Set up your Apple Watch with your Mac to unlock it faster without having to enter your password or use Touch ID.
If you have co-workers who joke around, you’ve probably taken it upon yourself to lock your Mac every time you step away from it. To avoid finding yourself having to pay breakfast to your entire Open Space, it is indeed preferable to play it safe by locking your session each time you take your eyes off your machine.
But having to enter your password several times a day to unlock your Mac can become quite frustrating in the long run, especially if your Mac does not have Touch ID. However, you can skip entering your password to unlock your Mac if you have an Apple Watch.
Provided your Mac is compatible (machines from mid-2013 usually are), you’re using macOS Sierra or later, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are active on your devices, and your devices are all signed in to the same iCloud account, it’s possible to set up your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac automatically when you return to use it. Here are the steps to follow.
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1. Check your Mac’s compatibility
To verify that your machine is compatible with automatic unlocking, click on the Apple menu, then go to About This Mac.
In the information window that opens, click the System Report button.
A new window containing all the detailed information about your machine should open.
In the left column, within the Network section, select Wi-Fi. Then check in the main pane, in the part interfacesif Auto Unlock is Managed.
If so, you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.
2. Go to security options
Now open System Preferences on your Mac, and go to the Security & Privacy menu.
3. Enable Unlock with Apple Watch
On the General tab of Security & Privacy settings, check Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac.
During the process of activating your Watch to unlock your Mac, macOS may ask you to enter your session password and unlock your iPhone and Apple Watch.
You should now be able to access your Mac without having to enter your password or use Touch ID (if your machine has it), with your Apple Watch on your wrist and unlocked enough.