How to Lock Your iPhone with Your Apple Watch

You probably have an Apple Watch, you already understand how nice a companion it’s. Not solely will it enable you monitor many well being options, like your sleep and coronary heart price, nevertheless it additionally enhances your iPhone by serving to you get notifications proper in your wrist.

However there’s much more your Apple Watch can do. From controlling your iPhone’s digital camera to triggering Focus modes and even serving to you discover your misplaced iPhone, your Apple Watch does much more than simply inform the time.

However that’s not all. You may also arrange your Apple Watch to do one other useful factor: Lock your iPhone with out even touching it.

Granted, you’ll must do some work your self. However when you set it up, you’ll be capable of lock your iPhone from just about anyplace, even in the event you don’t have it with you.

Does Apple Let You Lock Your iPhone With Your Apple Watch?

Sadly, as issues stand proper now, there’s no built-in function that allows you to lock your iPhone along with your Apple Watch.

Nonetheless, the excellent news is that simply because it doesn’t exist doesn’t imply we will’t create it. Due to different built-in options like Focus modes and Shortcuts, there’s a workaround that may allow you to lock your iPhone along with your Apple Watch.

It takes fairly a couple of steps, although, so that you’ll must be positive you might have sufficient time and the fitting gear.

What You Must Lock Your iPhone With Your Apple Watch

First, you could ensure you have the fitting iPhone, Apple Watch, and working programs to do that trick.

You’ll want an iPhone operating at the very least iOS 14.5 or a later software program replace. Meaning an iPhone 6s or newer mannequin. You’ll be able to examine your present software program model by going to Settings > Normal > Software program Replace.

You’ll additionally want at the very least an Apple Watch Collection 3 or newer operating at the very least watchOS 7. You’ll be able to examine your present model out of your iPhone by going to the Watch app > Normal > Software program Replace.

Additionally, you in all probability already know this, however the iPhone and Apple Watch you’ll be utilizing should be paired collectively.

You probably have all of that coated, you can begin creating your new Focus mode and shortcut.

Tips on how to Lock Your iPhone With Your Apple Watch (With a Focus Mode)

To start out locking your iPhone along with your Apple Watch, you’ll must do three issues:

1. First, you could create a Focus mode. 
2. Then, you’ll must create a shortcut.
3. Final however not least, you’ll additionally must create automation.

Sure, that’s a couple of steps, nevertheless it’s simpler than it sounds.

Earlier than we begin, take into account that the steps could range relying in your working system. For this instance, we’re utilizing iOS 17.3.1. You probably have an older or newer software program model, the steps could be barely completely different, however you’ll nonetheless should do these three issues to make this work. Let’s get began.

First, Create a New Focus Mode

You’ll must create a brand new Focus mode that you should utilize to lock your iPhone. Understand that you should utilize an present Focus mode, however for this instance, we’ll present you find out how to do it from scratch. That is what you could do:

1. Open the Settings app in your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and faucet on Focus.
3. Faucet the plus icon within the prime proper nook to create a brand new Focus mode.
4. Faucet on Customized.
5. Give your Focus mode a reputation. You need to use one thing like “Lock” or “Lock Display screen” to make it simpler to establish.
6. If you would like, customise your Focus mode. 

Ensure that your new mode seems within the checklist of Focus modes. If that’s the case, proceed to the following step. If not, repeat the above steps.

Now, Create a New Shortcut

The subsequent step is to create a brand new shortcut. This shortcut would be the one chargeable for locking your display screen. To create a shortcut, just remember to have the Shortcuts app put in in your iPhone. It needs to be there by default, however in the event you can’t discover it, you’ll be able to re-download it from the App Retailer.

After getting the app, observe these steps:

1. Open the Shortcuts app in your iPhone.
2. Ensure you’re on the Shortcuts tab after which faucet on the plus icon within the prime proper nook.
3. To establish your shortcut, faucet on New Shortcut on the prime of the display screen and choose Rename. Then, use a reputation like “Lock Display screen.”
4. Select Add Motion.
5. Faucet on the search bar and seek for “Lock Display screen.”
6. Choose Lock Display screen.
7. Select Finished within the prime proper nook.

And that’s it. For those who faucet the shortcut, your iPhone will instantly lock itself. Now it’s time to create an automation that makes use of the Focus mode and your new shortcut.

Lastly, Create a New Automation

Your new Focus mode and shortcut work independently, however how are you going to make them work collectively? With automation, after all.

Automations let your iPhone set off particular shortcuts when a particular factor occurs. As an illustration, in case your battery life drops beneath 80%, your iPhone can robotically flip Low Energy Mode on. Or, in the event you flip a Focus mode on, your iPhone can lock itself.

Right here’s the way you create a brand new automation:

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Choose the Automation tab on the backside of your display screen.
3. Faucet on the plus icon within the prime proper nook of your display screen.
4. Scroll down and choose the identify of your Focus mode from the checklist.
5. Select When Turning On.
6. Choose Run Instantly. This fashion, your iPhone will run the automation with out asking for permission.
7. Faucet on Subsequent within the prime proper nook.
8. Faucet within the My Shortcuts part and choose the “Lock Display screen” shortcut from the checklist. You may also faucet the search bar on the prime and sort in your shortcut’s identify.

Your iPhone will robotically create the automation and you must see it within the Automation checklist. Now that you just’re performed, it’s time to place it to the take a look at.

Tips on how to Use Your Apple Watch to Lock Your iPhone

Now, let’s take a look at our new automation. You’ll be able to take a look at it proper out of your iPhone by opening your Management Heart and turning your Focus mode on. 

Right here’s find out how to activate it in your Apple Watch:

1. Press your Apple Watch’s facet button to open your Management Heart.
2. Faucet the Focus button. It has the icon of a moon.
3. Choose the “Lock Display screen” Focus mode you simply created. 
4. Select On. 

Give your iPhone a second. It’s best to see a message on the prime of your display screen saying that your Focus mode is turned on. After another second, your iPhone ought to robotically lock itself up.

If it didn’t work, return to the earlier steps and ensure you did every little thing accurately. Extra particularly, ensure you set the shortcut and automation correctly.

Management Your iPhone With Your Apple Watch

And that’s it! You’re now capable of lock your iPhone along with your Apple Watch, even in the event you aren’t in the identical room. Certain, it’d take a couple of steps to get this proper, however when you set it up, you received’t have to fret about it ever once more.