Typing a complex password every time you wake your Mac from sleep is a minor but frequent annoyance. While newer MacBooks feature Touch ID, desktop Macs like the Mac Studio or Mac mini require manual password entry unless you purchase a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID. However, if you own an Apple Watch, you can bypass this entirely. Apple’s ecosystem allows you to securely and automatically unlock your Mac simply by sitting down in front of it while wearing your unlocked Apple Watch.
Prerequisites for Auto-Unlock
Before attempting to enable this feature, you must ensure your devices meet Apple’s strict security requirements. Auto-Unlock relies on proximity sensors and encrypted Bluetooth/Wi-Fi handshakes.
- Your Mac must be a mid-2013 or newer model running macOS Sierra or later.
- Your Apple Watch must be running watchOS 3 or later.
- Both devices must be signed into the exact same Apple ID / iCloud account.
- Crucial: Your Apple ID must have Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) enabled.
- Your Apple Watch must have a passcode set, and it must be currently unlocked (on your wrist).
- Both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must be turned on for both the Mac and the Apple Watch.
- Your Mac cannot be sharing its internet connection (Internet Sharing must be disabled).
Enabling the Feature on Your Mac
If all prerequisites are met, enabling the feature takes only a few clicks within the macOS settings.
- Click the Apple Logo () in the top-left corner of your Mac’s screen.
- Select System Settings… (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
- In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down and click on Touch ID & Password (or “Security & Privacy” then the “General” tab on older systems).
- Scroll down the right-hand pane until you find the Apple Watch section.
- You will see the name of your Apple Watch listed here. Toggle the switch to the On position next to it.
- Your Mac will prompt you to enter your Mac administrator password to authorize the change. Enter it and press Return.
macOS will briefly display a “Turning on…” loading indicator as it establishes the secure pairing with your watch.
How to Use Auto-Unlock
Using the feature requires no active participation on your part. The next time your Mac goes to sleep or activates the screen saver, simply wake it up by tapping the keyboard or moving the mouse.
Instead of displaying the password entry box, the screen will show a “Unlocking with Apple Watch…” message. Your Apple Watch will emit a subtle haptic tap on your wrist, and you will hear a soft clicking sound to confirm the action, simultaneously granting you full access to the Mac desktop.
Note: You will still be required to manually type your password the very first time you power on or restart the Mac, or if you log out of your user account entirely. Auto-Unlock only works when waking the Mac from sleep.