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iMac 24" TouchID not working

armandxp

armandxp

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jun 29, 2010
635
628
Orlando, FL
I have the TouchID keyboard with keypad. Every couple days or so, the TouchID button stops working. Even weirder, if I actually press down on the key till it clicks, it will work sometimes? Have any of you had this problem when you try to logon or use passwords, that it’s just not working? Or to unlock the iMac. I leave my computer on and let it go to sleep, and maybe reboot once a week, also.

I only reboot my iMac when this happens, and it fixes it. I just don’t understand why this is happening. Been happening since July. Also, when I turn the keyboard off and back on it also fixes it. I don’t keep a charging cable connected to the keyboard either. Just seems odd to stop working so often. Should I call Apple and see about service of the keyboard?

I am on the latest version of Monterey, also. Anyone else? Or should I just call Apple? I'm hoping it's not something with the computer, and maybe just a faulty keyboard, but I have no clue. Never had this problem on my MacBook Pro with TouchID.
 
i experienced this problem once. i fixed it by just turning off the keyboard plugging it in and turning it back on and then unplugged
 
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rosegoldoli said:
i experienced this problem once. i fixed it by just turning off the keyboard plugging it in and turning it back on and then unplugged
Click to expand...
I will try this. I’ve done something probably very similar, but I’ll try this exactly. Thanks! I’m hoping 12.1 will also maybe fix this. Not in any hurry to send the keyboard in. It’s just a minor annoyance.
 
Last edited:
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Similar issue here.

Since I upgraded to macOS 12 the Touch ID button of the keyboard *as well as* the touch surface of the mouse sometimes stop working. Either restarting the computer or turning the mouse/keyboard off and back on does fix the issue.

But it is annoying as eventually the problem comes back.

Anyone else getting the mouse issue as well? I tend to think it is a software bug rather than a hardware issue is it started happening after the OS upgrade and both the mouse and keyboard are affected in their own way.
 
I was in Best Buy today, and spoke with an Apple employee. With the new 'Touch ID' on the keyboard, one should never 'press' it. Doing so will place the unit into sleep mode. One merely needs to 'rest' their finger on the button.

Additionally, I was told, due to the volume of Bluetooth devices consumers have/use, sometimes there is a delay in the keyboard 'connecting' and thus unlocking the unit. Nothing Apple can really do about that.
 
circatee said:
I was in Best Buy today, and spoke with an Apple employee. With the new 'Touch ID' on the keyboard, one should never 'press' it. Doing so will place the unit into sleep mode. One merely needs to 'rest' their finger on the button.

Additionally, I was told, due to the volume of Bluetooth devices consumers have/use, sometimes there is a delay in the keyboard 'connecting' and thus unlocking the unit. Nothing Apple can really do about that.
Click to expand...

It is definitely not my issue (and I don't think the OP's issue).

Bluetooth connectivity of the mouse/keyboard with the iMac is fine (there is no issue with typing or moving the mouse pointer).

What is not working is specifically the Touch ID fingerprint reader, and the touch surface of the mouse (to scroll and do multitouch gestures). Probably some bug related to the more complex features of the devices.
 
bob24 said:
It is definitely not my issue (and I don't think the OP's issue).

Bluetooth connectivity of the mouse/keyboard with the iMac is fine (there is no issue with typing or moving the mouse pointer).

What is not working is specifically the Touch ID fingerprint reader, and the touch surface of the mouse (to scroll and do multitouch gestures). Probably some bug related to the more complex features of the devices.
Click to expand...
Understood. To add, my comment was not to 'solve' the issue per se', merely to add context to the conversation, based on what I had just learned...
 
I've been experiencing this for the past week or so too. At first it was just not working, now its seemed to disappear entirely from the system (doesn't show up in System Preferences).

Rebooting hasn't helped. Unpairing and re-pairing triggered System Preferences to start the Touch ID setup process, but then it failed and disappeared again.
 
Yes, I am having this same issue and it’s incredibly annoying. I can’t seem to figure out a pattern or common cause, either. It’s like the iMac just stops recognizing the keyboard has Touch ID and won’t event prompt for it… I get the password field instead.

Glad to know I’m not alone, but hope Apple is aware of the issue and can address it in a software update.
 
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bob24 said:
Similar issue here.

Since I upgraded to macOS 12 the Touch ID button of the keyboard *as well as* the touch surface of the mouse sometimes stop working. Either restarting the computer or turning the mouse/keyboard off and back on does fix the issue.

But it is annoying as eventually the problem comes back.

Anyone else getting the mouse issue as well? I tend to think it is a software bug rather than a hardware issue is it started happening after the OS upgrade and both the mouse and keyboard are affected in their own way.
Click to expand...

Yes this is a common issue. If you check the other threads, with Monterrey we have:

- Built-in trackpads not working as expected (no haptic feedback, clicks no always working)
- Magic Trackpads not working as expected
- Magic Mouse 2 sometimes not working after sleepmode, varying from not working at all, to scrolling not working etc.
- Touch ID on Magic Keyboards not working
- Wake-up issues with other BT devices

From what I know the betas don't fix it (yet).

Actually I'm surprised they didn't solve this during the betas. It sounds to me they have a big problem with HID devices and/or the BT stack in macOS 11.x.

If you switch back to Big Sur if you can, you'll see all is ok again.
 
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Happens to me every so often. Bluetooth, after decades, still sucks so bad. My mouse and Magic Trackpad also disconnect at random using my 24".
 
My bluetooth mouse sometimes loses connection, but I think it's the mouse (a Logitech MX Anywhere 2 from 2017 that has been dropped a couple of times and has dodgy battery life). I've never had any trouble with the keyboard/touch ID (which came with the Mac). I'm still on Big Sur. I lightly touch unless I'm also waking from sleep, in which case pressing the touch ID key both wakes and unlocks the Mac more or less instantly. Turning the mouse off and on fixes the mouse problem, or charging the battery if off-and-on doesn't work.
 
I know it is inconvenient, but can't you just leave it plugged in? I've noticed, once plugged in, it uses the cable instead of Bluetooth...
 
armandxp said:
I have the TouchID keyboard with keypad. Every couple days or so, the TouchID button stops working. Even weirder, if I actually press down on the key till it clicks, it will work sometimes? Have any of you had this problem when you try to logon or use passwords, that it’s just not working? Or to unlock the iMac. I leave my computer on and let it go to sleep, and maybe reboot once a week, also.

I only reboot my iMac when this happens, and it fixes it. I just don’t understand why this is happening. Been happening since July. Also, when I turn the keyboard off and back on it also fixes it. I don’t keep a charging cable connected to the keyboard either. Just seems odd to stop working so often. Should I call Apple and see about service of the keyboard?

I am on the latest version of Monterey, also. Anyone else? Or should I just call Apple? I'm hoping it's not something with the computer, and maybe just a faulty keyboard, but I have no clue. Never had this problem on my MacBook Pro with TouchID.
Click to expand...
I recently, today, had my fingerprint id quit working. I went to system preferences and removed my fingerprint to try and install a new fingerprint. After I deleted my existing print, the button to add a new print would not work. I researched on line. As suggested, I reset the SMC, whatever that is, by shutting down the computer, disconnecting the power for a minute and restarting the iMac. The Fingerprint screen in preferences was still not active. Finally, I just shut off my keyboard for a few seconds and turned it back on. The fingerprint screen was immediately active and I was able to enter a new print.
 
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Glad I found this on Macrumors forums. I have the exact same issue, no response from touch ID after some time. Reboot and reset keyboard (on/off) fixes it every time, but only seems to last a few days. At least I know I am not the only one. Crossing my fingers for an update from Apple...

I do plan (tonight) to plug the keyboard in via lightning cable, and see how it does. I'll report back with any good news, if there is any :)
 
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rotarydoc said:
Glad I found this on Macrumors forums. I have the exact same issue, no response from touch ID after some time. Reboot and reset keyboard (on/off) fixes it every time, but only seems to last a few days. At least I know I am not the only one. Crossing my fingers for an update from Apple...

I do plan (tonight) to plug the keyboard in via lightning cable, and see how it does. I'll report back with any good news, if there is any :)
Click to expand...
Mine has been working pretty well since I tried this:

turn the keyboard off, attach the lightning cable to it, leave it for a few seconds. Then turn the keyboard on, leave it plugged in for a few seconds. Then unplug the cable. Someone told me to try this, and so far it's worked really well for me. <finger's crossed>
 
I have exactly the same issue. Rebooting works every time. Turning the keyboard off/on and plugging in the cable works sometimes. But I have to do it every couple of days, so its REALLY ANNOYING that yet another otherwise excellent Apple feature is buggy. Anyone know if this is a software or hardware issue?

I had a senior Apple advisor working on this for me FOR DAYS - and he acted as if this were not a known issue... and then he dropped the ball, stopped responding to me requests for follow up. Odd, right?
 
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