New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….
Original story (published on November 26, 2020) follows:
Apple products are designed to work seamlessly with each other which is one of the main reasons most individuals choose to go the Apple route.
Take for example the feature that allows Apple Watch users to unlock their Macs without the need to enter a password since the computer can automatically sense when the watch is nearby.
While this might not sound like a big deal, those who use their computers every day know that it can save a lot of time in the long run.
Unfortunately, after installing the macOS Big Sur update, many Mac users have been complaining that they aren’t able to unlock their computers with the Apple Watch.
Further, Apple recently rolled out the watchOS 7.1 update which supposedly resolved the issue that prevented some users from unlocking their Macs with the Apple Watch.
We’ve shared the changelog for the watchOS 7.1 update below for reference:
Seeing the changelog, one would believe that the problem should no longer arise, but sadly, this does not seem to be the case since some users still aren’t able to unlock their Macs running macOS Big Sur after installing the watchOS 7.1 update.
Apple is yet to make any comment on the matter. Moreover, we do not expect to see an acknowledgment from the Cupertino tech giant. Although it may roll out another patch down the line.
The Apple Watch is a Series 4 with WatchOS 7.1 (18R590) (Source)
In case you aren’t willing to wait for an official fix to go live, there are a few ways you can get your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac running Big Sur.
Workarounds for Apple Watch not unlocking Macs on macOS Big Sur
- Possible fix for those on watchOS 7.1:
One user has claimed that those who have installed the watchOS 7.1 update simply need to sign out of iCloud, reboot, and sign in again.
- Fix “AutoUnlock” errors on your Mac:
These steps were shared by an individual over on the Macrumors forums and has apparently fixed the problem for several users.
However, in case this does not work or if for some reason you do not wish to perform the multiple steps listed above, you could also reset your Apple Watch.
- Reset the Apple Watch:
Resetting your Apple Watch is a fairly easy process and involves just a few taps and also a bit of patience. Now, to reset your Apple Watch, head to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.
Wait for the watch to reset and then pair it with your Mac and iPhone. Once done, you should be able to unlock your Mac running macOS Big Sur with your Apple Watch as usual.
Following either of these three or all three workarounds provided above should fix the issue. In case you’re still facing issues while trying to unlock your Mac running macOS Big Sur via the Apple Watch, let us know in the comments below.
That being said, this isn’t the only issue troubling Mac users after installing the macOS Big Sur update.
We’ve reported on several bugs and issues including the issue where users aren’t able to print documents, battery and overheating problems, and the single login screen background. So it seems Apple still has a lot to work upon.
Update 1 (December 16)
10:53 am (IST): Apple released the macOS Big Sur 11.1 update and it seems that the company has fixed the issue which prevented some users from unlocking their Macs with the Apple Watch at times, at least according to the changelog.
We’ve shared part of the changelog which mentions all the bugs and issues that were fixed via the new software update below:
NOTE: There are more such stories in our dedicated Apple section so be sure to go through it as well.
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