Apple Watch unlock in clamshell mode often fails

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
September 22, 2021
13 replies
561 views

I have a MacBookPro which I use mostly in Clamshell mode with an external monitor. Most of the time, 1P doesn't let me unlock with my Watch despite having the option checked. Sometimes, it actually shows the dialog very briefly but it goes away before I can interact. Clicking on the watch icon on the 1P window either does nothing or flashes up the window.

(I don't think this is new for 1P8, and I'm not even sure it's unique to 1P versus other uses of Apple-watch unlock...)

1Password Version: 8.2.2 (80202057)
Extension Version: 2.0.6
OS Version: 11.6

Betas

1P_PeterG

1Password Alum

Hi @"a.jaffe", thanks for this report. I have filed an issue with our developers to look into this further. We do want to make 1Password flexible and ensure that you can do what you need with your setup! Thanks again for letting us know - we'll check this out. 👍

ref: dev/core/core#10260

A

Anonymous

Just to give some more information: Earlier today, Apple Watch unlock was not working in clamshell model. I then had to use the laptop in normal "open" mode, and thereafter back to clamshell. Ever since then (even through some reboots) Apple Watch unlock has continued to work with 1P8 in clamshell mode.

1P_PeterG

1Password Alum

That's fascinating, @"a.jaffe", thank you for this. I've added it to our internal issue so that our developers know what you've seen around this. Thank you for sharing the info! This may well make an important difference.

A

Anonymous

This is still happening, and now there seems to be a somewhat worse symptom: In 1Password For Safari, when I click on the 1PW icon in a text field, it sometimes just flashes up what I think is the Apple Watch login window notification for a very short time (much less than 1 second) before it disappears. But it doesn't interact with the watch itself -- there is no opportunity to do the usual double-click of the side button. If I click the text-field icon enough times, it seems to bring up the actual 1Password application, so I can eventually get things working, but it's definitely a buggy experience.

If it's useful:

1Password for Safari 2.3.0 (but I think I've seen this before this latest version)
1Password 8.6.0 80600068 beta
MacOS 12.2.1
MacBook Pro 15-inch 2019 (intel), running in clamshell mode with external display

1P_Tommy

1Password Employee

@"a.jaffe"

I can provide you with one of the troubleshooting steps we provide when emailing in. I can't guarantee it will; help but it may. Please do not skip any steps.

Disable whichever unlock method(s) you're using -- Touch ID and/or Apple Watch unlock -- completely from within 1Password Preferences > Security and in System Preferences
Check for any apply any remaining macOS updates -- Update macOS on Mac - Apple Support
Apply any Apple watch updates.
If you have not done so already on any applicable Mac(s), do an SMC reset -- How to reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support
Restart your Mac normally.
Setup your preferred unlock method(s) again: Touch ID to unlock 1Password on your Mac or Apple Watch to unlock 1Password on your Mac

A

Anonymous

Unfortunately, this didn't help.

Is this a known problem and this is the known solution?

Or is this an unusual problem and this is general advice for unlock-related problems?

Note that this is not a new issue -- I first reported it last September but has been going on for a while. Note also that it's intermittent, but I can't tell if it's really "random" or I just haven't been able to track down the cause...

In any event, how can I make sure this is reported as an actual bug?