Unlock with Apple Watch feature

[Dgray2712]

You don't need to be connected to WiFi - you just need WiFi to be turned on for both devices. It doesn't have to be connected to each other. The two devices use WiFi and Bluetooth to see each other and time how long it takes for packets to get from one device to the other and back, which tells the phone how close the watch is - it needs to be within 3 meters (10 feet) IIRC.

I don’t think so.

 

[Not Quite Right]

That is by design. See https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212208

Okay so that is a thing. Thanks for getting my back!

 

[doogald]

I don’t think so.

Ah, I thought that you already had 14.5 and 7.4 and said that you couldn't unlock with a mask on because you don't have WiFi. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[doogald]

The feature is not perfect. I was at the grocery store today and while trying to unlock to send a text to my wife, the phone was telling me to move it closer to my watch in order to unlock. I was holding the phone in my left hand with the watch on my left wrist - it would’ve been hard to be any closer. The first failure I’ve seen so far.

 

[EdwinG]

The feature is not perfect. I was at the grocery store today and while trying to unlock to send a text to my wife, the phone was telling me to move it closer to my watch in order to unlock. I was holding the phone in my left hand with the watch on my left wrist - it would’ve been hard to be any closer. The first failure I’ve seen so far.

I had a similar experience yesterday for most of the day.

I have no recollection of trying to unlock my phone with my face covering today.

 

[akavbb]

It is annoying that it needs wifi to be activated in order to operate.

 

[Annie_M]

Ive used it “out in the wild”, away fron WiFi and haven’t had a problem.

 

[Annie_M]

It activated without Wifi?

Yes, it did. And it worked again today at a local convenience store, where I stop every morning to get my morning caffeine! I have WiFi enabled on both devices but was not connected to WiFi in the store.

 

[Annie_M]

Ain't you the happiest chap

I suppose that’s one way of putting it!

 

[iwoodland]

Works great for me!!

 

[akavbb]

Yes, it did. And it worked again today at a local convenience store, where I stop every morning to get my morning caffeine! I have WiFi enabled on both devices but was not connected to WiFi in the store.

Thank you for the clarification.
I do not want to activate wifi on my wrist for health reasons.

 

[Annie_M]

I believe that you have to have it activated, it just doesn’t need to be connected.