Other “Unlock with Apple Watch” not working on iPhone 13 Pro Max

[Boardiesboi]

Edit 26 September 2021:
Apple is aware of this issue and it will be fixed in a future software update
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212828

Original post below.
——————————————————————
Picked up my iPhone 13 Pro Max earlier this morning and I’m having issues with turning on “unlock with Apple Watch” feature under Face ID settings.

It keeps telling me “unable to communicate with Apple Watch”. My watch is paired and shows up in the Watch app.

When I set up the new phone, I chose “restore from iCloud backup” and tapped yes when it asked me if I wanted to pair my watch with the new phone

I’ve already tried the following:
- Update iOS 15 (there’s a small update ~450MB after you first set up the phone)
- Unpair and re-pair my Apple Watch
- Power down both devices and restart
- Reset Face ID
- Toggle “unlock with iPhone“ in Watch app settings on and off

I raised this in the first impressions and Australian preorder thread and it seems a few of us are having the same issue.

I’ve already provided feedback to Apple via https://www.apple.com/feedback/

Please also log similar feedback so Apple can understand the extent of the problem and fix it ASAP. This was sooooo useful when wearing a mask and trying to use the phone.

Edit: @Alkmaarder seems to have found a workaround after talking to Apple support

SOLVED

I have contacted AppleCare Support today ... Basically there are two options:

1. Wait until next update which will solve the issue. And use code / no mask in meanwhile.

2. Workaround:
- Make a NEW Back-up for the iPhone13 (Pro).
- Erase phone and set up as new phone.
- Restore from backup iPhone13 NOT from original backup (iPhone11/12 etc).
- Go to 'settings' > 'Face ID & Passcode' V 'Unlock with Apple Watch' ... now the toggle switch and connection should work!

I can confirm that (2) DOES work. Backed up to a Mac, erase all contents, restore from Mac and ”unlock with Apple Watch” is now working for me again.

 

[tigercraig1]

I set up my iPhone 13 Pro Max today and now I can not activate unlock phone using Apple Watch. I keep getting error message unable communicate with Apple Watch.
it seems there are a few others having the same issue. I have reported to Apple on their product page.

 

[tigercraig1]

Picked up my iPhone 13 Pro Max earlier this morning and I’m having issues with turning on “unlock with Apple Watch” feature under Face ID settings.

It keeps telling me “unable to communicate with Apple Watch”. My watch is paired and shows up in the Watch app.

When I set up the new phone, I chose “restore from iCloud backup” and tapped yes when it asked me if I wanted to pair my watch with the new phone

I’ve already tried the following:
- Update iOS 15 (there’s a small update ~450MB after you first set up the phone)
- Unpair and re-pair my Apple Watch
- Power down both devices and restart
- Reset Face ID
- Toggle “unlock with iPhone“ in Watch app settings on and off

I raised this in the first impressions and Australian preorder thread and it seems a few of us are having the same issue.

I’ve already provided feedback to Apple via https://www.apple.com/feedback/

Thanks for posting this I thought I was going nuts trying to figure this out. I used link to report issue also

 

[Boardiesboi]

Thanks for posting this I thought I was going nuts trying to figure this out. I used link to report issue also

A lot of people of Whirlpool are also having similar issues.

 

[raab]

Same here

I haven't tried resetting the phone up from scratch as I can't be bothered with that rigamarole

 

[thecatranch]

Same issue here. Did phone to phone transfer and my watch failed to transfer so I had to Manually reset the watch and re pair anyway.

 

[jaytee86]

Oh my I thought I was the only one… I turned my phone & watch on/off so many times, and re-paired my watch 3x but it doesn’t seem to help.. very reluctant to setup iPhone as new cos too many settings to remember and adjust…

hope there’s a fix for this… sigh..

 

[zhaidoudou123]

Same here.
I called AppleCare and she told me there have been a few reports about this issue and collected my logs.
I think in next few days Apple will release 15.0.1 hot fix for iPhone 13 series.
In China's forum, people encountering such issue mostly transferred data directly from old iPhone to new ones and some people fixed it by restoring backup from iCloud.

 

[mentalman1369]

Same here.
I called AppleCare and she told me there have been a few reports about this issue and collected my logs.
I think in next few days Apple will release 15.0.1 hot fix for iPhone 13 series.

Yep this feature also broken on my 13 Pro on iOS 15.0 and Series 6 watchOS 8.0. Also called Apple Support and they're apparently aware and will hopefully fix it in the next update. I'm curious though -- is anyone running 15.1 beta by any chance to see if it's fixed in the beta?

 

[Boardiesboi]

Same here.
I called AppleCare and she told me there have been a few reports about this issue and collected my logs.
I think in next few days Apple will release 15.0.1 hot fix for iPhone 13 series.
In China's forum, people encountering such issue mostly transferred data directly from old iPhone to new ones and some people fixed it by restoring backup from iCloud.

Hopefully it's within the next few days. The more feedback raised on their website the faster they'd fix it.

Having to type my password every time I unlock the phone when I have a mask on is a PITA. I already changed my passcode to 4 digits and it's still annoying.

 

[X3n0n]

Same here with 13 Pro and Watch Series 4 after data migration.
Thanks for the feed, will follow closely

 

[mmacrumor]

For people where the unlock is not working. Did you move to a Touch ID phone and then to iPhone 13 pro max? Like I had a 12 pro max running iOS 15 RC and watch os 8 RC. Unlock with watch was working fine. I took a back up of 12 sold it. Restored the backup in 8 and used it for a week and restored the 8’s back up in the 13 this afternoon. Now unlock with watch is not working.

 

[Boardiesboi]

For people where the unlock is not working. Did you move to a Touch ID phone and then to iPhone 13 pro max? Like I had a 12 pro max running iOS 15 RC and watch os 8 RC. Unlock with watch was working fine. I took a back up of 12 sold it. Restored the backup in 8 and used it for a week and restored the 8’s back up in the 13 this afternoon. Now unlock with watch is not working.

Nah I came from a 12 Pro Max to a 13 Pro Max

 

[tigercraig1]

I went from 12 pro max ios15 , watchos8 all working fine to iphone 13 pro max to not working

 

[raab]

Came from an XS Max to 13 Pro Max, unlock with watch was working fine prior

 

[Gator5000e]

Heck it’s been doing the same on the 12 Pro I’m replacing today. I think it’s clearly a 15 issue.

 

[Boardiesboi]

Heck it’s been doing the same on the 12 Pro I’m replacing today. I think it’s clearly a 15 issue.

It was working in my 12 pro max this morning before I transferred to the new phone.

 

[MarkWade]

Same thing here. Called AppleCare who said a few people have reported it and it will be escalated to engineering for a fix but they will call back tomorrow if they get a workaround.

 

[mmacrumor]

Wasted time with Apple L1. Made me to unpair and pair my watch and then arranged a call back tomorrow.

 

[darkinners]

Not only unlock iPhone with an apple watch does not work for me anymore on my iPhone 13 Pro Max(upgrade from iPhone 12 Pro Max)
Also, there was a notification banner notifying you "unlocking apple watch" that was introduced in iOS 14.7 (I think?), now this banner is gone too, it disappeared even I am unlock the apple watch my 13 Pro Max.

 

[MacDevil7334]

Did anyone who is having this issue set up as a new phone? Or did everyone do direct data transfer or iCloud backup? Picking up my 13 Pro later this morning and was already considering setting up as new. This might tip me in that direction.

 

[hanshuY]

Same issue here.
- I picked up my new iphone13 today. "unlocking with apple watch" was working well on iPhone XS, but it fails on my new iPhone 13.

 

[BrettDS]

Did anyone who is having this issue set up as a new phone? Or did everyone do direct data transfer or iCloud backup? Picking up my 13 Pro later this morning and was already considering setting up as new. This might tip me in that direction.

I did the data transfer from my old phone and I have this issue. If you do wind up setting up the phone as new let us know what happens either way.

 

[mtulman1]

Forgive me but the work around is typing in your passcode on the watch yes? I haven’t needed this feature recently as masks are not required anywhere. The watch works with the 13 yes? That isn’t an issue correct? Thx

 

[helandamuzhu]

Same here! I got an Apple Watch series 5 and I do have the same issue! Also I have lost all of my workout budges! BTW I don't know why but today my workout doesn't count to the total calories. Do you have the same issue there?