Can't Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch? Here is the Quick Fix!

With iOS 14.5, Apple has made it possible to unlock a Face up ID-equipped iPhone using the Apple Sentinel when wearing a mask. Then long equally your Apple Watch is perfectly set upwards and with you, this all-new feature works as advertised. Simply raise your iPhone and glance at the device to unlock it. That'due south every bit straightforward as it sounds! Unfortunately, the "Unlock with Apple Watch" feature is not working for some iPhone users on iOS 14.5. If you are one of them, bank check out these five tips and tricks to set up the "Can't unlock iPhone with Apple tree Watch" outcome.

Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch Not Working? Try out These 5 Fixes!

Especially when dealing with an all-new feature that requires yous to follow many dos and don'ts, it'due south better to bank check off all the requirements advisedly. Peradventure y'all forgot to have annotation of an essential requirement, or your iPhone model or software version is incompatible with this characteristic. Therefore, ensure that your iPhone and Apple Watch are compatible and yous accept set up everything correctly. If you still face this issue, check out the fixes from the tabular array beneath to use Apple Watch to unlock your iPhone.

Pre-requisites to Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch

Make sure y'all have an iPhone with Face ID support. iPhone Ten, Xs, Xs Max, XR, iPhone eleven, xi Pro, eleven Pro Max, and iPhone 12 models support Face ID. If Face ID is not working on your device, the detailed guide linked here could assistance y'all set up the issues.
Ensure that your iPhone is running iOS 14.5 or afterwards.
Make sure yous have an Apple Watch Series 3 or later.
Your Apple Watch must exist running watchOS 7.iv or later.
Be sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are enabled on your iPhone and Apple Watch.
Make sure you take enabled passcode on your Apple Scout (Spotter app on iPhone -> Passcode -> Plow on passcode)
Ensure that Wrist Detection is enabled on your Apple Lookout (Lookout man app on iPhone -> Passcode -> Wrist Detection)
Make certain your Apple tree Watch is on your wrist and unlocked.
Be sure you are wearing a mask that covers your rima oris and nose.
Unlock with Apple Sentry doesn't use Face ID to recognize and authenticate you.
Proceed in mind that Unlock with Apple Watch feature works only for unlocking your iPhone.
Exercise note that the Unlock with Apple Watch characteristic doesn't verify your identity for use with Apple tree Pay, password-protected apps, or passwords stored in Keychain.

i. Plow Off/ On Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

For Unlock with Apple Sentry feature to work smoothly, both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth must exist enabled. If you lot can't unlock your iOS device using the Apple Watch even if they are enabled, turn them off/on.

On your iPhone: Swipe downwardly from the top right corner of the screen to admission the Control Center. And then, tap on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth buttons to turn them off. Wait for some fourth dimension and so tap on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth buttons once again to turn them on.

On your Apple Watch: Open up the Settings app and become to Wi-Fi/ Bluetooth. Now, turn off the toggles for both the connectivity options. Wait for some time, and then toggle back on the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options.

ii. Turn Off/ On Unlock with Apple Sentinel

If the connectivity does not seem to be the problem backside the unlocking feature not working equally intended, try turning off/ on the main characteristic itself. Exist sure to try out this uncomplicated yet viable trick.

Get to the Settings app on your iPhone. So, scroll down and choose Face ID & Passcode. After that, under the 'Unlock with Apple Watch' section, toggle off/ on the switch right next to [Your name] Apple Watch.

While you are at it, we as well suggest resetting the wrist detection feature. Head over to the Passcode department in the Watch app on your iPhone. Then, plow off/ on the Wrist Detection feature.

At present, try using the Unlock with Apple tree Sentry characteristic while wearing a face up mask to see if you have eliminated the problem or not.

3. Force Restart Both Your iPhone and Apple Sentry

If you still can't unlock your iPhone with Apple tree Sentry, force restart or difficult reset both your iPhone and Apple Watch. The difficult reset process is reliable in fixing miscellaneous issues. Therefore, it'due south better to effort information technology out as well.

To forcefulness restart your iPhone X or later (with Face ID): Press and quickly release the volume up push button. Then, press and quickly release the volume down button. After that, agree downwards the side button until your iPhone screen goes black and the Apple logo pops up.

Force restart your iPhone — Credit: Apple

To strength restart your Apple Lookout: Press and hold the side push button and Digital Crown at the aforementioned fourth dimension for at to the lowest degree ten seconds or until you come across the Apple logo on the screen.

Once your Apple Lookout man and iPhone have rebooted, try to unlock the iPhone past raising the device and glancing at it while wearing a mask. The Apple tree Lookout man gives haptic feedback and shows an alarm when the iPhone is unlocked successfully. If you lot didn't hateful to unlock your iPhone, tap on the "Lock iPhone" button on your Apple Watch. All the same, the next time you lot unlock your iPhone after tapping this button, you volition have to type in the passcode.

4. Reset Network Settings on Your iPhone

If the problem persists, I would recommend you reset network settings on your iPhone. The reason why I suggest yous effort this solution is that it has the knack of fixing network-related issues in iOS 14 that might cause the "Unlock with Apple Spotter" characteristic to not work as intended.

Go to Settings app -> General -> Reset -> Reset Network Settings. At present, enter your device passcode and confirm the activeness. In one case you have successfully reset the network settings to the factory default, connect your device to a Wi-Fi network. Also, ensure that Bluetooth is enabled on your device. Later on that, bank check out if you are able to unlock your iPhone using your Apple Watch.

5. Erase Your Apple Watch and Pair It With Your iPhone Again

If none of the solutions to a higher place accept worked in resolving the Unlock iPhone with Apple Sentinel not working outcome, it's fourth dimension to erase the Apple Spotter and pair it with the iPhone in one case once more. Whenever Apple Watch runs into complex issues, I count on this solution to rescue me. And I must say that it doesn't disappoint me on most occasions.

Since watchOS automatically does the job of backing up the data, you shouldn't worry most losing whatever of import data. Navigate to Lookout app on your iPhone -> General -> Reset -> Erase All Content and Settings. One time y'all take reset your Apple Scout, follow the onscreen instructions to pair the smartwatch with iPhone once once again.

Tips to Gear up "Tin't Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch" Effect

That's information technology! Now, I hope the Unlock with Apple Watch feature has started functioning on your iPhone while wearing a mask. On many occasions, you can ready issues by taking care of the requirements. And then, make sure you kickoff check off the pre-requisites and then move on to other solutions we have listed above. Which one of these methods came in clutch in sorting out the unlocking problems on your iPhone and Apple tree Watch? Be sure to let me know the fox that has helped you troubleshoot the problem.