select the watches you want to use for unlocking apps and your Mac.

If you haven’t enabled two-factor authentication for your Apple Account, follow the onscreen instructions and try selecting the checkbox again. Refer to the Apple Support article titled “Two-factor authentication for Apple Account” for more information.

Once you’ve set up Auto Unlock, simply wake up your Mac while wearing your Apple Watch, and your Mac will unlock automatically without the need to enter your password.

Ensure that your Apple Watch is securely attached to your wrist, unlocked, and that you’re within close proximity to your Mac.

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Dan Uff

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