While many Apple Watch wearers routinely use their smartwatch to unlock their iPhone, they may not realize that there is similar integration with their computers. In other words, Apple Watch owners can unlock their Mac using just the smartwatch. Here's a quick explanation on how to get started with auto-unlocking a Mac using an Apple Watch.
The Apple Watch has remained a dominant smartwatch since it hit the market in 2015. At first, the public may have been a little reticent about shelling out hundreds of dollars for a watch they would have to plug in overnight, but with its selection of apps, especially health and fitness ones, its popularity has grown over time, among techies, exercise nuts and other iPhone users who just enjoy the convenience of accessing a phone on their wrists. Currently, the new Apple Watch Series 5 and the older Series 3 are both available to buy.
Both of these smartwatches can be used to unlock a Mac, provided it was released in 2013 or later, and is running macOS Sierra or later. Apple offers simple instructions on how to do it and all Apple watches, other than the original version, can be set up to use the feature. While the second-generation Series 1 and Series 2 Apple watches will continue to get watchOS 6 updates until September, they will not get watchOS 7 support, which is slated to be released later this year.
To set up auto-unlock, the watch-wearer first needs to double check that both the Mac and Apple Watch are signed into iCloud with the same Apple ID. Also, that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth have been enabled on both devices. From there, it's quite simple. On the Mac, the user selects "System Preferences" from the Apple menu, then clicks on "System & Security" and then "General." There is a checkbox there that reads, "Allow Apple Watch to unlock your Mac." Check it and voila, it's done. Now, the person can wake the Mac with the Apple Watch without the need of a password. Of course, the Apple Watch will only wake the Mac when it is unlocked itself.
It's certainly a useful feature as it allows for a quick way to get access to the computer without having to go through the whole rigamarole of logging in, especially for those people with terrible memory for passwords. However, some may find the setup too insecure, as theoretically anyone who gets hold of the Apple Watch could break into the computer, provided the smartwatch itself was already logged in.
This is likely why users need to have two-factor authentication on their Apple ID accounts turned on to set up auto-unlock. With two-factor authentication, a verification code is sent to a pre-assigned phone number either by text or automated call and needs to be entered before the person can log in to the Apple ID account. Even still, it comes down to convenience versus security, and that will be up to the individual Apple Watch user to decide on.
Source: Apple
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