How To Fix Auto Unlock On macOS 14.4 Sonoma To Work With Apple Watch
If you’re having trouble getting Auto Unlock on macOS 14.4 Sonoma to work with your Apple Watch, here is a fix to a permissions problem in System Settings that prevents Auto Unlock from being enabled.
Apple Watch unlock is a very convenient feature that allows you to unlock your Apple computer when it wakes. It also allows the wearer to approve requests to enter the administrator password without having to type the password. When prompted, the wearer double-clicks the side button of the Watch and that’s it — permission granted. This convenient feature also works for apps that utilise this feature, like 1Password.
The instructions on how to enable this feature are simple enough but in this instance, my new Sonoma (14.4.1) MacBook Pro refuses to recognise my series 5 Apple Watch.
If you’re experiencing the same issue, then here’s a solution that worked for me.
Analysis
If you successfully enabled this feature on an older version of macOS and upgraded to Sonoma (or Ventura), Apple Watch Unlock should continue to work because the permissions would have survived the OS upgrade.
However, if you’re enabling the Watch Unlock feature for the very first time on a new computer running Sonoma (and possibly…
