Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Fingerprint to unlock

EDK9Trainer

EDK9Trainer

macrumors member
Original poster
Jul 16, 2022
54
4
Virginia
On my newer MBP I set up the fingerprint unlock and it's worked great the last few months. But in recent weeks it was working some and now it seems to not be working at all. I went in and removed the existing fingerprints and added them back. I think I've done this twice now. Is there a potential fix for this or some explanation?
 
I mean, assuming your hands aren't dirty, oily, wet etc. and the sensor itself isn't dirty, it should be working. I've literally never had an issue with Touch ID on any Apple Device. It just instantly works. If no one else replies with a similar situation that they were able to resolve, I'd probably pursue calling Apple for support or bringing it in to an Apple Store if there's one near you.
 
usagora said:
I mean, assuming your hands aren't dirty, oily, wet etc. and the sensor itself isn't dirty, it should be working. I've literally never had an issue with Touch ID on any Apple Device. It just instantly works. If no one else replies with a similar situation that they were able to resolve, I'd probably pursue calling Apple for support or bringing it in to an Apple Store if there's one near you.
Click to expand...
Unfortunately no Apple Store anywhere near us. I clean the button once in a while and this happens if hands are very clean or even hours after washing my hands. My hands can dry easily in colder weather but this was happening before we started cooling down. We shall see.
 
If you haven't already tried, you may want to toggle "Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac" in Touch ID and Passcode. Sometimes these unlock settings say they are enabled but they have something underlying broken and toggling the setting off then on fixes it. I've seen this behavior with using Touch ID for the App Store, for example. It kept prompting for password until the setting was toggled.

Also important to know if you've upgraded to macOS Ventura. The new System Settings appears to have taken away our ability to check existing registered prints by unlocking Touch ID and password, then pressing the finger you want to test against the registered prints. If registered, the print used to turn red but now there is no reaction, even when everything else with Touch ID is working perfectly.
 
ne1for23 said:
If you haven't already tried, you may want to toggle "Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac" in Touch ID and Passcode. Sometimes these unlock settings say they are enabled but they have something underlying broken and toggling the setting off then on fixes it. I've seen this behavior with using Touch ID for the App Store, for example. It kept prompting for password until the setting was toggled.

Also important to know if you've upgraded to macOS Ventura. The new System Settings appears to have taken away our ability to check existing registered prints by unlocking Touch ID and password, then pressing the finger you want to test against the registered prints. If registered, the print used to turn red but now there is no reaction, even when everything else with Touch ID is working perfectly.
Click to expand...
Still on Monterey 12.6. I again added the fingerprint I prefer to use and it seems to be working again but this is the 3rd or 4th time I've added it back. Not sure why it works for a bit then stops.
 
Just an FYI. This keeps happening. We're into dry colder weather so of course my hands will dry out some at times. But even with adding the thumb print back within a day or two it is back to no longer working. Ventura 13.0.1
 
Mine works less reliably now for sure, than it did during the summer. I have tried all the tricks and it's just spotty. It works much better on my MacBook Pro 2021 than it does on my MacBook Pro 2019, which almost never works.
 
donawalt said:
Mine works less reliably now for sure, than it did during the summer. I have tried all the tricks and it's just spotty. It works much better on my MacBook Pro 2021 than it does on my MacBook Pro 2019, which almost never works.
Click to expand...
Obviously this issue is not going to kill me but I'd like for it to work since it is there.
 
I've had it happen a couple of times with my 16" M1-Pro MBP, and it's usually my index finger that stops working. I also keep my thumb and middle finger registered so I always have something Touch_ID works with, and then I just re-register my index finger. It doesn't happen frequently enough to where Ive tried to chase down a solution.
 
EDK9Trainer said:
Just an FYI. This keeps happening. We're into dry colder weather so of course my hands will dry out some at times. But even with adding the thumb print back within a day or two it is back to no longer working. Ventura 13.0.1
Click to expand...
Mine works fine for a couple of days after scanning and then stops. After removing the stored fingerprints and re-scanning it again works fine for a couple of days and then stops. Very frustrating !
 
  • Like
Reactions: harleymhs
konicky said:
Mine works fine for a couple of days after scanning and then stops. After removing the stored fingerprints and re-scanning it again works fine for a couple of days and then stops. Very frustrating !
Click to expand...
Yeah I have pretty much given up on this feature. So tired of redoing my fingerprints only for this to stop working in a day or 2. This MBP is way too new for this to be happening.
 
EDK9Trainer said:
Yeah I have pretty much given up on this feature. So tired of redoing my fingerprints only for this to stop working in a day or 2. This MBP is way too new for this to be happening.
Click to expand...
What happens if you have three fingerprints stored? Do all three stop or just one particular finger (only my index finger used to stop every other month on my M1-Pro 16" MBP, but it's been fine after the last OS update)?
 
konicky said:
Mine works fine for a couple of days after scanning and then stops. After removing the stored fingerprints and re-scanning it again works fine for a couple of days and then stops. Very frustrating !
Click to expand...
Yeah I have pretty much given up on this feature. So tired of redoing my fingerprints only for this to stop working in a day or 2. This MBP is way too new for this to be happening.
darngooddesign said:
What happens if you have three fingerprints stored? Do all three stop or just one particular finger (only my index finger used to stop every other month on my M1-Pro 16" MBP, but it's been fine after the last OS update)?
Click to expand...
I actually only have 2 stored but one finger is done 2 times. I use the MBP on my lap (retired so pretty relaxed here) and the thumb and next finger are the easiest to use. These 2 quit working.
 
My theory - given that it seems it works better in the summer than in the winter, I think it's the heat of the finger. What I have found is I have almost 100% success by rubbing my finger on my pants leg firmly about 5-6 times, then unlock. This is all very silly to do, but I would rather do that than type in my password lol. Mine worked great all summer, and just with the onset of colder weather (or lower humidity in a house, or colder finger), it works worse.
 
And the theory could certainly be real. I'm about ready to change my PW to NOW if I cannot figure out this fingerprint issue. I'll have to try the rubbing my finger on my pants first next time.
 
EDK9Trainer said:
And the theory could certainly be real. I'm about ready to change my PW to NOW if I cannot figure out this fingerprint issue. I'll have to try the rubbing my finger on my pants first next time.
Click to expand...
I have found that unlocking with the Apple Watch works really well so I'm not too bothered about the fingerprint scanner although it should flippin work on a new laptop!
 
My issue with the finger print key is that when I press to unlock, the screen goes black. I then have to press any other key for the screen to come on and for it to ask me to scan finger print.
 
If it works correctly after you've stored your print and sometimes then it's your finger print.
Your prints get rubbed down or damaged by work. Any kind of DIY can do it but so can scrubbing the floor. Gardening is terrible. Getting glue on your fingers obviously. Criminals actually remove their prints with a bit of sandpaper. They come back after a few days but they don't actually need a lot of activity to rub them off enough to not be recognised
My solution is to use my little finger rather than my thumb. It's actually easier to use when you realise it because it is at the right angle already rather than having to make an effort with the thumb which is also bigger and therefore harder to get exactly the right spot. I use it slightly on the outside in the most natural position to hit the button.
The little finger hardly every gets as much wear and I rarely have problems with it- glue being the exception, but otherwise no, it doesn't work for my thumb or index finger well at all.
 
  • Like
Reactions: rmadsen3
So, what's the process to unlock using the finger print key when the screen savers on or is sleeping?

Do I press the unlock Key? Or simply touch my finger on it?
 
EDK9Trainer said:
And the theory could certainly be real. I'm about ready to change my PW to NOW if I cannot figure out this fingerprint issue. I'll have to try the rubbing my finger on my pants first next time.
Click to expand...
Curious, have you asked your partner to setup their finger on the reader? Merely to test if they get the same issue...
 
Same issue with me! Had same issue with my iPad Air 2 too, I ended up not using touch ID. Now with 14" 2021 MBP and found that finger prints stop working after a few days. Just gave up and started to type my password in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back