iOS 14.7.1 fixes a bug that stopped Touch ID iPhones from unlocking Apple Watches

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Apple Watch on passcode screen
Apple Watch on passcode screen (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

  • Apple's iOS 14.7.1 release fixes a bug that prevented some iPhones from unlocking Apple Watches.
  • Some iPhones with Touch ID were unable to unlock Apple Watches once iOS 14.7 was installed.

Apple just released iOS 14.7.1 to the public and it comes with one big bug fix in toe. According to Apple, the new release fixes a bug that caused some Touch ID-equipped iPhones to be unable to unlock Apple Watches.

The bug, which was introduced as part of the recent iOS 14.7 release, only affected iPhones that had Touch ID and even then, it didn't impact everyone. But it was still a bug that was an irritation to those it affected and it's great to see Apple get a fix out. It did confirm previously that a fix would be available in a future update, but some had worried we might have to wait for iOS 15 to arrive this fall.

Thankfully, that wasn't the case. This release also includes "important security updates" so I'd suggest everyone install it whether the Touch ID was an issue, or not.

iOS 14.7.1 fixes an issue where iPhone models with Touch ID cannot unlock a paired Apple Watch using the Unlock with iPhone feature. This update also provides important security updates and is recommended for all users.

Of course, Touch ID is now only available on older iPhones and the current iPhone SE. With that in mind, check out our list of the best iPhone deals — it might be time for an upgrade!

Oliver Haslam
Oliver Haslam
Contributor

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.