---
id: system_settings_apple_watch_unlock_disable
title: Prevent Apple Watch from Terminating a Session Lock
discussion: |
  Apple Watches are not an approved authenticator and their use _MUST_ be disabled.

  Disabling Apple watches is a necessary step to ensuring that the information system retains a session lock until the user reestablishes access using an authorized identification and authentication procedures.

  NOTE: Unlocking the system with an Apple Watch is not an approved authenticator for US Federal Government usage as it has not been verified to meet the strength requirements outlined in NIST SP 800-63.
references:
  nist:
    cce:
      macos_27:
        - CCE-XXXXX-X
      macos_26:
        - CCE-95355-4
      macos_15:
        - CCE-94349-8
      macos_14:
        - CCE-92945-5
    800-53r5:
      - IA-5
    800-171r3:
      - 03.05.12
  disa:
    cci:
      - CCI-000056
    srg:
      - SRG-OS-000028-GPOS-00009
    disa_stig:
      macos_26:
        - APPL-26-000001
      macos_15:
        - APPL-15-000001
      macos_14:
        - APPL-14-000001
    cmmc:
      - AC.L2-3.1.10
  hhs:
    hicp:
      - 2.L.B
      - 3.L.A
platforms:
  macOS:
    '27.0': {}
    '26.0':
      benchmarks:
        - name: disa_stig
          severity: medium
    '15.0':
      benchmarks:
        - name: disa_stig
          severity: medium
    enforcement_info:
      check:
        shell: |-
          /usr/bin/osascript -l JavaScript << EOS
          $.NSUserDefaults.alloc.initWithSuiteName('com.apple.applicationaccess')\
          .objectForKey('allowAutoUnlock').js
          EOS
        result:
          string: 'false'
    introduced: '10.12'
tags:
  - 800-53r5_moderate
  - 800-53r5_high
  - 800-171
  - cnssi-1253_low
  - cnssi-1253_high
  - cmmc_lvl2
  - cnssi-1253_moderate
  - hicp_lp
mobileconfig_info:
  - PayloadType: com.apple.applicationaccess
    PayloadContent:
      - allowAutoUnlock: false
