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Review: MacID, the app that lets you unlock your Mac using Touch ID on your iPhone

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuDa0pzmMP0]

No sooner did we get Touch ID on our iPhones than it started to feel horribly old-fashioned and tedious to have to login to our Macs by typing in a password. Apple will no doubt add Touch ID sensors to Macs soon I imagine, but if you can’t wait that long–or don’t want to have to lay out the cash on a new Mac–there’s an app for that.

MacID is a $4 app allowing your iPhone to unlock your Mac via Bluetooth LE. As you can see from the above video, once you’ve performed the setup, unlocking your Mac is as simple as selecting the device on your iPhone and then placing a finger or thumb on the Touch ID sensor …

Compatibility

MacID uses Bluetooth LE, so both your Mac and iPhone need to support that. All iPhones with Touch ID–the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus–are compatible. Technically, you can use the app with an iPhone 4S or 5 too, but it’s a bit pointless without Touch ID. You could also run it on a TouchID-equipped iPad, which might work for some who use their Macs and iPads side by side.

For Macs, it depends on the model. For MacBook Air and Mac mini, you need a 2011 machine or later; for MacBook Pro and iMac, you need 2012 or later. It also supports the new Mac Pro.

compatibility

For older machines, there’s always Knock, an app that lets you unlock your Mac by tapping on your iPhone, but that of course doesn’t offer the security of Touch ID.

Setup

MacID is an iPhone app with a companion Mac app. On the Mac, you run the app, select your iPhone from the nearby devices and tell it your Mac login password. The password is stored only on your Mac, and is encrypted using AES256 – the same encryption used for banking apps.

mac

There’s nothing to do at the iPhone end: all the authorization is done at the Mac end. This does mean that, if there are other devices within range running the app, you need to be careful to select the right one. This is unlikely to be an issue in practice, and you can deauthorize an iOS device from the Mac app at any time.

You can also set the Mac app to auto-lock when your iPhone goes out of Bluetooth LE range, but that can be quite a long way, so isn’t that useful an option in practice.

You can install both iOS and Mac apps on more than one device, allowing you to unlock one Mac using more than one iPhone, or allowing a single iPhone to unlock multiple Macs. The only weakness is, because the account password is stored in the Mac app, you can only login to one account on the Mac.

It did, though, occur to me that the app could also be a convenient way to give someone temporary access to your Mac account without telling them your password: just authorize their iPhone, and remove the authorization from the Mac afterwards.

In use

As you’ve seen from the video, usage couldn’t be simpler: select your Mac from the list of devices on your iPhone, then put a registered finger or thumb on the Touch ID sensor.

iphone

Apple’s secure enclave on the phone means that third-party apps like MacID don’t have access to your actual fingerprint data: using the Touch ID sensor simply asks the secure enclave whether or not the fingerprint is valid, and waits for a ‘yes.’

To lock your Mac, you can either put it to sleep in the usual way or, more easily, click the menu bar icon for MacID and select the lock option:

lock

The app doesn’t need to be running in the foreground: if you go out of range of your Mac and then return to it, the Touch ID prompt will pop up automatically so long as the app is running in the background.

Most of the time, MacID worked flawlessly. Every now and again, it did get confused, especially when the Mac was actually asleep rather than just locked, but that may have been because I was testing it by locking and unlocking many times in quick succession. I didn’t experience any issues during real-life use.

Is it worth it?

This really is the key question.

From a gadgeteer’s perspective, it’s obviously way cooler to unlock your Mac using Touch ID than to do anything as mundane as typing a password. From a convenience viewpoint, however, you have to ask yourself whether getting your phone out of your pocket and touching the sensor is any less hassle than typing a password.

The answer, I think, comes down to your particular circumstances. If you use your Mac in an open-plan office, and are leaving it unattended multiple times during the day, and you are typically carrying your iPhone in your hand when away from your desk, it’s a no-brainer. At the other end of the scale, if you leave your Mac unattended in public rarely, and your iPhone lives in your pocket, that reduces MacID to a cool gimmick.

I’m toward the latter end of the scale. I have a home office, so the only time my Mac is left unattended in public is briefly in business lounges or coffee shops, when my iPhone is normally in my pocket. I have been using it, but that’s partly for the purposes of this review, and partly the novelty factor.

MacID does suggest that the app allows you to have a much stronger password that you might use when typing it manually every time you login, and there is some merit to this argument.

Ultimately, though, it’s four bucks: not exactly a major investment, and if nothing else, it will impress your mates.

Update: Version 1.1 adds several new features:

  • Mac audio controls that work with iTunes and Spotify 
  • Clipboard sharing between iOS and OS X
  • Proximity waking
  • An iOS Notification Center widget
  • Auto-lock notifications and sensitivity options
  • Full split-screen iPad support
MacID is a $3.99 purchase from iTunes. The free Mac companion app can be downloaded from the MacID website.

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Comments

  1. Andrew Messenger - 9 years ago

    so i need to get out my phone, unlock it, find and open the app, tap on the name of my mac, and unlock it. needs to add handoff support or this will be more tedious than typing a password.

    • Ben Lovejoy - 9 years ago

      No, you don’t have to open the app, so long as it’s running in the background. But agree completely this is something Apple should build in, it seems a pretty obvious ecosystem benefit.

      • You don’t have to open the app on your iOS device? You’d best watch your video again. What Andrew described is precisely what needs to be done. There is no circumstance where this is more convenient than typing a password. Unless of course someone types only a few characters per minute.

      • Ben Lovejoy - 9 years ago

        Bruno, I’m demo-ing with the app open, but that isn’t the only way it works. As I wrote in the review: “The app doesn’t need to be running in the foreground: if you go out of range of your Mac and then return to it, the Touch ID prompt will pop up automatically so long as the app is running in the background.”

      • Benjamin Lee (@itchban) - 9 years ago

        We all know where this is heading. Apple will announce it in the next version of OS X as a key feature.

        It would be cool if you could extend the TouchID to unlocking access to the keychain.. so you could login to anything/everything via TouchID… maybe even build a fingerprint sensor into their next Keyboard

    • kanecheshire - 9 years ago

      Hi Andrew,

      I’m Kane, I developed MacID.

      If you wake your Mac while your phone is locked you’ll get an interactive notification on your lock screen which you can authorise with your fingerprint, you don’t need to unlock your device.

      So long as you don’t force-close MacID it will run in the background and reconnect/restore itself when it needs to.

      I’m looking at adding a Today widget too but I need to find out what Apple will allow first.

      Hope that helps

      Kane.

      • Rob James (@bobster16) - 9 years ago

        I know this is set to work with Bluetooth LE equipped computers. I just recently added a 4.0 dongle to my Mac Pro and MacBook Pro and ran the Continuity Activation Tool on it.

        So Continuity is fully functional on both, but MacID doesn’t work. My iPhone 6 (running the app) doesn’t pop up. In my System Report, everything checks out, besides the model number of my Mac.

        Any ideas? Or does the desktop app simply check with the model number and essentially shut down once it’s hit something it’s not familiar with?

      • Benjamin Lee (@itchban) - 9 years ago

        Hey Kudos to you for taking the initiative to actually build this thing (let’s hope Apple takes notice and offers you a large sum of money haha ^^)

        I think the Apple Watch will also play a significant / similar role to what your app does. They have already announced the Watch’s role in Apple pay (authenticating it once, and how it knows if you take the watch off or not via the sensors on the back).

        Might be something to consider for near future updates.

      • ctyrider (@ctyrider) - 9 years ago

        This is a great concept app, but unfortunately it doesn’t work reliably enough to make it usable. My MacBook periodically loses its connection to iPhone, when being woken up from sleep. This doesn’t happen always, probably about 1/3 of the time. But this is often enough to make me shelf this app.

        Apparently the developer is aware of the issue, and points it to Apple bug, which needs to be addressed in a future Yosemite update. While I totally emphasize with this sentiment – this probably shouldn’t be a paid app until this issue is fully resolved (whatever the underlying root cause might be).

  2. rarabydev - 9 years ago

    Knock (http://www.knocktounlock.com) works better for me, since I’m not too worried about security. You just tap your phone briskly a couple of times and voila your mac unlocks. You don’t have to take your phone out or type that password. It’s a bit insecure because anyone could tap your phone if they’re close enough, but I’d wager most people wouldn’t know or even imagine to do so.

    • Ben Lovejoy - 9 years ago

      Yep, our review of Knock is linked in the piece.

    • Brett Thomas - 9 years ago

      Unfortunately Knock doesn’t support multiple computers, which makes it crappy for those of us with a work computer and a home computer. I’ve also had a lot of problems with Knock taking too long (or just not working), making me enter my password anyways.

  3. David Pruitt - 9 years ago

    Which is more reliable though? I used Knock when it first came out and within a week got rid of it because it was so sporadic with it working. If this consistently works better than Knock (as the review would suggest) then I may be willing to give it a try.

    • Brett Thomas - 9 years ago

      You might want to try it again, since Yosemite came out there was an update which seems to have solved *most* of the connection issues I had. I still don’t find knock useful though since it only supports a single computer.

  4. shoowack - 9 years ago

    Or you can download Near Lock which is free, and just walk away :)
    http://www.nearlock.me

    • Ben Lovejoy - 9 years ago

      That one doesn’t have the best of reviews on the App Store, though. (And it’s a freemium app rather than free.)

      • filipduvnjak - 9 years ago

        To defend Near Lock there were one star ratings stating that they cant find the Mac app on the app store and similar comments. You can test it for free, and then if you like it and if you want the app to work in background – you pay 4$ through in-app purchase. There is also the touch ID feature implemented and ready to go for 1$, we are just considering if it is in the scope of what the app should be doing..

  5. Been using handyLock for a few weeks. No touch ID but I don’t need that level of security anyway. Prefer proxymity unlock over touchID for home type use.

    • Tuan Bui - 9 years ago

      can you comment on how well handLock is? i’ve been burned by tokenlock, proximity via BT as well.

      • Tuan Bui - 9 years ago

        to be more specific, token lock would never detect my phone right, and it get confuse a lot if i’m near or not and lock up randomly

      • nikipiki7777 - 9 years ago

        handyLock is cool and free. The only thing is that it uses regular bluetooth. Your battery drains out fast. Try Near Lock.
        http://nearlock.me/

  6. Danny Bristow - 9 years ago

    so, get my phone out, unlocked it…. selected the app….. select the mac…. completed touch id…… why not just type your password, which takes second!…What a pointless app!!

    Maybe apple could make a keyboard with a touch id area, now thats would be a much better idea!

    • Ben Lovejoy - 9 years ago

      If returning into range, you only need to get your phone out and touch.

    • kanecheshire - 9 years ago

      Hi Danny!

      I’m Kane, I developed MacID. You can reduce the amount of steps by taking your phone out of your pocket as you wake your Mac, which will then prompt you for your fingerprint on your iOS lock screen.

      MacID may not be for everyone but some people don’t lock their Mac at all because they don’t want to type a password in over and over; MacID makes it easier and hopefully more people will put a password on their Macs as a result.

      There are also some people who like to dock their iOS devices so having it docked next to their Mac is not entirely unlike having it built in, but I do agree it would be nice to have a proper Touch ID built into OS X.

      Take care!

      Kane

    • Rio (@Crzy_rio) - 9 years ago

      Man! People need to read before posting, seriously. Poor Ben & Kane here is probably getting tired of replying to the same comment for those not capable of reading.

  7. Twitboydk (@Twitboydk) - 9 years ago

    This solution seems so stupid

  8. Colby Landwehr - 9 years ago

    If Apple could manage to put TouchID in to the track pad on the Macbooks, that would be ideal

  9. kidnapped along with his finger)

    • cjt3007 - 9 years ago

      I don’t believe most people kidnap people without their finger..

  10. cjt3007 - 9 years ago

    Way more complicated than Knock to Unlock… you have to put your hand inside of your pocket and try to find your touch id sensor… whereas Knock works through fabric and is a much larger and easer to find target.

  11. tomgekeerd - 9 years ago

    Wo, this is very expensive haha for something that is very easy ;)

    But first to say, there is a HUGE security issue, we focused on security? Nooooo, I’m able to login on my Mac without my Touch ID.

    Video demo:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7LkNyLXxok

    • Guy Fisher (@he1iguy) - 9 years ago

      You can also log into your iPhone without TouchID !
      This is by design

    • darkpaw (@darkpaw) - 9 years ago

      This is an actionable notification. It does not ask for a passcode or Touch ID, just as a message (from the Messages app) you can reply to doesn’t ask you for a passcode or Touch ID. Turn off banner notifications in your Settings app if you want.

      Besides, if your phone is already unlocked and someone has a hold of it, you’re already in trouble.

  12. Guy Fisher (@he1iguy) - 9 years ago

    I’ve been using FingerKey with its companion app FingerLock http://www.fingerkeyapp.com

    Seems to do more or less the same for half the price, or did I miss something?

    https://itunes.apple.com/app/fingerkey/id932228994?mt=8

    • darkpaw (@darkpaw) - 9 years ago

      Nope. FingerKey seems to transfer your password via Bluetooth. MacID stores it on the Mac and never sends it anywhere.

      • David Ethell (@dethell) - 9 years ago

        No FingerKey doesn’t transfer your password. The FingerLock app on the Mac holds the password and the FingerKey app simply communicates to FingerLock that auth was successful. Everything stays local to the Mac just like MacID. Seems the advantage of MacId is the ability to unlock the Mac without unlocking your phone. At this point FingerKey requires you to unlock the phone first, meaning you’re hitting TouchID twice.

  13. Superman (@Codiwin) - 9 years ago

    And what if i don’t have iPhone 6?? how about having touch ID sensor integrated into the new MacBooks?

    • darkpaw (@darkpaw) - 9 years ago

      If you don’t have an iPhone 6, use an iPhone 5s, an iPhone 6 Plus, an iPad Air 2 or an iPad mini 3 ;) You’re commenting on a Touch ID-enabled app, and moaning that you don’t have a Touch ID-enabled phone?

      • Superman (@Codiwin) - 9 years ago

        I’m still using my old iPhone 5 the new iPhones are very expensive :(

    • ctyrider (@ctyrider) - 9 years ago

      How about it? I don’t know who you are directing your request / complaint to. Obviously, only Apple can integrate TouchID into MacBooks.

    • Komrad - 9 years ago

      Then you need to get a better job and then purchase an iPhone 6.

  14. chrisl84 - 9 years ago

    Hopefully new Macs will just have a Touch ID built into them eliminating the need to pull your phone out. But this is nice for older models to use Touch ID. …..And killer English accent Ben!

  15. jira850 - 8 years ago

    I find MacID very useful in public places. I can see a lot of cameras nowadays and I just feel better knowing that nobody has me recorded entering my password. And it works like a charm – the only prerequisite is to have bluetooth on on the Mac. Then if you have MacID icon on your iPhone’s first page, it is just a matter of few clicks. And even if bluetooth is off on the iPhone, it’s way faster then entering my password. The only reason why I don’t use it at home is that I don’t want to look for my iPhone there. It’s also a matter of how long and complicated is your password – with a strong password MacID looks more attractive but if it’s just a few characters (which is not a very secure approach) then using MacID isn’t that appealing. For me it’s a helpful companion worth the few bucks.

  16. Leslie Bee - 7 years ago

    This is a great app for older Mac computers. If you like the concept of unlocking your Mac using your Apple Watch, but your computer isn’t the most recent, or you don’t want to upgrade to MacOS Sierra, then this app is for you! It gives you all of Apple’s features and a whole lot more.

    To know whether this app will work with your current hardware, check to see if you have Apple’s “Continuity” feature available. If the answer is “yes” then you’re all set. I myself have a 2011 MacBook Pro on which I upgraded the WiFi/BlueTooth card. It now runs this great MacID app in addition to Continuity. I’m still running Yosemite because it has all the features I want. Then in MacOS Sierra, Apple included being able to unlock a Mac using the Apple Watch, which I thought was pretty cool. But upon reading the fine print, I discovered my 2011 MacBook Pro and my 2012 MacBook Air don’t support this feature. Grrrr! Even if I had money to burn, there’s no way I’m giving up my 17″ MacBook Pro. I love the big screen (which Apple no longer sells) as well as the fact I can upgrade it. And don’t even get me started on Apple’s crappy new butterfly keyboard. No way, José!

    So if you have an older Mac and want to unlock it using your Apple Watch, just buy this app!

Author

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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