Apple Watch not unlocking Mac

This seems to happen with every macOS upgrade or update.

For reference, be sure to follow the instructions in Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch - Apple Support including the need to restart your Mac as explained in the second bullet point under If you need help.

If you followed all of those instructions, my recommendation is to do nothing for a while. Wait at least 24 hours, and then try again. Because that's what I did, and it just spontaneously started working again. Yes it was on my wrist and unlocked. Yes I was signed into iCloud on everything. Yes all system requirements were met, 2FA enabled, everything exactly as it states. Having exhausted all those steps there was nothing else to do so I literally did nothing. No signing out / in... nothing. It just decided to start working again.

If you don't want to wait that long or if you have reason to believe it will never work again, the following procedure is the last and final one before contacting Apple.

1. Turn off WiFi on Mac
2. Turn off "Watch Unlock" on Mac
3. Shut down Mac
4. Shut down Watch
5. Turn on Mac
6. Turn on Watch
7. Turn on WiFi on Mac
8. Turn on "Watch Unlock" on Mac

Done.

Hi,

Try to setting toggle on/off and restart MacBook Pro could solve your issue.

Go to System Preferences > Touch ID&Password, switch off unlock your Mac with your Apple Watch.

Restart MacBook Pro then switch on unlock your Mac with your AppleWatch and input your password.

Thank you so I followed these instructions but Apple Watch still not unlocking Mac???