Use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac

Why it happens

Your Mac only lets the watch in when the option is on for that watch. The watch must be on your wrist, unlocked with its passcode, close by, and signed in to the same Apple Account as the Mac. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth turned off on the Mac also stops it.

How to fix it

1. Put the watch on and unlock it with its passcode, so it stays unlocked on your wrist.

2. On the Mac, open Control Center in the menu bar and check that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both on.

3. Open System Settings and click Touch ID & Password. On a Mac without Touch ID, the same page is called Login Password.

4. Under Apple Watch, turn on the switch next to your watch's name. Type your Mac password if asked.

   Touch ID & Password›Apple Watch

5. Lock the Mac with Control-Command-Q, then wake it with the watch on. It should tap your wrist and let you in.

Still not fixed?

1. After a restart, your Mac wants the password once. Type it, and the watch works again after that.

2. Check that the Mac and the iPhone paired with your watch use the same Apple Account, with two-factor authentication on.

3. On your iPhone, open the Watch app and make sure Wrist Detection is on under Passcode. Without it, the watch can't stay unlocked.

4. Turn the watch's switch off, restart both the Mac and the watch, then turn the switch on again.

   Touch ID & Password›Apple Watch

5. Internet Sharing must be off for the watch to work. In General, open Sharing and turn off Internet Sharing, then try the watch switch again.

   General›Sharing›Internet Sharing

6. If the switch won't stay on or your watch never appears in the list, contact Apple Support.