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June 18, 2023
Question

Inconsistent Apple Watch unlock

  • June 18, 2023
  • 18 replies
  • 937 views

I'm having the same problem as was discussed here.

https://1password.community/discussion/140229/1password-mac-unlock-with-apple-watch-inconsistent

No solution was listed in that thread. I'm running a Mac Studio M2 Max with macOS 13.4, and an Apple Watch 6 with watchOS 9.5.1.

The Mac itself unlocks every time with the watch. 1Password fails to detect the watch after the screen saver locks the display; in fact, when it fails to detect the watch, the option to unlock with the watch is entirely missing from the Security settings.

Thanks for any help.


1Password Version: 8.10.7
Extension Version: 2.11.0
OS Version: 13.4
Browser:_ Safari 16.5 (18615.2.9.11.4)

18 replies

1P_Dave
1Password Employee
June 19, 2023

Hello @GratisHushed! 👋

I'm sorry that you're also running into trouble when trying to unlock 1Password using your Apple Watch. Our developers have identified an issue in macOS that can cause issues with apps connecting to a user's Apple Watch and a bug report has been filed with Apple so that they can investigate this further.

You mentioned that the issue occurs when your display gets turned off, can you tell me:

  1. Does your Mac sleep when the display gets turned off?
  2. After your display turns off and the issue occurs, if you keep your Mac awake (and the display on) are you eventually able to unlock 1Password using your Apple Watch? Some users report that it can take an hour or longer for the connection to be re-established.

I look forward to hearing from you. 🙂

-Dave

ref: dev/core/core#18393

June 19, 2023
  1. No, I did think of that and turned off the setting that lets the computer sleep when the display sleeps.
  2. Yes! Weird! I had not noticed that before. I also tried various other settings like 1Password never locks on idle, only on screen saver; or, macOS screen saver immediately locks macOS, etc. Nothing consistent to report.

If it's a macOS bug, then I guess we just have to wait on Apple. Thanks again for your help.

1P_Dave
1Password Employee
June 20, 2023

@GratisHushed

Thank you for the reply. If the issue occurs after your Mac sleeps, and Apple Watch unlock starts working again if you leave the Mac awake for long enough, then that does indeed sound like the issue that our developers are tracking.

As a workaround for now, you can turn the Apple Watch unlock option off and then back in the System Settings for macOS to get things going again. However I recognize that this isn't an convenient workaround and hopefully this is something that can be fixed in the future.

-Dave

1P_Dave
1Password Employee
July 11, 2023

@GratisHushed

Our development team is having trouble reproducing the intermittent Apple Watch unlock behaviour that you reported when using the latest version(s) of watchOS (9.5.2) and macOS (Ventura 13.4.1).

We'd like to know if you're still experiencing the issue and, if you are, to let us know what versions of watchOS and macOS you're currently running. If you're not already on the latest version of both watchOS (9.5.2) and macOS (Ventura 13.4.1) you can update to them by following these steps:

Let me know if you can still reproduce the issue, and what specific versions of watchOS and macOS you're running, and I can pass along your report to our development team.

-Dave

July 11, 2023

I’ll turn the option back on and test it for a while. I had turned it off and was using only Touch ID since that was more reliable.

Thanks.

1P_Dave
1Password Employee
July 11, 2023

Sounds good, let me know if you do run into the issue again. 🙂

-Dave

July 13, 2023

I am still having the problem, unfortunately.

1P_Dave
1Password Employee
July 13, 2023

@GratisHushed

I'm sorry to hear that you're still seeing the issue. I've let our developers know and we'll reach out if any other information is needed from your end.

-Dave

September 18, 2023

I am also experiencing the same issue. Mac Studio, macOS 13.5.2, 1Password for Mac 8.10.15, Apple Watch 8, WatchOS 9.6.2
Only occasionally am I able to unlock my Mac using my Apple Watch. Usually, it doesn't work at all and Unlock with Apple Watch is not visible in 1Password Settings:Security.

1P_Tommy
1Password Employee
September 19, 2023

@zder

Going out on a limb here, it sure sounds like you are experiencing a known issue that has been reported to Apple for an OS side resolution. If you like I'd be happy to look over a report. However, your description aligns perfectly with that other have said disappearing and reappearing. If you wish to send a report over and let us review it further please follow the instructions below.

  1. Open 1Password.
  2. Press command and comma. The 1Password preferences will open.
  3. Tap Advanced.
  4. Click Send Diagnostics.
  5. Click Reveal to locate the report in your downloads folder.

Attach the diagnostics to an email message addressed to support+forum@1password.com.

You should receive an automated reply from our BitBot assistant with a Support ID number. Please post that number here. Thanks very much!