When you’re wearing Apple Watch, your Mac is smart enough to recognize that you are near. Exactly when you’re near, so log you in automatically. Moreover, you can also use Apple Watch to accept other requests for your administrator password.
Auto Unlock works when you're wearing your unlocked watch and are very close to your Mac. If necessary, turn your watch a little closer.
You can easily log in automatically
This feature provides you immediate entrance to your Mac when you're wearing your Apple Watch. You should only wake up your Mac and you’re ready to go— even without typing any password.
The first time you log in after you turn on, restart, or log out of your Mac, you must log in by entering your password manually. Then, Apple Watch logs in for you.
Approving other password requests
You can easily use your Apple Watch to approve other requests to enter your administrator password. This story needs watchOS 6 and macOS Catalina. It works anywhere you need to type your Mac password, exactly like when showing passwords in Safari preferences, unlocking a locked note, approving an app installation, or unlocking settings in System Preferences.
For instance, when you click the lock to make a change in System Preferences, your Mac prompts you to approve with Apple Watch or Touch ID:
For entering your password automatically, even without having to type it, just double-click the side button on your Apple Watch:
Steps for setting up Auto Unlock
- Become sure that your Mac and Apple Watch can see the system requirements for Auto Unlock.
- Become sure that your devices are set up as follows:
- Your Mac has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
- Your Mac and Apple Watch are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, and your Apple ID is using two-factor authentication.
- Your Apple Watch is using a pass code.
- Select Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy. Select” Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or” let your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.”
If you're not sure whether your Mac covers Auto Unlock, press and hold the Option key while selecting Apple menu > System Information. Select Wi-Fi in the sidebar, then look for ”Auto Unlock: Supported” on the right:
Learn more
If you face any difficulty to get Auto Unlock to work, you will try these solutions:
- In Security & Privacy preferences, deselect ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or ”Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.” Then restart your Mac and turn this setting back on.
- Become sure that your Mac isn't using Internet sharing or screen sharing.
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