iPhone Not Unlocking Apple Watch

[macrlz9]

This old MacRumors article sums up the issue.

iPhone Not Unlocking Your Apple Watch? Here's How to Fix the Problem

On Apple Watch, there's an option in watchOS that lets your iPhone unlock your watch as long as the iPhone is unlocked (Settings -> Passcode...

www.macrumors.com

When I try to enable "Unlock with iPhone" using the Watch app, it asks me to enter my passcode on my watch, it accepts it, then the switch turns right off. In the Setting app on watch, the option is greyed out.

Only troubleshooting I've done is reboot both devices. Unpair / re-pair would be next.

 

[jz0309]

This old MacRumors article sums up the issue.

iPhone Not Unlocking Your Apple Watch? Here's How to Fix the Problem

On Apple Watch, there's an option in watchOS that lets your iPhone unlock your watch as long as the iPhone is unlocked (Settings -> Passcode...

www.macrumors.com

When I try to enable "Unlock with iPhone" using the Watch app, it asks me to enter my passcode on my watch, it accepts it, then the switch turns right off. In the Setting app on watch, the option is greyed out.

Only troubleshooting I've done is reboot both devices. Unpair / re-pair would be next.

watch and phone model and OS versions?

 

[macrlz9]

watch and phone model and OS versions?

Sorry.

iPhone 15 Pro - 17.4.1
Watch Series 9 - 10.4

 

[jz0309]

Sorry.

iPhone 15 Pro - 17.4.1
Watch Series 9 - 10.4

has it worked in the past?
if reboot both does not fix it, then a un-pair/re-pair should be done, and I strongly suggest to set it up as a new device, not a restore

 

[macrlz9]

has it worked in the past?
if reboot both does not fix it, then a un-pair/re-pair should be done, and I strongly suggest to set it up as a new device, not a restore

Yeah it’s been working, I use the feature often. I assume it stopped with the latest update. Thank you

 

[jz0309]

Yeah it’s been working, I use the feature often. I assume it stopped with the latest update. Thank you

I'm pretty much up-to-date when it comes to OS updates and never experienced this ... the only time I enter the passcode on my watch is when I do an OS update, with phone otherwise

did you turn it off at some point?

 

[macrlz9]

I'm pretty much up-to-date when it comes to OS updates and never experienced this ... the only time I enter the passcode on my watch is when I do an OS update, with phone otherwise

did you turn it off at some point?

Same here. I always update to the latest OS. I certainly did not intentionally disable the feature. I suppose it’s possible I did it mistakenly. I’ll probably wait for another update and then unpair if it doesn’t resolve the issue.

 

[jz0309]

Same here. I always update to the latest OS. I certainly did not intentionally disable the feature. I suppose it’s possible I did it mistakenly. I’ll probably wait for another update and then unpair if it doesn’t resolve the issue.

Have you tried resetting the passcode on the watch?

 

[macrlz9]

Have you tried resetting the passcode on the watch?

Good thought. Yes I did. I also tried turning off the unlock phone with watch option listed in the old macrumors article.

 

[bad_robot]

You can try unpairing and re-pairing them which could potentially resolve the problem.

Make sure to back up the Apple Watch data it might be modified/deleted in the process

 

[Jackbequickly]

I quit using the lock feature on my Apple Watch long ago. Just do not see any use for it.

 

[xdreus]

I have the same issue… Any fix that works? Thanks.

15 pro 17.4.1
s9 10.4, recently restored due to dramatic battery drain… and now this!

 

[macrlz9]

I have the same issue? Any fix that works? Thanks.

Nope. I haven’t tried an unpair just yet. Waiting for the next update then will do that next if it isn’t resolved.

 

[iMacDragon]

I quit using the lock feature on my Apple Watch long ago. Just do not see any use for it.

If you use apple pay it's a requirement to be turned on

 

[xdreus]

Nope. I haven’t tried an unpair just yet. Waiting for the next update then will do that next if it isn’t resolved.

I have tried unpairing and… nothing. Doesn’t work.

 

[Jackbequickly]

If you use apple pay it's a requirement to be turned on

I use Apple Pay all the time but just take out my phone to do it! I guess I wear my watch a little loose and it would never hold a "lock" so it became a pain the butt and I quit using it. Not a problem! I am not making a purchase so often that it is "tiring" to pull my phone out . . . once or twice a day, that's it.

 

[macrlz9]

I have tried unpairing and… nothing. Doesn’t work.

next step would probably be unpair and setup as new without restoring from a watch backup.
For me since it’s not a huge show stopping bug I'm just going to wait.

 

[Dave 123]

Yeah. Me too. Reset and re-pair didn’t fix it for me either.

 

[macrlz9]

Update. Still not working after today’s updates. Too much going on at the moment to deal with a restore.

 

[Dave 123]

The updates since April haven't fixed this. I still have to manually unlock my Watch.

 

[jz0309]

The updates since April haven't fixed this. I still have to manually unlock my Watch.

Have you contacted Apple support?

 

[stevemiller]

this is happening for me as well.

it started after i did a restore and set up as new with both my iphone and apple watch, so there's zero legacy cruft on either device.

ironically i did this because i was getting so fed up with how many bugs were cropping up on my devices, and the internet tells you to do a restore for literally every problem. not only did fresh installs not fix ANY of my existing bugs, now i have this one on top of everything else.

 

[macrlz9]

iOS 17.6 & watchOS 10.6 did not resolve this issue. Maybe with iOS 18 & watchOS 11?

 

[jz0309]

iOS 17.6 & watchOS 10.6 did not resolve this issue. Maybe with iOS 18 & watchOS 11?

well, I'm not sure what the cause is in the first place but you've applied 2 updates already and no fix.
Time to un-pair/re-pair imho. And I strongly suggest to set up as new and not restore from backup

 

[macrlz9]

well, I'm not sure what the cause is in the first place but you've applied 2 updates already and no fix.
Time to un-pair/re-pair imho. And I strongly suggest to set up as new and not restore from backup

Totally Agree. I’m just updating the thread with my experience for others.
If it was more of a nuisance or if new hardware wasn’t right around the corner, I would be restoring. When the new phone/watch comes out, I plan to restore from backup but if that doesn’t work, setup as new will be the next step.

Also @stevemiller mentioned setup as new did not resolve for him. So who knows!