This is how you use your iPhone, Apple Watch and Mac to open your gadgets

Are you always struggling to unlock your iPhone with your Face ID or code? That can be much simpler. Just use your Apple Watch or your MacBook.

Once you’re in Apple’s ecosystem, it’s hard to get out. Not that you want to, because the products work great together. So there are many features that work great on multiple devices. One of the nicest is to open one device with another device. This saves you time and remembering a password.

Using iPhone and Apple Watch to open

There are several options for opening one device with another. This is how you open your iPhone with an Apple Watch and vice versa. You can also use that smartwatch to open your Mac. We explain how.

Open your iPhone with an Apple Watch

Normally, Face ID works flawlessly to unlock your iPhone, but there are times when it’s less so. For example, think when it’s dark or when you’re wearing a scarf. You can also simply open your iPhone with your Apple Watch. This is how.

To access your iPhone with an Apple Watch, you need at least iOS 14.5 on your iPhone and watchOS 7.4. Then you go to Settings > Face ID and access code. Scroll down there and you can select the option “Unlock with Apple Watch” check.

By the way, this feature only works when Face ID doesn’t work. If this is successful, you will feel your Apple Watch vibrate.

Unlock your Apple Watch via your iPhone

It is also possible to go the opposite way. In the Apple Watch app, go to Passcode. There you check the option open with iPhone. This way you don’t have to enter a code every time you take off the Apple Watch. This happens when you unlock your iPhone.

Open your Mac with your Apple Watch

Did you know that you can also unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch? Ideal, because you don’t have to enter a password. This works with all Macs that are 2016 or newer. Your Apple Watch and Mac must both be linked to the same Apple ID.

To set this up go to System Preferences > Security and Privacy > General. There you will find the option “Use your Apple Watch to open apps and your Mac”. To allow this, you must first enter your password.

This only works if your Mac is on standby. If you shut down your Mac and then turn it back on, you just need to add another password.