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iPhone no longer unlocks Watch

I just updated my Watch to watchOs 7.6.1 and my iPhone no longer unlocks the Watch. My iPhone is at iOS 14.7.1.

Apple Watch Series 4, watchOS 7

Posted on Jul 31, 2021 4:49 AM

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Posted on Jul 31, 2021 7:32 AM

Unlocking Watch Series 4 with my iPhone 8 Plus was working too and it stopped when I had iOS 14.7 installed.

After installing the latest iOS 14.7.1 I can again use this feaure.


Did you try unpair then pair again with your iPhone?

Do you have watchOS 7.6.1 installed?

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 31, 2021 7:32 AM in response to ColPanik

Unlocking Watch Series 4 with my iPhone 8 Plus was working too and it stopped when I had iOS 14.7 installed.

After installing the latest iOS 14.7.1 I can again use this feaure.


Did you try unpair then pair again with your iPhone?

Do you have watchOS 7.6.1 installed?

Jul 31, 2021 7:15 AM in response to ckuan

I have iPhone SE (2020). I have tried unlocking with the passcode screen showing and with the passcode screen hidden. I know how this is SUPPOSED to work as I have been SUCCESSFULLY unlocking the Watch with the iPhone for over a year. It stopped working with an iOS update, was restored with the latest iOS update and then defeated (again) with the latest Watch OS update. The source of the issue is obvious.

Aug 1, 2021 9:02 AM in response to ColPanik

Turn off "Unlock with Apple Watch" under iPhone settings -> Face ID & Passcode (for touch ID, it may be slightly different title).


This is a bug, and Apple will most likely issue an update in the next few days/weeks.


If you want both, you may be able to do the following dance (assuming you have Face ID; not sure if this will work for Finger Print Reader iPhones):

o iPhone screen blank (screen off)

o Raise Apple Watch until the numeric passcode unlock screen appears.

o Then immediately wake the iPhone and unlock it.

If you wake the iPhone too early, it will not work.

If you wait too long to wake and unlock the iPhone, it will not work.


NOTE: You may find suggestions to Unpair and pair the Apple Watch again. This ONLY appears to work, because that turns off "Unlock with Apple Watch". It a lot of work, to turn off the option you can do yourself in just a few seconds.

iPhone no longer unlocks Watch

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