Touch ID Not Working on Mac? Find Solutions Here

The touch ID on your Mac can go wrong in numerous ways. For instance, it may not work at all, or it might only work sometimes.

If you find that your touch ID isn’t working as it should, don’t despair. There are several things you can do to try and fix the problem.

Touch ID on Mac Keyboard Not Working

If your touch ID isn’t working when you try to use it on your Mac keyboard, there are a few things you can do to try and fix the problem.

Clean Your Hands

Touch ID works best when your skin is clean and free of oils and moisture. And when touching the Touch ID sensor, be sure to use the flat pad of your finger, not the tip. Don’t be in a rush to press your finger on the sensor – take your time and make sure you’re doing it right.

If your hands are clean and dry and you’re still having trouble, try restarting your Mac. Sometimes a simple restart is all it takes to get Touch ID working again.

Clean the Sensor

If neither of those solutions works, there may be a problem with the Touch ID sensor itself. You can try cleaning the sensor with a dry soft cloth. If it doesn’t work, take your Mac to an Apple Store or authorized service provider for further diagnosis.

Touch ID Not Working on Mac After Big Sur Update

After updating your Mac to the latest version of macOS, you may find that Touch ID isn’t working as it should. Some ID issues that users report after updating Big Sur include:

  • Touch ID doesn’t show on the system preference.
  • Mac Touch ID fails to work after a password change.
  • Touch ID fails to work on Mac Monterey.

Here are a couple of things you can try to fix the problem.

Reset the System Management Controller (SMC)

Shut down your Mac and unplug the power cord to reset the SMC. Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in and wait 5 seconds. Finally, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release it.

Restart Mac

If the above solution doesn’t work, try restarting your Mac in Safe Mode. This step will disable some features and start your Mac with only essential apps and services. Hold down the Shift key while it’s starting up to start your Mac in Safe Mode.

Keep holding the Shift key until you see the login window. Once you’re logged in, restart your Mac normally – Touch ID should now be working again.

Touch ID on Mac Air Not Working

Various reasons can cause Touch ID to not work on a Mac Air. It could be a software issue, or there may be something wrong with the Touch ID sensor itself.

To fix the problem, first try restarting your Mac. If it doesn’t work, unplug it from the power for 15 seconds and then plug it back in. This tip can often fix software issues that are causing Touch ID problems.

Touch ID Not Working on Mac Monterey

Mac Monterey is the latest version of macOS, and some users report having Touch ID problems after updating it.

The primary cause of this issue is the lack of necessary permissions to use Touch ID. To fix the problem, open the System Preferences and go to the Security & Privacy section. Next, click on the Privacy tab and ensure the checkbox next to “Allow apps to use Touch ID” is selected.

If you can’t set up your Touch ID after updating your Monterey, that will block you from unlocking system preferences. In this case, reset the SMC (System Management Controller), as this can often fix Touch ID problems after a big update.

First, shut down your Mac and unplug the power cord to reset the SMC. Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in and wait 5 seconds. Next, hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release it.

You may also delete the existing fingerprints and start anew. You can delete the fingerprints by going to the Touch ID section in System Preferences and clicking on the “Delete all” button. After that, try setting up your Touch ID again.

Touch ID Not Working After Update

You may receive a message stating that the system can’t enroll in the new user’s fingerprint after you update your Mac. This common problem can be caused by various factors, including corrupted system files or incorrect permissions.

Restart the Computer

First, try restarting your computer and then setting up your Touch ID again.

Reset the SMC

Try resetting the SMC (System Management Controller). It can fix Touch ID problems after a big update. Shut down your Mac and unplug the power cord to reset the SMC.

Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in and wait 5 seconds. Finally, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release it.

Touch ID Not Working on M1 Mac

If you have an M1 Mac and Touch ID isn’t working, you should first update the latest version of macOS. Apple often releases updates that fix minor bugs and issues, which may solve your problem.

Restart Your Computer

If updating doesn’t work, try restarting your computer. If that doesn’t fix the problem, there are a couple of other things you can try.

Reset the NVRAM (Non-volatile Random Access Memory)

This act can often fix Touch ID problems after a big update. Shut down your Mac and unplug the power cord to reset the NVRAM. Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in and wait 5 seconds. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release it.

You can also try resetting the SMC (System Management Controller). It can fix Touch ID problems after a big update. Shut down your Mac and unplug the power cord to reset the SMC.

Wait 15 seconds, then plug the power cord back in and wait 5 seconds. Next, press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release it.

MacBook Pro Touch ID Not Working After Sleep

If your Touch ID stops working after your Macbook Pro sleeps, the laptop’s security settings could be an issue. To fix the problem, open the System Preferences and go to the Security & Privacy section.

Click on the Privacy tab and ensure the checkbox next to “Allow apps to use Touch ID” is selected.

If it doesn’t work, reset the SMC (System Management Controller). It often fixes Touch ID problems after a big update.

Touch ID Not Showing in System Preferences

If the Touch ID preference isn’t showing up in System Preferences, it could be because the ID isn’t detected. In that case:

Reset the SMC (System Management Controller)

This step will restore the ID feature. SMC is responsible for many low-level functions on your Mac, so resetting it can often fix Touch ID problems.

Update macOS

You can try a few other things if you’re still having trouble. First, use the latest version of macOS. Apple often releases updates that fix minor bugs and issues, which may solve your problem.

Your Password Is Required to Enable Touch ID Macbook Air

If you’re trying to enable Touch ID on your Macbook Air and you see a message that says your password is required, the issue could be with your security settings. To fix the problem, open the System Preferences and go to the Security & Privacy section. Next, click on the Privacy tab and ensure the checkbox next to “Allow apps to use Touch ID” is selected.

If it doesn’t work, reset the SMC (System Management Controller). This act often fixes Touch ID problems after a big update.

Touch ID Not Working Because of a Hardware Issue

If your Touch ID isn’t working because of a hardware issue, you’ll need to take your Macbook to an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service provider. They can run a diagnostic test on your computer to see if the Touch ID sensor is working correctly. If it isn’t, they can replace it for you.

Whatever the reason, if your Touch ID isn’t working, there are a few things you can try to fix the problem. You can always take your computer to an Apple Store or an authorized Apple service provider if all else fails. They can help you figure out what’s wrong and get your Touch ID working again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some commonly asked questions about Touch ID:

Can I use Touch ID to unlock my Macbook if it’s in sleep mode?

Yes, you can. Touch ID works even when your computer is in sleep mode.

What if my fingerprint isn’t working?

If your fingerprint isn’t working, ensure your finger is clean and dry. Then, restart your computer. If this method doesn’t work, reset the SMC. This way, you’ll fix Touch ID problems after a big update.

How do I add more fingerprints to Touch ID?

To add more fingerprints to Touch ID, open the System Preferences and go to the Security & Privacy section. Next, click on the Touch ID tab and the “+” button. From there, you can follow the instructions to add a new fingerprint.

Can I use Touch ID to make purchases on the App Store?

Yes, you can. Touch ID can make purchases on the App Store if you’re using an Apple device that supports Touch ID.

What if my Touch ID isn’t working after an update?

If your Touch ID stops working after an update, try resetting the SMC. This move can often fix Touch ID problems after a big update.