MacOS – Apple Watch unlock feature for macOS Sierra requires turning off 2-step-verification

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Yesterday I installed macOS Sierra and now I want to enable this new feature – unlocking MacBook with Apple Watch.

I opened Security & Privacy settings and tried to check this option (Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac). It asked me for my iCloud (Apple ID) password, I provided it, but then it showed me the following message:

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Some additional info (if it's relevant):

  • MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
  • macOS Sierra 10.12
  • Bluetooth LMP Version: 4.2 (0x8)

And yes, I have two-step verification enabled in my Apple ID for about a year now:

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So, to have this feature enabled I need to reduce protection of the entire Apple ID? Can I bypass this requirement and use the watch to unlock my Mac?

Best Answer

You need to disable two-step verification and enable two-factor authentication.

If you follow the steps in this article, it will show you how you can use your Watch to wake-up your Mac. One of the key parts is at the bottom of the article:

For those of you using the original Two-Step Verification instead of the Two-Factor Authentication feature introduced with iOS 10, you will need to disable Two-Step Verification on the Apple ID management site and then enable Two-Factor Authentication on an iOS device. A passcode also needs to be established on the Apple Watch.

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