Your Apple Watch will alert you with a tone or a tap on the wrist, then the watch screen will ask you to double-click the side button below the Digital Crown. Replacing your Mac password with the Apple Watch requires some user input to make sure you really want to confirm your password. Logging in with the Apple Watch happens automatically so the experience feels instantaneous. This new feature in macOS Catalina works differently from unlocking your Mac with the Apple Watch. You can also use the Apple Watch to replace your Mac password without Touch ID when installing new software. Saved passwords in Safari’s Preferences.System Preferences to change Mac settings.

Starting in macOS Catalina, you can use the Apple Watch to replace your Mac password without Touch ID in even more places. New featuresĪpple Watch isn’t just great for unlocking your Mac after it wakes from sleep. This means your fingerprint or facial recognition can be used to ultimately replace your Mac password through the Apple Watch. After you enter your Mac password once, just wearing your unlocked Apple Watch is as good as Touch ID on any Mac.īonus tip: you can unlock your Apple Watch automatically if you use your passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID from your iPhone. This includes when you first turn on your Mac to log in or reboot. You still need your password occasionally like with Touch ID. With your permission, you can bypass entering your Mac password every time you log in or need to authenticate with your Mac password. MacOS Catalina uses this information to determine that it’s you sitting in front of your Mac. Your Mac can know that you’re nearby based on your Apple Watch distance. Things really get interesting if you’re a Mac user and wear the Apple Watch. The Apple Watch knows that you’re wearing it if it’s unlocked and on your wrist. Just avoid passcodes that are easy to guess like 12. Using a strong password is also important on the Apple Watch - even if it’s just a four-digit passcode. If your computer is lost or stolen, your password is the only thing keeping a stranger from accessing everything on your Mac including photos, email, and personal files. Strong and unique passwords are critical to securing the data on your Mac. You can replace your password on macOS Catalina without Touch ID if you wear an Apple Watch. Touch ID fingerprint recognition is replacing passwords on new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, but what if your Mac doesn’t have a fingerprint reader? The good news is that you don’t need to spend a thousand dollars on a new computer. You can also use CleanMyMac X to remove malware, unwanted pop-ups, and virus extensions. Find hidden junk, large old folders, unused apps, and heavy memory consumers. 9to5Mac is brought to you by CleanMyMac X.

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