had this happening occasionally (as in maybe once/month), usually I hit escape, then wake up either my iMac or MBA and it works
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Apple Watch signal too weak to unlock new MacBook Pro...
- Thread starter spencecb
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Try turning off icloud keychain. Turn it back on. Disable and enable the watch unlock setting. Worked for me.
update: maybe not
update: maybe not
Last edited:
Mine seems to no longer have the issue since the last batch of OS updates. Not terribly useful, but figured it was worth it to check back in since my previous post.
Same issues for me - Apple Watch series 2 + MacBook Pro 2021 16 inch M1 Max, running Monterey 12.1
Ok. I think I might have found a workaround. Try toggling on and off screen sharing in the preferences. This seems to have fixed the issue for me. Yup. Works every time now. Note that "internet sharing" must also be off for the watch to work.
It was also a little bit quick, to find a workaround, test the workaround and post it on macrumors all within 9 minutes
I'm reading a lot of issues with the new 14" and 16" machines they're all over the place from popping speakers, to Apple Watch unlock issues, memory leaks, you name it. people are experiencing problems pretty frequently.
I recently had a m1 air and now have a 13" m1 pro and had no issues with them.
I might wait on the reviews and final verdict on the rumored redesigned MacBook (air?) M2? if apple finally comes around and gives it a bigger screen I'd be interested.
or just wait for the next 2022 MacBook Pro 14/16" to be released.
I recently had a m1 air and now have a 13" m1 pro and had no issues with them.
I might wait on the reviews and final verdict on the rumored redesigned MacBook (air?) M2? if apple finally comes around and gives it a bigger screen I'd be interested.
or just wait for the next 2022 MacBook Pro 14/16" to be released.
I don't believe this did anything for me. I tried what you said, and it still wouldn't work. I then also toggled off "unlock this Mac with your watch" and back on, then put the Mac to sleep. Did not work first time, but has for several attempts now. However, I have got it to work for a few days before by turning that feature off then back on. Who the hell knows...
Yup, the same occassional problem I have with my 2018 Mac Mini, which is also behind a monitor. My M1 16", which I've mostly been using in bed (on my stomach; that is, some 10-20 cm's away from my AW), never had this problem with exactly the same AW on my hand.
Just happened to me. This says the 2.4GHz part is key when you also have a 5GHz network.
Apple watch unlock not reliable if Mac on… - Apple Community
Unlock doesn't work often for me only at work....And we only have one network to connect to so I don't know how to make sure my watch is connected to 2.4Ghz. At home I don't have the issue, so it's just gotta be a glitch that will hopefully get fixed, right? 
It happens to me about 20% of the time at home. Very annoying. I haven't fiddled with my WiFi network settings yet to address it.Unlock doesn't work often for me only at work....And we only have one network to connect to so I don't know how to make sure my watch is connected to 2.4Ghz. At home I don't have the issue, so it's just gotta be a glitch that will hopefully get fixed, right?
Apple watch unlock failure is a pretty common experience for me too. I really never did much sleuthing to notice trends. I thought perhaps that my M1 Mine being behind the monitor might be the cause. I took the lazy way out and bought the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and have been happy since.
Mine continues to be highly intermittent. Between how flakey it is and me often unlocking it "past my official bedtime" (so the watch refuses if it's "sleep o'clock"), I'm more surprised when it does actually unlock than when it doesn't. Anyone else had any breakthroughs?
I haven't bothered the try get the mac on 2.4G "fix" because I purposefully want different SSIDs in my house to try force stuff onto 5 GHz where I can. Because I'll get 4x the throughput on an 80 MHz 5 GHz channel than I will trying to force it to a 20 MHz 2.4 GHz one. 😕
I haven't bothered the try get the mac on 2.4G "fix" because I purposefully want different SSIDs in my house to try force stuff onto 5 GHz where I can. Because I'll get 4x the throughput on an 80 MHz 5 GHz channel than I will trying to force it to a 20 MHz 2.4 GHz one. 😕
No problems here. Series 6 and M1 Max MBP.
That said, I did have problems with my old 2016 15” MBP and the same watch.
That said, I did have problems with my old 2016 15” MBP and the same watch.