When Siri tells you that you need to unlock your iPhone first, it usually means a lock screen permission is turned off on your iPhone, or your Apple Watch has not established its active security handshake for the day.
1. Allow Siri on the Lock Screen
If Siri isn't allowed to run while your iPhone is locked, your Apple Watch cannot process commands for locked apps like Messages.
- Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode (or Touch ID & Passcode) and enter your passcode.
- Scroll down to the Allow Access When Locked section.
- Make sure Siri is turned ON.
2. Enable Announce Notifications
For Siri to read incoming messages hands-free while your phone is in your pocket:
- Go to Settings > Notifications > Announce Notifications.
- Turn Announce Notifications ON and make sure Messages is set to announce.
3. Complete the Daily Security Handshake
"Unlock with Apple Watch / Nearby Devices" requires one manual authentication every time you put your watch back on your wrist.
- Put your Apple Watch on and unlock it with your watch passcode.
- Unlock your iPhone once using your passcode or Face ID while wearing the unlocked watch. This registers the secure link between both devices until you take the watch off.
4. Verify Wrist Detection
If Wrist Detection is disabled, your watch cannot confirm it is on your arm, which automatically blocks background phone unlocking for security.
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Go to My Watch > Passcode.
- Make sure Wrist Detection is turned ON.
If Siri still prompts for an unlock after these checks, go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode, toggle your watch off under Unlock with Apple Watch, restart both devices, and turn the setting back on to reset the connection key.
