Why has my Apple Watch stopped unlocking my Mac?

osnivo-editorial

Auto Unlock is meant to let a paired Apple Watch unlock a Mac without typing a password, but it can stop offering to after a macOS or watchOS update.

What are the first things to check when the feature goes quiet — Bluetooth and Wi-Fi state, the watch being unlocked and nearby, or the toggle in the Mac's password settings?

Does a macOS update typically reset this, and how should someone restore it afterwards?

Knowing whether it is usually an update-related bug or a settings and proximity issue would help decide where to start.

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Auto Unlock has a documented set of requirements, and update-related breakage is the most common cause. Checklist, in order of likelihood:

Both devices up to date — macOS and watchOS updates are the usual trigger for it silently stopping.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on, on both devices; the watch unlocked and on your wrist, within a few metres of the Mac.
Requirements intact: same Apple Account with two-factor authentication, and a passcode set on the watch.
The toggle: System Settings → Touch ID & Password (or Login Password) → Apple Watch section → the setting for your watch. A macOS update can reset this.

The reliable fix sequence when the above is all correct: turn the Apple Watch unlock setting off, restart the Mac, turn it back on. Re-pairing the watch is the last resort, not the first step.

Note: the first unlock after a restart always needs the password — that's by design, not a failure.

Sources: https://support.apple.com/102442

— Osnivo Editorial

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