How to Unlock MacBook with Apple Watch

With an Apple Watch, you can enter your Mac computer without typing in the password. Your Apple Watch could recognize your identity and lets you log in to your Mac automatically. This eliminates the need to remember and enter your Mac user account password. Your Apple Watch will act as a password for your machine.

What Do You Need to Unlock MacBook with Apple Watch

Before you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac, you need to make sure your devices are compatible with the Auto Unlock feature.

1. An Apple Watch: Apple Watch (1st generation)/Apple Watch Series 1/Apple Watch Series 2/Apple Watch Series 3/Apple Watch Series 4/Apple Watch Series 5, and it must be running watchOS 3 or later.
2. A MacBook: MacBook introduced in 2015 or later/MacBook Pro introduced in late 2013 or later/MacBook Air introduced in 2013 or later/Mac mini introduced in 2014 or later/iMac introduced in 2013 or later/iMac Pro (all models)/Mac Pro introduced in 2013 or later. Also, it must be running macOS Sierra or later.
3. An iCloud Account: It is mandatory that both your Apple Watch and MacBook are logged in with the same iCloud account.

Set up Auto Unlock on Mac

Setting up Auto Unlock is pretty easy as everything needs only to be done is on your Mac. There is nothing that you need to configure on your Apple Watch to be able to use your Watch to unlock your Mac.

Step 1. Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Go to the “Settings” on your iPhone > Tap on your name > Select “Password & Security” > Tap on the “Turn On Two-Factor Authentication” option to enable it.

Step 2. Enable Bluetooth on Your Mac

Click on the Apple logo at the top-left corner > Select “System Preferences” > Select the “Network” option > Click on the “Turn Wi-Fi On” button to enable WiFi on your Mac.

Step 3. Turn on Bluetooth on Your Mac

Click on the Apple logo at the top > Select “System Preferences” > Choose the “Bluetooth” option > Select the “Turn Bluetooth On” button to enable Bluetooth on your Mac.

Step 4. Enable the Auto Unlock Feature on Your MacBook

Click on the Apple logo at the top of your screen > Choose “System Preferences” > Click on the “Security & Privacy” option > Click on “Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac”.

Unlock MacBook with Apple Watch Automatically

Now that you have linked your Apple Watch with your MacBook, enabled all the required settings, and authenticated yourself, you can use your Apple Watch to unlock your MacBook by following the simple steps below.

1. Unlock your Apple Watch if it is not already.
2. Get closer to your MacBook and your MacBook will be automatically unlocked.

Best Way to Manage Passcodes on iPhone

If you use your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac and authenticate yourself in various apps, you might forget your actual app and website passwords. And if you do, one way to retrieve the saved login details from your iOS devices is to use a third-party app called AnyUnlock – iPhone Password Unlocker.

AnyUnlock is an complete iOS password manager that lets you fetch and view the saved passwords on your iPhone and iPad devices. You can also use it to retrieve and remove some passcodes you forgot, etc. Here we list the steps to help you find, view, and export your passwords on your device.

Step 1. Download AnyUnlock and run it on your computer > Connect your iPhone to the computer > Click on the “iOS Password Manager” button.

Step 2. Select the “Scan Now” option on the following screen.

Step 3. Minutes later, you will see your device’s passwords on your screen. You can choose to export any passcode you want.

The Bottom Line

If you want an easy way to get into your MacBook, using your Apple Watch to unlock your MacBook is a good idea. The above guide shows how to set this feature up and use it on your Apple devices. And if you want to manage all your passwords on your device, AnyUnlock is a good choice for you.