Did you ever buy a used iPhone with an iCloud Lock and you didn’t know how to unlock it? The 3Unlocker Freeware will help to skip the Activation Lock screen without Apple ID or password. Follow this guide to unlock your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch without Apple ID or password. The Near Lock app is free but if you want background monitoring you’ll need to pay $3.99 to upgrade to the Pro account. That will automatically unlock the Mac when you walk up to it with the iPhone.
If you use your Mac at work, you lock that thing pretty hard. It’s not just your work stuff or personal details at risk, it’s your browser with all the important sites logged in. You really don’t want an angry, or worse, a mischievous coworker to get their hands on such a gold mine, do you?
But then you need to enter a password every time you want to unlock your Mac. Wouldn’t it be great if when you were near your Mac it would disable the lock screen and when you’re away, it would be password protected again? If your Mac is relatively new, and you have an iPhone, this is possible.
If you have an iPhone 5S or newer you can even use your iPhone’s Touch ID to unlock your Mac. Using your own fingerprint to unlock your computer? Doesn’t get much more secure than that.
Installing and Setting Up Near Lock
Near Lock is the app we’ll be using to automatically disable the lock screen when you’re carrying your iPhone with you and you approach your Mac. First, let’s check if your Mac is compatible or not. Near Lock uses Bluetooth LE to determine the iPhone’s location in relation to the Mac. This means both devices need to be running Bluetooth LE.
Here are the compatible devices:
- iPhone 4S or later
- iMac late 2012 or later
- MacBook Air 2011 or later
- MacBook Pro 2012 or later
- Mac mini 2011 or later
- Mac Pro late 2013 or later
To get started, download the OS X app and iPhone app and start them both.
Pick up the iOS app and enable background monitoring for the app. You’ll also need to enable Bluetooth on both devices. Now, from the Mac app, authenticate the connection with your iPhone.
Then the iOS app will ask you to enter the password for your Mac. This is the same password that you use to unlock your Mac right now, the password you set up when you first got your Mac. The app assures you that it will only store the password locally in an encrypted manner.
Click the Near Lock menu bar utility and you can turn Near Lock on and off from here. You can also see how far the iPhone is from the Mac right now. You can specify the range in which the iPhone will automatically unlock your Mac.
The Near Lock app is free but if you want background monitoring you’ll need to pay $3.99 to upgrade to the Pro account. That will automatically unlock the Mac when you walk up to it with the iPhone. When you’re using the free app you’ll need to open it on the iPhone for the Mac to unlock (which kind of defeats the purpose).
Using Touch ID to Unlock Your Mac
If you’re so security conscious that you can’t allow only physical proximity to unlock the Mac. Install FingerKey ($1.99). It will unlock your Mac using the thumb print on the iPhone 5S and higher.
The FingerKey app includes the ability to unlock multiple computers from a distance, 256-bit AES encryption, and a Notification Center Today widget for quick access.
The developer says that support for logging into Windows and Linux computers is coming soon as is a Pattern Unlock feature for logging in via touchscreen gestures. – 9 to 5 Mac
Check out the video below to see how the app works.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.Also See#iphone #productivity
Did You Know
Initially, Apple didn't own the iPhone trademark. It was owned by Cisco for their VoIP phones.
More in iOS
How To Unlock A Locked Application Mac
Top 5 RSS Reader Apps for iPhone
Auto Unlock works when you're wearing your unlocked watch and are very close to your Mac. If necessary, move your watch a little closer.
How to automatically log in
This feature gives you instant access to your Mac when you're wearing your Apple Watch. Just wake up your Mac and you’re ready to go—without typing a password.
The first time you log in after you turn on, restart, or log out of your Mac, you must log in by entering your password manually. After that, Apple Watch logs in for you.
How to approve other password requests
You can also use your Apple Watch to approve other requests to enter your administrator password. This feature requires watchOS 6 and macOS Catalina. It works anywhere you need to type your Mac password, such as when viewing passwords in Safari preferences, unlocking a locked note, approving an app installation, or unlocking settings in System Preferences.
For example, when you click the lock to make a change in System Preferences, your Mac prompts you to approve with Apple Watch or Touch ID:
To automatically enter your password without having to type it, just double-click the side button on your Apple Watch:
How To Unlock A Mac With Apple Watch
How to set up Auto Unlock
- Make sure that your Mac and Apple Watch meet the system requirements for Auto Unlock.
- Make sure that your devices are set up as follows:
- Your Mac has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on.
- Your Mac and Apple Watch are signed in to iCloud with the same Apple ID, and your Apple ID is using two-factor authentication.
- Your Apple Watch is using a passcode.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy. Select ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or ”Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.”
How To Unlock My Mac
If you're not sure whether your Mac supports Auto Unlock, press and hold the Option key while choosing Apple menu > System Information. Select Wi-Fi in the sidebar, then look for ”Auto Unlock: Supported” on the right:
How To Unlock A Macally Keyboard
Learn more
If you're having difficulty getting Auto Unlock to work, try these solutions:
- In Security & Privacy preferences, deselect ”Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac” or ”Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac.” Then restart your Mac and turn this setting back on.
- Make sure that your Mac isn't using Internet sharing or screen sharing.
Learn about more Continuity features for your Apple devices.