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Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch: The Complete Guide to iPhone Unlock

drfone

Nov 28, 2024 • Filed to: Remove Screen Lock • Proven solutions

Unlocking your iPhone with an Apple Watch might be the fastest way to get to it if you've ever wanted to. The cool new tool from Apple, Apple Watch iPhone unlock, lets you quickly unlock your phone while wearing your watch, even if you're masking. This method is not only easy to use, but it is also safe, protecting your privacy and making it easy to get to.

This guide will show you how to easily unlock your iPhone with your Apple Watch. It will also show you how to use Dr. Fone's Screen Unlock tool to unlock your iPhone without your Apple Watch. Let's look at the simplest ways to get into your iPhone.

Part 1. How to Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch

Using your Apple Watch to unlock an iPhone is very cool. If your iPhone has been locked or blocked, this really comes in handy, especially if you do not wish to lose critical data. Getting the iPhone unlocked using the Apple Watch is absolutely possible as well if you haven't attempted it yet. With these instructions, we guide you through the steps involved in setting it up.

1.1 Special Conditions to Use Your Apple Watch to Unlock Your iPhone

To ensure unlocking of your iPhone using your Apple Watch is a success, the following conditions must be met:

  • Devices and OS Requirements: For this purpose, your iPhone should support Face ID. It simply means it has to be an iPhone X or later and the iOS version running on your iPhone should be iOS 14.5 or later. In addition to the iPhone, an Apple Watch Series 3 or later with WatchOS 7.4 or later installed is also required.
  • Pair with an iPhone: Pair the Apple Watch with an iPhone that will unlock it.
  • Wrist Detection: From the Apple Watch, enable Wrist Detection, which will ensure your passcode is used to secure your Apple Watch from subsequent steps
  • Put on Unlocked Watch: Put on the unlocked Apple Watch.
  • Face Covering: This is helpful when wearing something that partially obscures your face, like sunglasses, a mask, or ski goggles.
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Enabled: The iPhone and Apple Watch both have to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled. Do note that this does not imply that you need an internet connection via Wi-Fi. Just enable these on the iPhone and Apple Watch.

1.2 Setting Up “Unlock with Apple Watch” on Your iPhone

Once the initial requirements are met, follow these steps to enable the feature that lets you unlock your iPhone with an Apple Watch.

Step 1: Access iPhone Settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Enable Face ID & Passcode

Go to “Face ID & Passcode” and enter your passcode if prompted.

Step 3: Activate Apple Watch Unlock Feature

Scroll to find the use Apple Watch to unlock iPhone option, then switch it on.

Step 4: Confirm the Settings on the iPhone

A notification will appear on your iPhone, confirming that the Apple Watch iPhone unlock is now active. Approve this setting to complete the setup.

Using it, your Apple Watch should unlock your iPhone with ease. It is perfect for busy moments when entering a passcode is inconvenient.

settings unlock with apple watch

1.3 Steps to Unlock iPhone with Apple Watch

Here's how to unlock an iPhone with your Apple Watch:

Step 1: Unlock with Apple Watch

Make sure you're wearing a mask, sunglasses, or other face cover that might obscure Face ID and your Apple Watch is unlocked and securely on your wrist.

Step 2: Wake Up Your iPhone

Either tap the screen or raise your iPhone to activate it.

Step 3: Glance at Your iPhone

Look at your iPhone, and your watch will unlock your iPhone automatically. Your Apple Watch will then vibrate to confirm the unlock.

use apple watch to unlock iphone

Part 2. Methods Other Than Passcode to Unlock iPhone

What if you don't have the necessary information or the Apple Watch is unable to unlock your iPhone? The point is invalid. In case you ever lose your Apple Watch or forget your passcode, you may find three methods here that can help you open your iPhone.

Method 1. Use Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS)

Screen locks on iPhones, iPads, and iPod touch can be bypassed with the help of Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS), a specialized tool that supports Face ID, Touch ID, numerical passcodes, and alphanumerical passcodes. The method of unlocking is very easy, and you can run the program on your own at home. You can also use it to turn off Screen Time without a passcode, delete your Apple ID without a password, and get rid of MDM limits without losing any data. All of these beautiful features can be found on a range of iOS products.

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Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS)

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Step 1: Open Wondershare Dr.Fone on your computer. In the Toolbox, choose Screen Unlock, then select the iOS devices option.

open screen unlock tool

Step 2: Click Unlock iOS Screen to begin unlocking your iPad and bypassing the screen lock.

proceed to unlock the ios device

Step 3: Press Start to begin the process. Ensure your iPad is sufficiently charged to avoid interruptions.

start the unlocking process

Step 4: Follow the on-screen instructions to put your iPad into Recovery Mode. If you're unable to, try using DFU Mode for assistance.

put the device in recovery mode

Step 5: Once in Recovery Mode, confirm your iPad's model and iOS version. If everything is correct, click Start to continue.

cross check device details

Step 6: The iOS firmware will begin downloading. Monitor the progress bar. If the download is slow, click Copy to manually download the file.

download ios firmware

Step 7: After the firmware is verified, click Unlock Now to initiate the unlocking process.

verify and unlock idevice

Step 8: A prompt will appear for confirmation. Enter the code displayed, then select Unlock to remove the screen lock.

confirm the unlocking process

Step 9: Keep your iPad connected during the firmware installation. Disconnecting could cause problems.

execute unlocking idevice

Step 10: Once the process finishes, click Done. If the iPad is still locked, click Try Again to repeat the process.

conclude unlocking screen lock

Method 2: Unlocking Your iPhone with iTunes

Using iTunes is the recommended and official way to administer your iOS device. Using it will be a secure manner to restore your iPhone along with removing the passcode. The procedure you shall use depends on whether your iPhone was previously synced on your computer using iTunes. Let’s break this up into two Scenarios:

Scenario 1: If You Have Never Synced Your iPhone with iTunes

  1. Connect Your iPhone to an Unfamiliar Computer

Plug your locked iPhone into a computer where it hasn’t been synced before.

  1. Enter Recovery Mode

Follow the steps specific to your iPhone model to put it into recovery mode.

  1. Respond to the iTunes Prompt

Once iTunes detects your iPhone in recovery mode, a prompt will appear, presenting options to either “Update” or “Restore.”

  1. Select “Restore”

Choose “Restore” to initiate the restoration process.

  1. Erase and Unlock

It will delete all your data and settings from iTunes. Finally, it will boot as new, and the device will be unlocked.

bypass iphone passcode with itunes

Scenario 2: If You Have Synced Your iPhone with iTunes Previously

  1. Launch and Update iTunes

Open iTunes on your trusted computer and ensure it’s up to date, then connect your iPhone.

  1. Select Your Device

Look for your iPhone’s icon in the top left corner of iTunes and click it.

  1. Back-Up Your iPhone

Under the “Summary” tab, select “Back Up Now” if you haven’t recently saved a backup.

  1. Restore Your iPhone

After backing up, click “Restore iPhone” and confirm by selecting “Restore” again. iTunes will begin restoring your iPhone to its factory settings, which removes the passcode and unlocks the device.

restore iphone passcode with itunes

Method 3: Unlock Your iPhone Using iCloud

If you cannot unlock iPhone from the Apple Watch, you can use iCloud. The process only requires a little memory since you just have to remember your Apple ID and passcode. The only thing to ensure beforehand is that the Find My iPhone feature must be activated on your device.

erase iphone with icloud

Step 1: Access iCloud via Another Device

Using another device, open up any web browser type iCloud.com, and sign in using your Apple ID.

Step 2: Choose "Find My" and Find iPhone

Sign in and then choose "Find My", then click on "All Devices" at the top of the page to list all the devices connected with your account.

Step 3: Choose Your iPhone and Choose "Erase Device"

Choose the iPhone you wish to unlock by using the map or choosing it from the list, and then click on "Erase This Device".

Step 4: End the Unlock Process Based on the Instructions on Your Device

Complete the iCloud Remote Erase by following all the instructions on the device. Then, restart the iPhone; it should appear with no screen passcode. Now, you are good to go and set up this iPhone as a new one.

Part 3: Solutions for Apple Watch Not Unlocking iPhone

Various problems have been reported by users concerning the ability of an iPhone to unlock using an Apple Watch. In case your iPhone, which unlocks via Apple Watch, is not functioning properly, the following methods shall be instrumental in solving the problem.

Solution 1: Update Software on Both Devices

First, make sure that your iPhone and your Apple Watch share the latest version of their respective software. Your iPhone should be up to its latest iOS, while your Apple Watch should be at its latest watchOS. That may just sort out the compatibility issues leading to a watch not unlocking your iPhone.

Solution 2: Refresh the Device Connection

Refresh the device to unlock the iPhone even though unlocking with the watch cannot. Both need to have Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned off on the iPhone and the Apple Watch. Then both can be restored to their active mode. This will reboot the pair between the iPhone and your Apple Watch and make communication free-flowing between both.

Solution 3: Restart the iPhone and Apple Watch

One more problem-solving mechanism in terms of connectivity is to restart both devices. This would basically just be turning off your iPhone, or your Apple Watch, waiting for a few seconds, and then turning them back on. This will normally sort out tiny glitches that may be stopping the Apple Watch from unlocking the iPhone.

Solution 4: Toggle the “Unlock with Apple Watch” Feature

Try to toggle off the "Unlock with Apple Watch" option and then turn it back on. One would have to go to the iPhone settings, find the option to unlock iPhone with Apple Watch, and toggle it on and off. This refreshes the feature and may resolve any issues.

Solution 5: Reset Network Settings

If network problems are causing the issue, reset your iPhone’s network settings. Go to Settings and General. sslectTransfer or Reset iPhone and click Reset and tap Reset Network Settings. This will clear any network configurations that might be interfering with the Apple Watch iPhone unlock feature.

Conclusion:

Unlocking your iPhone with your Apple Watch offers a convenient and secure way to access your device, especially when Face ID isn’t feasible. By following the steps outlined above, you can set up this feature easily and enjoy a smoother experience with your Apple ecosystem. If you encounter any issues, simple solutions like updating software, refreshing connections, or toggling the feature can quickly restore functionality. With Dr.Fone - Screen Unlock (iOS), unlocking your iPhone becomes more flexible, making day-to-day tasks easier without the hassle of entering a passcode.

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Daisy Raines

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