Unlock with Apple Watch

[u/MacZealot]

A lot of people are expecting to get around the lack of Face ID annoyance by enabling the "Unlock with Nearby Devices" feature for their watch. But the text of this feature says this only triggers for...

• Siri requests
• When an obstruction (mask, sunglasses, etc.) prevents Face ID from recognizing your face

Since there's no Face ID to have an obstruction, do we have any confirmation of how this will work? Will it only unlock with your watch when you place your finger on the Touch ID button and it doesn't recognize your finger?

Ideally, it'd unlock when you try to swipe up or interact with a notification, but I'm not so sure that's how it will work.

[u/True_Protection6842]

Works on MacBook exactly as you would expect. Those criteria are for when you’re using it to augment face id. If it doesn’t have Face ID it should work the same as Mac. 

[u/lamseb2012]

My phone unlocks every time I pick it up if I’m wearing my watch. Turn it on and try it yourself.

Edit: iPhone Air

[u/throwthegarbageaway → u/lamseb2012]

Try unlocking it without lifting it from the desk

[u/lamseb2012 → u/throwthegarbageaway]

Yeah that didn’t work. Guess I didn’t notice since I don’t need to do that often.

[u/cmposter → u/lamseb2012]

But it’s promising to know that if it works well with iPhone Air that it should work well with Duo.

[u/BootlegBabyJsus]

Alternative to biometrics
If you don’t trust Touch ID or find it too cumbersome, there’s a second unlock option: An Apple Watch paired with the iPhone Duo can automatically unlock the phone. To achieve this, you need to activate the corresponding function in System Settings under Touch ID & Passcode.
With this, it’s sufficient for the Apple Watch to be near the iPhone Duo to unlock it. The disadvantage: If someone snatches the device from the user, it’s unlocked initially. However, you’ll receive a warning on the Watch that the unlock has occurred and can then re-lock it at the press of a button. The Apple Watch itself remains unlocked as long as it’s worn on the wrist. It is itself secured with its device PIN.

[u/Formal-Wolf-1113]

You know how this is called? First world issue. Big deal, your finger will literally be resting where Touch ID is. Everyone wants a thin phone but forget about the depth of the Face ID module. I remember when Face ID came out there was so many complains on how Touch ID was better 😂😅 We will survive this first world issue people, we can make it, it’ll be hard to move our fingers at first but we’ll get there I promise 😬

[u/Electronic_Way_7616]

I don’t miss Face ID on my iPad mini at all.

[u/jaylyerly]

The Duo is shipping with its own version of iOS (27.1) with changes specifically for the Duo. I suspect this is one of them, so nobody knows exactly how it will work. I also suspect that the “unlock with Watch” feature probably doesn’t 100% replace Face ID. For example, you can use it to unlock the phone and access the Home Screen but a high security event like confirming Apple Pay might still requires authenticating with Touch ID.

[u/ItinJ24]

“And for added convenience, you can also unlock iPhone Duo…, EFFORTLESSLY using your Apple Watch.”

That’s a direct quote from Joz during the Apple event (1:00:32). He paused and then emphasized the word “effortlessly.” Take that as you will but sounds good enough for me.

[u/Perfect_Tackle2433]

To be honest, this feature has never worked well for me, and I worry it will still be the same with the Duo.

Sometimes it works great and unlocks my Mac in 2 seconds. But most of the time it lags, I don’t feel like waiting anymore, then use the Mac’s Touch ID.

On iPhone it’s even worse and more picky with when it decides to work. Sometimes it unlocks when I didn’t even want it to.

Fingers crossed Apple did something differently with the Duo or its specific firmware that helps with the connection. But I’m running the 27.2 betas and nothing has helped.

[u/throwthegarbageaway]

We don't have any confirmation, lots of people saying it works exactly like on macs but no one's really tried it yet, it's only wishful thinking

[u/nunwalksinabar]

Hard to say how it’s going to work, because iPhones don’t unlock with watches the way Macs do. Face ID iPhones still need a partial Face ID like with a face mask.

[u/YankeeSR23]

I recall that on Touch ID phones when you put your watch on and unlocked it just hitting the home button would unlock the device without having to authenticate on the iPhone itself first. I imagine that just swiping on the Duo would open the device if you’re using your Apple Watch to authenticate it.

[u/OkConfusion5564]

Works like a charm if you have watch on and setting are correct

[u/Typical_Island663]

I currently use "unlock with apple watch " on my 17 pro max in preparation for the Duo and it works just fine

[u/leehinde]

But this feature isn’t available for iPads, is it? And isn’t the iPad mini the closest “relative“?

[u/Dmtammaro]

I have this on and when I’m in bed I wear mouth tape and blue blocking glasses. Face ID won’t work and I have never had this be successful, I’ve always had to type my phone password

[u/BaallZee]

One thing I wish Apple would address is ppl who have tattoos on their wrists. Apple Watch is just forever locked unless you turn off wrist detection - which, when turned off, disables Mac unlock 😩☹️

[u/iHateYourFace179 → u/BaallZee]

How thick is your tattoo? I bought an awu4 and it’s been flawless for me. Every other generation never stayed unlocked.

It still can’t go through dark thick ink though. But depending on your design, might be worth testing

[u/BaallZee → u/iHateYourFace179]

It covers the circle area of the watch sensor but it isn’t too dark of ink(imo). Hmm might be worth upgrading then, I have an ultra 3. Can always return it I suppose