How to Unlock Your Mac with Your Apple Watch

Typing your password every time you leave your Mac alone for a few minutes can be annoying. Luckily, if you own and regularly wear an Apple Watch, you might not have to.

In macOS Sierra, Apple has added a nifty new feature: the ability to bypass the login screen on your Mac computer as long as you are wearing your Apple Watch. So no more repetitively typing in your password when the screensaver comes on. Here’s how to do it.

1. Figure out if your Mac is compatible.
   Most Mac devices newer than 2013 should be compatible. You’ll need macOS Sierra on your computer, and you Apple Watch should be running watchOS 3. If you’re unsure if your Mac is compatible with macOS Sierra, find out here.

2. Your Apple Watch and Mac both need a password.
   To set up a password on a Mac device, open System Preferences > Security & Privacy, and you should be able to set up a new password.

3. Set up Two-Factor Authentication.
   You can turn this on from your Apple ID screen on an iPhone or iPad, or online using iCloud.com. You should get a notification on your iPhone. Just sign in, and your Two-Factor Authentication should be turned on.

4. Turn on the Auto Unlock Feature.
   On your Mac, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy, and check the box next to the “Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac” option.

5. Once all of this is set up, you should be good to go. The next time you open your Mac while wearing your Apple Watch, you’ll see a “Unlocking with Apple Watch” notification on your computer — you’ll also get a popup on your Apple Watch. No more typing in your password.

Of course, your Apple Watch must be unlocked before it can unlock your Mac device. But thankfully, this adds an extra layer of security in case someone ever snatches your Watch — they’ll need to know your passcode before they can easily access your Mac device!