Unlocking Mac with  Watch not working

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MacInWin

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I had to unpair and re-pair my Watch to fix a problem, which meant that the "Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac" was reset to off. So, I opened Sys Prefs, checked the box and provided the necessary password. Now I'm staring at an endless "Turning on ..." and spinner. Before this issue, the process was quick. This one has been running 30 minutes and if I try to leave the screen I get a warning that if I leave it the process will not finish.

Anybody else seeing this? MBP 15" mid-2015, AW2, both running latest versions of the OS.
 

chscag

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LOL. How many times have we read that statement: "A reboot fixed it." Good information as usual Jake. :)
 
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I had the same issue - checked "Allow your Apple watch to unlock this computer" and got the spinning "Turning on...." prompt. A reboot fixed it for me too.

Lisa
 
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Reboot didnt work

You need to install high sierra for it to be compatible.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT206995

Make sure that your Mac and Apple Watch meet the system requirements for this feature:
Apple Watch using watchOS 3 or later.
Mid-2013 or newer Mac using macOS Sierra or later.
Using Auto Unlock with Apple Watch Series 3 requires macOS High Sierra.
 
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MacInWin

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Using Auto Unlock with Apple Watch Series 3 requires macOS High Sierra.
I've not heard that. And it's not mentioned at all in the Apple Watch user guide online: http://help.apple.com/watch/#/apd4200675b8

I don't have an AW3, just AW2, but it seems surprising to me that Apple would levy that requirement and not mention it at all. Where did you get that information?
 
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I have an AW3. While I have High Sierra now on my MB Air, I was running Sierra when I got my AW3 and it worked fine. I actually had issues getting it to unlock when I installed High Sierra. Getting the feature to work on High Sierra meant restarting the MB Air and shutting down and restarting the AW3. Then when I checked the feature in System Preferences it worked.

So either I was lucky that Sierra and unlock worked with my AW3 or Apple is wrong. I have found with any tech sometimes things will work that shouldn't and because I didn't know it shouldn't it worked anyway. Strange but sometimes the tech gremlins work in my favor. ;D

Lisa
 
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I tried with my macbook and aw3 and the macbook couldnt connect to the aw3. I chatted support they gave me the link on how to unlock the macbook with the aw3.

My AW2 worked flawlessly before hand.

IDK I still have sierra on my macbook I was reading a few places that said that high sierra had issues so I didnt install it...

Maybe when I get home Ill reboot the macbook and aw3
 
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MacInWin

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I re-read the article you posted and see where it says that AW3 requires HS, but for the life of me I cannot think why that would be so. Unlocking uses BT and wifi to negotiate with the MBP and Watch, so if an AW2 can unlock Sierra, I see no reason an AW3 shouldn't. I find it really incredible if Apple made something as useful as unlocking so restricted on the new Watch. Glad I don't have one, now.
 

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