Use the Google Pixel Watch Watch Unlock feature as a key to unlock your phone instead of using a traditional passcode or a biometric like fingerprint or facial recognition.
Your phone can also automatically lock when it disconnects from your watch. To learn about this feature, go to Explore Lock phone when left behind.
Get started with Watch Unlock
Important: Watch Unlock may take 24-48 hours to complete setup.
| Watch Requirements | Phone Requirements |
|---|---|
| A Google Pixel Watch with a passcode set up. | A Google Pixel 4a+ that supports Android 13 or higher
Tip: Other devices like tablets can't be unlocked with Watch Unlock. |
| Your watch must be on and properly positioned on your wrist. | A phone with a passcode or biometric set up. Phones with no passcode set up will not be able to set up Watch Unlock until they complete this step first. |
| Before setting up Watch Unlock, your watch must be paired to your phone's Bluetooth. | Unlock your phone with a passcode or biometric at least once a day to keep Watch Unlock active. |
Set up Watch Unlock by first unlocking your watch while it's on your wrist. Pixel Watch will stay unlocked while on your wrist. Set up Watch Unlock through either the Google Pixel Watch app or through Android Settings. To extend watch battery life on Pixel Watch, turn this feature off.
On the Google Pixel Watch app
- On your phone, open the Google Pixel Watch app
.
- Tap Watch preferences
Security
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up Watch Unlock.
Security On the Android Settings
- On your phone, go to Settings.
- Tap Security & privacy
- Follow the on-screen instructions to finish setting up Watch Unlock.
Once you've successfully added the Pixel Watch, your Watch and the Pixel Watch app will display a confirmation screen. Then, you can use Watch Unlock.
When you’re close to your phone, you can unlock it by swiping up on the lock screen or tapping a notification. You can also use your Watch to unlock your phone when your face or fingerprint isn’t recognized.
Your watch needs to be:
- Unlocked
- On your wrist
- Near your phone
If your face isn’t recognized and you have Skip lock screen turned on, your phone will unlock and show your last used screen.
Learn how to Change Face Unlock settings.
If you have Skip lock screen turned off, your phone will unlock and stay on the home screen.
On your phone
- On your phone, open the Google Pixel Watch app
- Tap Watch preferences
On your watch
- On Google Pixel Watch, swipe down
.
- Tap Security
.
Your watch will notify you when your phone has been unlocked by Watch Unlock. If the unlock was unintentional, press Lock on your watch to relock your phone.
Important: After relocking from your watch, Watch Unlock needs to be reactivated by using a passcode or biometric on your phone.
Turn off the vibration of the Watch Unlock notification in Settings.
- On Google Pixel Watch, swipe down
- Tap Vibration
Explore Lock phone when left behind
When your Pixel Watch is too far away and Bluetooth is disconnected, Lock phone when left behind locks your phone automatically. This helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access or theft.
Bluetooth disconnection and therefore phone auto locking can also happen if you either turn Airplane mode on or turn Bluetooth off.
Tip: You can still unlock your phone using biometrics, PIN, pattern, or password.
By default, the Lock phone when left behind feature is off.
Important: Turn on the Bluetooth on both your phone and watch to enable this feature.
On the Google Pixel Watch app
- On your phone, open the Google Pixel Watch app
- Tap Watch Preference
- Turn on Lock phone when left behind.
Fix Watch Unlock issues
If Watch Unlock isn't working, check your settings and try these fixes:
This helps prevent your phone from being accidentally unlocked from across the room. To relock your phone after getting an unlocked notification on your watch, press Lock on your watch.
Make sure the devices are reconnected in your Bluetooth settings. Once Bluetooth is reconnected and you’ve entered in your passcode or biometrics, Watch Unlock will begin to work again.
Follow the reset tips in Fix account and password issues for Pixel Watch.
- Make sure that your watch is paired to your phone's Bluetooth.
- Check that the Google Pixel Watch app is updated to at least version 2.0+.
- Open Google Pixel Watch
.
- Tap System
You can also check in your watch. - On Google Pixel Watch, tap Settings
- Open Google Pixel Watch
- Once you've updated the app, restart your watch.
For details, you should navigate to to trust agents and turn on Watch Unlock.
- On your phone, go to Settings.
- Tap Security & privacy
- Tap Watch Unlock (Google) to turn it on.
During setup, you may get the error "This feature was blocked by work policy. If you have questions, contact your IT admin." If you're using a Google Workspace Account that's managed by an organization, your IT admins may have chosen to turn off this feature for its corporate users.
Both features can't work at the same time. Extend Unlock keeps the device unlocked and Watch Unlock unlocks the device. You can use one feature at a time but not both simultaneously.
Your watch must be running an up-to-date version of WearOS to use Watch Unlock.
You can have one watch enrolled in Watch Unlock at any time. To add another watch, you must remove your first watch from Watch Unlock.