Part of the appeal of the Apple ecosystem is how great devices within it work together. Using one of the best iPhones or a great Mac works well, but they're better when paired with each other. For example, it's possible to unlock your Mac by simply wearing your unlocked Apple Watch, saving you time and preserving your security. Some Mac computers ship with biometric authentication, like the M2 MacBook Air or the Mac Studio, but not all models do. That means for many Mac users, the quickest way to unlock their computer will be with an Apple Watch.

What you need to do before unlocking your Mac with Apple Watch

After everything is set up, your Apple Watch can unlock your Mac automatically. However, there are some things you'll need to take care of first. Make sure that your iPhone and Mac are both signed into your Apple ID account, and that an Apple Watch is connected to your smartphone. You'll also need to ensure two-factor authentication is enabled for your Apple ID.

How to enable two-factor authentication for your Apple ID

If you have a Mac computer running macOS Catalina or earlier, you will see a System Preferences menu. To find this setting, you can search "two-factor authentication" in System Preferences. Alternatively, you can update your Mac.

  1. ​​​​​​Open System Settings on your Mac and select Apple ID.
  2. Select Sign-In & Security on the left pane.
    The sign-in and security pane in macOS.
  3. Click on Turn on next to Two-factor authentication. Follow the on-screen steps to continue.
    The two-factor authentication settings in System Settings.

You'll also need to make sure your Mac is technically compatible with the automatic unlock feature. Macs from 2013 or newer are generally compatible, running macOS High Sierra or later. To check whether your Mac is supported, follow the steps below.

How to check if your Mac supports automatic unlock

If you aren't sure whether your Mac meets the system requirements for automatic unlocking via your Apple Watch, you can check by following these steps.

  1. Click the Apple menu and select About This Mac.
    The Apple menu highlighting the About this Mac button.
  2. Select the More Info button.
    The more info button in the About page in macOS.
  3. Click System Report at the bottom of the page.
    The system report button in macOS.
  4. Select the Wi-Fi tab in the sidebar.
    The wifi tab in the Mac system report.
  5. Look for Auto Unlock in the list. If the result says Supported, you can unlock your Mac with an Apple Watch.
    The Auto Unlock support information in the Mac system report.

How to enable automatic unlock on your Mac

After you've ensured that your Mac meets the system requirements for automatic unlock, you can enable the setting in macOS.

  1. Wear your Apple Watch on your wrist and unlock it by entering the passcode. Make sure you're not too far away from the Mac.
  2. You can also unlock your iPhone and keep it next to you.
  3. Open System Settings on your Mac.
  4. Select the Touch ID & Password tab. You might see a tab called Password & Security if you are using a Mac without Touch ID.
    The Touch ID and Password tab of macOS Sonoma.
  5. Click the toggles beside the Apple Watch you want to use to unlock your Mac.
    Apple Watch unlock settings in macOS Sonoma.

How to automatically unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch

Now, every time you're wearing your unlocked Apple Watch, your Mac will automatically unlock when you wake it up from sleep. You'll see a prompt on your Apple Watch telling you that it has unlocked your Mac. For security reasons, this will only work when your Apple Watch is on your wrist, unlocked. So, if you've put your Apple Watch on your desk, your Mac will remain locked. Like with biometric authentication, this will not work immediately after your Mac restarts. That means you'll need to enter your password before using your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.

Why you should use automatic unlock with Apple Watch

The Apple Watch 9 smart stack widgets.

Some Macs feature Touch ID, and it's a pretty fast way to unlock your computer. However, using an Apple Watch is the fastest way to unlock your Mac, since it happens automatically. Since you've probably spent a lot of money to create an ecosystem featuring a Mac and an Apple Watch, you'll want to make use of this feature.