Why do I always have to type in my password?!

[mdwsta4]

One of the cool things about buying last fall's new MBP was TouchID. Yet somehow I find it almost worthless to use! I can't use it to unlock my computer when I start/restart it, iTunes always asks me if I want to use Touch ID for future purchases and yet every time it prompts me to type in my password and will not accept Touch ID. The only thing I've found it useful for is the 2 or 3 purchases where a website actually accepts Apple Pay.

What am I missing here? When I turn on my computer, I want to use Touch ID, not a password. When I download an item from iTunes, I want the same. Is that really too much to ask of this thing?

 

[jerryk]

One of the cool things about buying last fall's new MBP was TouchID. Yet somehow I find it almost worthless to use! I can't use it to unlock my computer when I start/restart it, iTunes always asks me if I want to use Touch ID for future purchases and yet every time it prompts me to type in my password and will not accept Touch ID. The only thing I've found it useful for is the 2 or 3 purchases where a website actually accepts Apple Pay.

What am I missing here? When I turn on my computer, I want to use Touch ID, not a password. When I download an item from iTunes, I want the same. Is that really too much to ask of this thing?

I assume when you reboot the machine it needs to know which user's finger print to expect. After all it is a multi user machine and not all accounts have finger prints associated with them.

Also, the fingerprint data is stored in the security enclave chip and that requires a password (or username/password hash) to be accessed.

Don't know about iTunes, but suspect it may want a password after a reboot for the same reason.

Since just closing the lid does not log you out, it has the username (and likely the password) hash for the session in memory and can use it, with you finger print to authenticate you.

 

[mdwsta4]

Thank you. I am the only user set up on this machine. If I had multiple users set up, I could see what you mean.

I assume when you reboot the machine it needs to know which user's finger print to expect. After all it is a multi user machine and not all accounts have finger prints associated with them.


Don't know about iTunes, but suspect it may want a password after a reboot

 

[jerryk]

Thank you. I am the only user set up on this machine. If I had multiple users set up, I could see what you mean.

See my updated response. I forgot about the security enclave chip in my initial response.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

It's just a security measure. TouchID was designed to make things convenient not more secure. So it will require a password on fresh boot in order to maintain security. You really wouldn't want your fingerprint being at the same security level! Also it's the same reason iPhones and such require your pin on fresh start.

 

[vipergts2207]

I get the same thing. After not using my MBP for a couple days I'm required to enter a password, which makes sense as I think the authentication expires after 48 hours. Sometimes though I'll try to unlock it the same day and it still insists on a password. At that point the only fix I've found is to restart the machine.

 

[mdwsta4]

Thanks for the responses. Guess I'm just finding almost zero use for Touch ID based on my user habits. Same goes for the touch bar. In all honesty, after 7 or 8 months, I wish I would have just gone with the previous gen MBP. Apart from the larger touch pad, the 'enhancements' of the new MBP are all downgrades. No SD slot, loud ass keyboard, no physical function keys, MagSafe, USB C. Ah well, it is what it is.

 

[Aditya_S]

Thanks for the responses. Guess I'm just finding almost zero use for Touch ID based on my user habits. Same goes for the touch bar. In all honesty, after 7 or 8 months, I wish I would have just gone with the previous gen MBP. Apart from the larger touch pad, the 'enhancements' of the new MBP are all downgrades. No SD slot, loud ass keyboard, no physical function keys, MagSafe, USB C. Ah well, it is what it is.

I've only had mine for a couple hours now and I never had a previous MacBook Pro so I don't really miss MagSafe. I'm not sure how no standard USB ports will treat me so I may need to get an adapter, and I save photos with an SD card to my desktop. But in all honesty, I would say keep your machine. I used to think it would be better to get the previous model, but this machine is so much more future proof. USB C will become as mainstream as the current USB is and you never know if the TouchBar gets really cool features later.