Question about AW auto unlock function

[djas]

Hello everyone.

First off, I am not an Apple user. However, my Mrs is (please refer to our sigs below)

I am thinking of finally purchasing an AW for her. Currently, we are both on Garmins.

My question is "Does the AW has smart lock feature"? I asked because on our Garmins, I have the options of overriding my phone's lock screen if I have the Garmin in Bluetooth range. In effect, I don't have to input my PIN or FPS to get to the home screen directly and will auto lock once I'm out of Bluetooth range.

Can the AW or iOS supports this feature? I'm not an Apple person so any advice will be appreciated here.

I don't wanna ask the Mrs as the AW purchase is a surprise gift and hopefully she doesn't see this post before the purchase. We share the same MR account.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Groot]

Apple watch will automatically lock if you remove it from the wrist. If you don't remove it, it will never lock.

You will have to input a PIN every time to unlock it, regardless of iphone proximity. This is a security feature since you can use Apple Pay (and other ID sensitive apps) on the Watch, so the watch must be sure it is only the owner using it for identity sensitive applications.

 

[dave006]

My question is "Does the AW has smart lock feature"? I asked because on our Garmins, I have the options of overriding my phone's lock screen if I have the Garmin in Bluetooth range. In effect, I don't have to input my PIN or FPS to get to the home screen directly and will auto lock once I'm out of Bluetooth range.

No not from Apple watch to iPhone but you can use your iPhone to unlock your watch. By default your Apple watch is locked until you put it on and enter your Apple watch PIN (on the watch). As long as you leave it on your wrist it will remain unlocked until you remove it from your wrist.

Can the AW or iOS supports this feature? I'm not an Apple person so any advice will be appreciated here.

Sure but not sure that Apple cares about your watch controlling your iPhone.


Dave

 

[dave006]

Apple watch will automatically lock if you remove it from the wrist. If you don't remove it, it will never lock.

Not quite a 100% rule, if your Apple watch is slightly loose the sensor can lose contact with your skin service and the Apple watch will lock.

You will have to input a PIN every time to unlock it, regardless of iphone proximity. This is a security feature since you can use Apple Pay (and other ID sensitive apps) on the Watch, so the watch must be sure it is only the owner using it for identity sensitive applications.

You can setup your Apple watch and the paired iPhone to allow your iPhone to unlock your Apple watch when you unlock your iPhone your Apple watch will be automatically unlocked from your iPhone if your Apple watch is on your wrist and within Bluetooth range.

Note: just by walking into Bluetooth range your iPhone will not automatically detect your Apple watch is locked and unlock it.

Dave

 

[djas]

@Groot @dave006:

Thank you both for taking the time to reply. Not exactly relevant to the question I needed answering to but TIL something new about the AW.

I think I will just go to an Apple store and check out the particular feature I'm looking for.

Have a great day.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

Smart Unlock is an Android feature.

No, an Apple Watch cannot be used to automatically unlock an iPhone (or keep it unlocked). I'd imagine this is a conscious security decision on Apple's part. At least, unless and until they change their mind.

Interestingly, Apple Watch can be used for unlocking a Mac (I do use and enjoy the feature). However, the Mac must already have been powered-on and manually logged into the user account before the feature works. Essentially, it works when the Mac has been set to require a password after wake-from-sleep or screen saver begins. This allows me to set my Mac to "require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins," which otherwise might be a bit of a pain. I've never seen it trigger when I'm more than about five feet from my Mac.

 

[djas]

Smart Unlock is an Android feature.

No, an Apple Watch cannot be used to automatically unlock an iPhone (or keep it unlocked). I'd imagine this is a conscious security decision on Apple's part. At least, unless and until they change their mind.

Interestingly, Apple Watch can be used for unlocking a Mac (I do use and enjoy the feature). However, the Mac must already have been powered-on and manually logged into the user account before the feature works. Essentially, it works when the Mac has been set to require a password after wake-from-sleep or screen saver begins. This allows me to set my Mac to "require password immediately after sleep or screen saver begins," which otherwise might be a bit of a pain. I've never seen it trigger when I'm more than about five feet from my Mac.

Appreciate the info. Well, that's a bummer. In that case, I will cancel the AW purchase and get something else for her. An Ear Pods (?) maybe.

Thanks again.

 

[matrix07]

an Apple Watch cannot be used to automatically unlock an iPhone (or keep it unlocked). I'd imagine this is a conscious security decision on Apple's part. At least, unless and until they change their mind.

Seems to me the OP doesn’t understand iPhone X with his question. With his wife’s iPhone X, the unlock process is simply swiping up, the same process you did if you didn’t have a password protection on so I’m not sure what he needs an unnecessary feature - watch to unlock the phone - for. Because even if the watch can unlock his wife’s iPhone X she still have to do the same gesture - swipe up - after all.

For the record, I would personally be uneasy if my watch is automatically unlocked the phone when it’s in range. I know because I’m using the watch every day for the past 3 years. The watch range is so good that many occasions, sometimes almost a whole day, my phone is out of my sight completely. That’d mean anyone nearby could have used it. God no.

 

[djas]

Seems to me the OP doesn’t understand iPhone X with his question. With his wife’s iPhone X, the unlock process is simply swiping up, the same process you did if you didn’t have a password protection on so I’m not sure what he needs an unnecessary feature - watch to unlock the phone - for. Because even if the watch can unlock his wife’s iPhone X she still have to do the same gesture - swipe up - after all.

For the record, I would personally be uneasy if my watch is automatically unlocked the phone when it’s in range. I know because I’m using the watch every day for the past 3 years. The watch range is so good that many occasions, sometimes almost a whole day, my phone is out of my sight completely. That’d mean anyone nearby could have used it. God no.

Yes, I'm not an Apple user of course I will not understand or know iOS features. That is why this thread is created.

Anyway, I already received the necessary info from one of our fellow poster here who wrote that Smart Lock is an Android feature only. That's regrettable.

So a pair of earpods it is then. At least that'd work across platforms, right?

PS: TIL it is called Air Pods. oops.