Tag: Technology Tips

How To Unlock Your Mac Using Auto-Unlock With Your Apple Watch

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts6 Comments

Are you fed up with having to enter a password or passcode to unlock your iMac or MacBook every time you come back to use it?

My iMac requests a password if the screensaver is active. For security reasons, I recommend any device you use that contains personal information has an active password or passcode to open the device.

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Apple Tips

However, I recently discovered a nifty little trick to unlock my iMac (without entering the password) using my Apple Watch. 

Auto Unlock works when you’re wearing your unlocked Apple Watch, and your Mac is close by. You may need to move your Apple Watch a little closer to your iMac or MacBook to get it to work.   

Ensure that your Mac and Apple Watch have the latest software updates; otherwise, the auto-unlock feature may not work.

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. Click here to find out about two-factor authentication.
  • Your Apple Watch has a passcode.
  • On your iMac or MacBook, choose the Apple menu (the Apple logo) – System Preferences, then click Security & Privacy. 
  • Make sure the ‘General‘ tab is open. 
  • Tick the ‘Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac‘ or ‘Allow your Apple Watch to unlock your Mac, box’
Screenshot showing the location of the 'Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac' box on the security & privacy tab on Apple
Tick the ‘Use your Apple Watch to unlock apps and your Mac.’
  • You’re done!

No more having to enter your password when approaching your Mac device. 

This feature does not work for unlocking iPads or iPhones.

Do you have any tips or tricks for using Apple devices? Leave the details in the comments section.

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How To Find And Use The Secret Button On Your iPhone

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts49 Comments

Did you know that the Apple iPhone has a secret button that most owners see every day, but didn’t know existed?

Where is the secret button?

It’s the Apple logo on the back on your iPhone.

How To Find And Use The Secret Button On Your iPhone

How do I setup and use the Apple logo as a button?

Follow these simple instructions to activate the button and set it up for a function you want quick access to on your iPhone. For these instructions, I’m going to set it up to get instant access to the control centre on my iPhone.

Note: Will only work on the iPhone 8 and later models.

  • Ensure you have the latest version of IOS (at the time of writing this post, IOS 14.4).
  • Click on Settings
Click on Settings
  • Click on Accessibility
Click on Accessibility
  • Click on Touch
Click on Touch
  • Click on Back Tap (to turn it on).
Back Tap
  • Click on Double or Triple Tap
Double or triple tap
  • Chose which function you want to open when tapping the Apple logo. You can choose one for double tapping and another function when triple tapping the logo. In my case, I’m choosing Control Centre when double tapping the Apple logo.
Select which function you want to assign to the button
  • The Apple logo button is now set up to work when double or triple tapping on it. Here’s what I see after double tapping the Apple logo on the back of my iPhone.
Control Centre
  • This also works if you have a silicone protective cover on your iPhone (like I do).

Do you know who has access to the details on your iPhone and iPad? Check out Rob’s post, Privacy Review, on his blog – Rob’s Tech Talk.

Any questions about this post? Don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section.

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