# MacID

> Unlock and control your Mac remotely with your iOS device. (iPhone/iPad app by Kane Cheshire.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macid/id948478740 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Kane Cheshire](https://appshunter.io/developer/948478739)
- Category: Utilities, Productivity
- Price: $3.99
- Rating: 2.94/5 from 108 App Store ratings · 220 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 6 MB
- Languages: English, German
- Released: 2015-01-16
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macid/id948478740/reviews.md

## What is MacID?

Unlock your Mac with just your fingerprint, passcode, or watch – without even unlocking your iOS device.
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Requires a Mac with Bluetooth LE (Low Energy) running macOS Yosemite or newer, and an iOS device with Bluetooth LE running iOS 8 or newer. 
Please make sure your devices support Bluetooth LE before purchasing MacID for iOS.
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FEATURES
• Works with multiple Macs, iOS devices and Apple Watches at once.
• Unlock your Mac using Touch ID, Passcode, Apple Watch or Pebble.
• Apple Watch Complication & background refresh for super quick access.
• Interactive notifications – you don't even have to unlock your iOS device.
• Control your Mac's audio – works with iTunes & Spotify!
• Manually lock your Mac or start the screensaver remotely.
• Auto-lock when your iOS device moves away from your Mac.
• Proximity Wake & automatic unlocking when returning to your Mac.
• 3D Touch shortcuts.
• Notification Center widget – unlock your Mac from anywhere on your iOS device.
• Share clipboard text to and from your Mac.
• Choose from beautiful colour schemes.
• Use MacID to authorise tasks that require your macOS admin password. (Admin accounts only)
• MacID for macOS never connects to the Internet without your consent.
• Your macOS password is never broadcast and never leaves your Mac. 
• Incredibly simple to use but packed full of features and options.
• Automatically throttles connections during Low Power Mode to save even more battery.

INTERACTIVE NOTIFICATIONS
You don't even need to open the app to unlock your Mac. MacID intelligently notifies you when one of your connected Macs is woken up, which you can action directly from your iOS lock screen using either your fingerprint or passcode. 

AUTHORISE
MacID can notify you when tasks require your macOS admin password, like moving protected files to Trash or changing a setting in System Preferences. (Admin accounts only)

AUDIO CONTROLS
You can also play, pause and skip iTunes & Spotify on your Mac remotely, as well as change the volume. Simply long-press on the audio controls to toggle between track and volume controls. Audio controls work anywhere the physical keys would on your Mac.

3D TOUCH
Press hard on the app icon to quickly access settings or to lock and unlock your Mac.

URL SCHEMES:
Create Home Screen shortcuts and URL schemes to lock and unlock your Mac from other apps.

CLIPBOARD SHARING
Ever needed to quickly share a phone number or piece of text between your Mac and iOS device? Clipboard sharing is built right into MacID – share any piece of text quickly and reliably. And now you can do it right from the Notification Center.

AUTO-LOCK
Enable auto-lock in MacID for macOS and your Mac will automatically lock when your iOS device moves away from it. You can even get notified when your Mac locks itself.

PROXIMITY WAKE
Enable Proximity Wake in MacID for macOS and your Mac will wake its display when your iOS device gets near. Simply authorise from the interactive notification MacID sends you to unlock your Mac, or enable automatic unlocking to have MacID do it for you.

WIDGET
MacID includes a handy Notification Center widget, which will show all your currently connected Macs and give you quick access to lock and unlock them from anywhere on your iOS device. You can even start a Mac's screensaver or share the clipboard.
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Macs that support Bluetooth LE:

• MacBook Air 2011+
• MacBook Pro 2012+
• iMac 2012+
• Mac Mini 2011+
• Mac Pro 2013+

Check if your Mac supports Bluetooth Low Energy: click the Apple menu > About This Mac > System Report > Bluetooth.

MacID for iOS needs to be paired with the free MacID for macOS companion app, which you must download from: macid.co/get
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Featured as EE's "App of the Week" in the UK
One of Time Magazine's "5 Apps Not To Miss" and "7 Best Apple Watch Apps"
Featured in 100s of articles across the globe!
––––––––––––––––––––––––––

## Key features

- Unlock Mac with fingerprint, passcode, or Apple Watch
- Remote Mac audio control (iTunes & Spotify)
- Clipboard sharing between Mac and iOS
- Automatic Mac locking and proximity wake
- Authorize macOS tasks remotely
- Interactive notifications for quick actions

## What do users think of MacID?

Overall sentiment: neutral

**Pros**

- 🚀 Convenient unlock with Touch ID/Apple Watch
- 🔒 Secure locking/unlocking
- 👍 Easy setup and use
- 🎨 Customizable interface
- 💡 Useful additional features (e.g. clipboard sharing)

**Cons**

- 🐛 Connectivity issues and unreliable pairing
- 🔋 Battery drain on connected devices
- ⚠️ Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
- 🕰️ Slow response times when unlocking

**Commonly reported bugs**

- App crashes or freezes
- Inability to reconnect after device disconnect
- Inconsistent behavior with proximity unlock

**Most requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More control over locking/unlocking settings
- Improved Apple Watch integration

## Recent user reviews (10 of 220)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macid/id948478740/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Just to slow

*2025-03-06, version 1.3.6*

Just to slow of a process to be practical to be honest. It’s just not fast enough or reliable enough or automatic enough. I paid for it, but I found choosing big but easy to type passwords is much faster even than the finger tap login

### 1/5 — Does not work

*2024-04-13, version 1.3.6*

App does not work correctly. It doesn’t lock or unlock the mac with distance or with commands on app. I want my money back or an app that works.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2022-11-22, version 1.3.6*

Doesn’t work at all, don’t waste your money.

### 1/5 — Never worked

*2022-03-31, version 1.3.6*

Apple unfortunately refused to refund this purchase. But this app never worked regardless of OSX version and MacBook Pro. I can lock the macbook but unlock never worked. I tried 3 different laptops, 3 different mobiles and 4 different OSX. Just waste of money.

### 1/5 — No longer works

*2021-09-06, version 1.3.6*

Was a great app and still locks my mbp on command but unlocking with Face ID does nothing.

### 3/5 — Locking works. But not unlocking

*2021-09-05, version 1.3.6*

I recently purchased it to lock and unlock MacBook Pro 2018. After pairing the locking works. But it fails to unlock. Nothing happens when I tap unlock. Please fix the issue

### 1/5 — The app will not unlock my Mac

*2021-07-22, version 1.3.6*

I bought this in order to use Touch ID on my 2012 MacBook Pro, but it will not work to unlock my device. It will, however, take it out of sleep mode. I would like my money back.

### 4/5 — Good little app

*2020-12-14, version 1.3.6*

Ive had this app for a few years now and like it for what it does. I like to be able to get onto my computer quickly but still have some security (password) on.  I love that auto locks and opens when i get within a certain range of it. 

What would make it better is that, when i am away from the mac for too long, the mac sometimes forgets my phone is connected and i have to manually login which can be a pain at times.

### 1/5 — Refund

*2019-12-25, version 1.3.6*

This does not work, how do I get a refund?

### 1/5 — Doesn’t work

*2019-12-18, version 1.3.6*

It doesn’t work, it locks the MAC with taps or my iPhone but it won’t unlock it. Tried everything.
I would like a refund

## Frequently asked questions about MacID

### What does MacID do?

MacID allows you to unlock your Mac using your iOS device's fingerprint, passcode, or Apple Watch. It also provides remote control over your Mac's audio, clipboard sharing, and the ability to authorize tasks that require your macOS admin password.

### What are the key features of MacID?

Key features include unlocking your Mac with Touch ID, passcode, or Apple Watch, controlling iTunes and Spotify, sharing clipboard text, auto-locking your Mac when your iOS device moves away, and proximity wake to wake your Mac's display when you return.

### How much does MacID cost?

MacID is a paid application. The exact pricing can be found on the app store listing. There are no in-app purchases or subscriptions mentioned.

### What are the compatibility requirements for MacID?

MacID requires a Mac running macOS Yosemite or newer with Bluetooth LE, and an iOS device running iOS 8 or newer with Bluetooth LE. Ensure your devices support Bluetooth LE before purchasing.

### What are common use cases for MacID?

Common use cases include quickly unlocking your Mac without typing your password, controlling music playback on your Mac from your phone, easily transferring text snippets between devices, and enhancing security with automatic locking when you step away.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.3.6 — 2017-05-10

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

HELLO! Long time no speak. How are you? I hope you've been well. I must apologise for my prolonged absence; the last half of 2016 absolutely ran away from me but I've caught up and I'M BACK! :D

So what's new in MacID v.1.3.6?

- Are you running iOS 10.3 or newer? Then you can take advantage of new APIs in iOS that allow us to change the app icon on your home screen. That's right! When you change your colour scheme in MacID for iOS, you can have the icon change too!

- The MacID widget has had a beautiful redesign to make use of the expand/collapse functionality in iOS 10. The "show more" button will now only show if there's more than 1 device connected. And like before, you can choose to hide the widget if no devices are connected. I'm afraid there's no decent way for widgets to speak to the main app still, so for now the widget will still have to open the main app.

- The MacID widget and MacID for watchOS now show the current charge levels for MacBooks. MacID for macOS hooks into times that it already communicates with MacID for iOS, so there is no extra power used for this. The compromise is that the battery charge will not be continually up to date, so use it more of an advisory!

Don't forget to update MacID for macOS! Here's what's new there:

- MacID for macOS now remembers between launches if you asked a Mac to disconnect. Handy for those (often) times that Bluetooth needs resetting.

- Tap to Unlock tap pattern no longer gets forgotten if you have to forget and re-add your primary device. You still need to have a device paired to actually use Tap to Unlock, though.

- You can now stop MacID from disabling auto-lock when apps keep your screen awake. Use this with caution because auto-lock may trigger while you're watching a movie!

- Ensures that MacID AppleScript extensions get run in alphabetical order. To find out more about MacID for macOS AppleScript extensions, search for "extension" on the MacID blog.

As always, if you have a moment spare, please update your rating and review in the App Store. Every time a developer updates an app, the rating gets removed from search results. Independent developers like myself rely on these ratings, so if you have the time it is seriously appreciated. Thanks! 

If you're experiencing regular time-outs with Bluetooth connections since updating to Sierra, you're not alone. With some persistence and restarting, most of these issues can be resolved eventually! Check out the MacID help page for more information.

Lots of <3, 

Kane.

### 1.3.5 — 2016-09-27

Hello! MacID v1.3.5 has a few tweaks and fixes for iOS 10, watchOS 3 and macOS Sierra. 
If you have a moment spare I would *really* appreciate it if you leave or update a review in the App Store. Each update clears the rating from search results :( Thank you!

None of those cryptic release notes from me (I'm looking at you, Uber). Here's what's changed:

- MacID for iOS' Settings "ripple" animation flicker on iOS 10 is fixed and replaces the blur effect with a colour from the current colour scheme. Not as pretty, granted, but it sure does perform better on older devices and stops the flickering.
- Updates the MacID Widget to look nicer on iOS 10.
- Updated the MacID Widget to look a bit better in collapsed mode.
- The MacID for watchOS complication has been massively improved for reliability. MacID was blitzing through it's daily allocation of updates from the system way to quickly, and that's been changed. You can see this yourself because:
- You can now see how many complication updates are remaining today in MacID for iOS' Settings under "Watch" if you're on iOS 10.
- Seeing as watchOS 3 does away with Glances, your iPhone's network connection info is now is now displayed on the main screen of MacID for watchOS, which updates as you scroll to it in the Dock.
- MacID for Apple Watch also implements some of the background refresh APIs to keep itself up to date before you get back to it.
- Removes MacID for watchOS haptic play "on load" option. Two reasons: 1, the haptic plays when the app is in the background sometimes, and 2, watchOS 3's Dock and the new super zippy Apple Watch make this a bit redundant. (You ARE keeping MacID in the Dock on your watch, right?)
- Fixes a crash on launch when running watchOS 2.2

Don't forget to update MacID for macOS which has some important fixes for Sierra.

### 1.3.4 — 2016-05-31

All of MacID is designed, developed and maintained by one person, Kane Cheshire.
I'll never hassle you in the app but if you could take a moment to leave/update a review in the App Store I would be eternally grateful, it really does help independent developers like me. 
Whenever a new update goes live on the App Store, MacID loses its awesome rating in search results *sad face*

DON'T FORGET TO UPDATE MACID FOR OS X

Anyway, onto the good stuff! What's new and improved in MacID v1.3.4? Feast your shiny eyes (or ears if you're a VoiceOver user!) on this:

NEW STUFF
- Adds new MacID for Apple Watch settings screen in the watch app itself
- Tap the little cog at the bottom of the screen on your watch & see new features such as being able to choose whether the MacID complication shows how many devices are connected, locked, or both! *crowd goes wild*
- You can now view the MacID for Apple Watch version in the new MacID for Apple Watch settings screen, so you can know for sure the right version has been installed on your watch
- When creating new home screen shortcuts, the Safari page where you save to the home screen now uses your chosen colour scheme. Ooh!
- Home screen shortcut icons also now use your chosen colour scheme and have a cleaner design. Double ooh!
- URL schemes can now handle multiple Macs per URL. Just add that to the list of awesome stuff MacID can do
- Adds new "unlock" URL scheme – using this scheme with Touch ID disabled in the app will allow your Mac to be unlocked using a URL scheme without having to use Touch ID
- Adds even more beautiful colour schemes, which work on MacID for OS X and MacID for Apple Watch
- Updated Apple Watch notification design (unfortunately the colour isn't customisable in code yet so I can't make the colour schemes work with it. *more sad face*)
- If you receive an unlock notification while MacID for Apple Watch is active you can now action it from anywhere in the app
- You can now long-touch on the Settings navigation bar at the top to jump back to the start. Handy as MacID is getting so customisable with more options!
- Adds power saving options – you choose how MacID throttles the connection to save power for Low Power Mode
- Adds new MacID for Pebble options – you choose if MacID for Pebble automatically launches for all unlock requests, just Proximity Wake requests, or none
- Lifts 4000 character limit on sending clipboard text between devices. If you wanted send over the whole text of War & Peace to your Mac you could, if you had time to wait that long anyway :|

FIXED STUFF
- For those of you who are super duper fancy and have multiple Apple Watches paired to one iPhone, you're in luck! MacID now handles switching between them even better
- Improves reliability of MacID for Apple Watch after a new install
- Fixes an issue where the Today widget wouldn't update if a device disconnects while the widget is visible
- Fixes various little crashes discovered through crash reports. Massive thank you to all of y'all who have that turned on in iOS
- Fixes an issue where creating shortcut items could fail
- Moves MacID for Apple Watch haptic options to the new settings screen in the watch app
- Leaving MacID for Apple Watch on the audio screen will now properly update the currently playing track when you wake the screen
- MacID for Apple Watch audio controls now automatically dismiss themselves if that Mac disconnects
- Removes "snooze" option from non-Proximity Wake requests in MacID for Apple Watch
- Fixes an issue where receiving a MacID notification of any kind while the watch app is active would show an unlock request
- Fixes a pesky issue where the complication could show the wrong number of Macs connected if the iOS app was restored in the background by iOS
- Fixes an issue where the complication wouldn't update because there was too much data trying to be sent across
- Fixes an issue which could cause the app to crash when trying to advertise Bluetooth with certain device names

### 1.3.3 — 2016-03-25

New stuff in MacID 1.3.3:
- Adds support for switching between multiple Apple Watches in iOS 9.3 and watchOS 2.2
- For Proximity Wake, MacID for iOS will automatically launch MacID for Pebble, and will automatically close it after you've unlocked your Mac from MacID for Pebble
- Adds support for Handoff from the MacID website to MacID for iOS (it may take a little while for your iOS device to cache the data it needs for this to start working)

Fixed stuff:
- Improves battery usage
- Fixes an issue where the MacID Widget would crash when tapping on it while no devices are connected
- Fixes an issue where the MacID Widget could fail to load if no devices are paired
- Prevents an issue where a keychain permissions failure could stop MacID from automatically reconnecting
- Stops the "Please update MacID for OS X" notification from firing more than once every 6 hours, sorry if that annoyed you
- Significantly improves the reliability of battery and WiFi information in the MacID Glance
- Improves reliability of the MacID Complication
- Fixes an issue where the Connected Devices section could crash when trying to access a Mac that is no longer connected
- Fixes an issue where launching MacID for iOS from a URL scheme with an unexpected number of URL components would cause the app to hang
- Fixes an issue where opening MacID for iOS from a Proximity Wake notification wouldn't do anything
- Long-touching on audio controls to switch to volume controls now has the same animation as 1.3.1
- Prevents double-tap on Recent Devices
- Fixes a typo in the hints

### 1.3.2 — 2016-02-23

Make sure you update MacID for OS X!

New stuff:
• Adds support for MacID for Pebble. Visit macid.co/pebble to download MacID for Pebble for free.
• Adds a pressure sensitive Settings button. Try it out if you have a 6S or 6S Plus!
• Adds support for Background App Refresh.
• When Touch ID is disabled in MacID for iOS, opening MacID from a lock screen notification will unlock your Mac straight away without requiring your fingerprint again.
• If MacID for iOS is in the foreground on two devices when you wake a Mac connected to both, unlocking from one will make the Touch ID prompt automatically disappear on the other (iOS 9 only).
• If Low Power Mode is enabled, MacID will automatically throttle Bluetooth connections to save power. This will result in slower reaction times but decreased power usage.
• Adds support for snoozing Proximity Wake for different durations (30 minutes, 1 hour, 6 hours or 1 day).
• Adds support for only showing "snooze" in the interactive notification when the Mac wakes from Proximity Wake.
• Adds support for snoozing Proximity Wake from MacID for Apple Watch.
• Minor changes to the Widget to make it fit in better with the Notification Center theme.
• Adds support for showing when your iOS battery is charging, low or using Low Power Mode in the MacID Glance.
• MacID for iOS now uses the same fancy full-screen diagonal gradients like MacID for OS X.
• New animation when changing the colour scheme. (also works on MacID for OS X if you have a window open!)
• Adds an option to completely hide the Widget if no Macs are connected.
• Adds new options to customise which sounds play for which notifications.
• Adds option to "unlock all" or "lock all" from home screen 3D Touch shortcuts.


Fixed stuff:
• Removes some background tasks if no Apple Watch is paired to improve battery usage.
• The MacID for Apple Watch Glance is back! And with a fresh new look.
• Fixes the Widget showing the wrong name on German devices.
• Fixes many background crashes.
• Fixes an issue where the currently playing song wouldn't show if a Mac disconnects and reconnects.
• Significantly improved data send queue system to make it more reliable.
• URL schemes can now use "macid://" instead of "macid:///", previously set up URL schemes will continue to work.
• Fixes an issue where launching the app from a notification wouldn't ask for authentication if interactive notifications are disabled in settings.
• Fixes the "welcome" window not being shown for new users.
• Fixes an issue where the user account image wouldn't automatically be sent when connecting a new Mac.
• Fixes an issue where "Unlock all" wouldn't honour if unlocking from MacID for Apple Watch is disabled in settings.
• Fixes an issue where the Settings "ripple" effect wouldn't work properly when choosing "Create shortcuts" from a long-touch menu.
• Removes "swipe to activate buttons" on connected devices to stop accidental disconnections/removals.
• Clears up unnecessary logging.

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## More apps by Kane Cheshire

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All apps by Kane Cheshire: https://appshunter.io/developer/948478739

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*