Why is Touch ID Not Working on Mac & How to Fix 2024

Apple introduced its biometric fingerprint recognition system - Touch ID in 2016. Since then, Touch ID has continued to be used to unlock your Mac, make purchases in Apple Store, Apple Books, and iTunes Store, log into third-party apps and authenticate Apple Pay. However, Touch ID may not function properly now and then.

Here are some common Touch ID issues Mac users have reported:

This post serves to explain why your Touch ID is not working on Mac and a complete troubleshooting guide to help you re-enable Touch ID. Read the section below for simple yet effective tricks approved by Apple forum users for resolving issues about Touch ID missing from System Preferences and not working correctly after update.

Fix Touch ID missing from System Preferences/Settings

If you find your Touch ID not showing in System Preferences on the Mac, it's likely not detected. In that case, you can reset the System Management Controller (SMC) to get it back.

The system management controller (SMC) manages important hardware settings on Mac, including Bluetooth, battery, and Touch ID. Resetting it can restore the functionality of Touch ID. Note that you only need to restart to reset the SMC on an M1, M2, or M3 Mac. Also, Resetting SMC varies on notebook & desktop Mac and Mac with or without the T2 chip.

Here are the detailed steps to fix Touch ID missing from System Preferences on notebook Macs.

Reset SMC on MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air with T2 chips (nonremovable battery):

Before resetting SMC:

If that doesn't solve the Touch ID problem, do these:

Reset SMC on MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air without T2 chips (nonremovable battery):

If the "Touch ID not showing in System Preferences on Mac" issue still exists, scroll down to the full guide for a working solution.

Please share this guide if you find it helpful!

Mac Touch ID not working after updating to Big Sur/Monterey

Can't set up Touch ID after an update

If you can't set up Touch ID after updating macOS, chances are you can't unlock System Preferences even with the correct password. This can be easily fixed by resetting the SMC too. Besides, users also find that applying the steps below on a T2 Mac before resetting the SMC works like a charm.

Touch ID stops working intermittently on macOS Monterey

If Touch ID on your wireless keyboard stops working intermittently after updating to macOS Monterey, try to switch it off and on again. What else you can do is delete all your registered fingerprints, reset the SMC and re-add fingerprints.

Touch ID failure after Monterey update on M1 Mac

M1 Mac users have reported the failure to open Mac with Touch ID or add a second fingerprint after the Monterey update. Some also received the message reading, "Failed Unable to complete Touch ID enrollment." If that happens to you, you should shut down your Mac, and then restart it. If that doesn't help, boot it into Safe Mode, then reboot as normal.

Moreover, Touch ID on the Magic keyboard, especially on the M1 iMac or Mac mini, may not work after Mac wakes up from sleep. Some potential fixes are keeping the keyboard charged or re-pair it to your Mac.

Did these quick fixes work for you? If not, you can jump to the full solutions below. Or better, wait after knowing what potentially caused Touch ID to malfunction.

Why does my Touch ID not work?

Here are the possible reasons why you are unable to unlock Mac with Touch ID, enroll a fingerprint, or use Touch ID to enter a password:

It's also worth noting that there are times your Mac doesn't allow you to use Touch ID but prompts a notification saying that "your password is required to enable Touch ID" for security reasons. The cases where you are not supposed to use Touch ID on Mac are listed below:

If none of these scenarios fits your case, you know there is an issue with Touch ID. Follow the solutions below one by one to resolve the "Big Sur Touch ID not working" issue and test Touch ID after each step.

How to fix Touch ID not working on Mac?

Here is a general guide to fixing macOS Monterey Touch ID not working:

• Fix 1: Clean the Touch ID sensor and your fingers
• Fix 2: Restart your Mac
• Fix 3: Update to the latest macOS
• Fix 4: Check Touch ID settings
• Fix 5: Add a different fingerprint/Re-add your fingerprints
• Fix 6: Check compatibility
• Fix 7: Turn Magic keyboard off and on 
• Fix 8: Temporarily disable Touch ID
• Fix 9: Test in Safe Mode
• Fix 10: Reset Touch ID on MacBook Pro/MacBook Air
• Fix 11: Contact Apple Support

Fix 1: Clean the Touch ID sensor and your fingers

Dirt or liquid on your finger and the Touch ID sensor may cause Mac not to read your fingerprint properly. That's likely why Touch ID seems to be working but can't recognize your fingerprints. To clean the fingerprint sensor, you can wipe it with a clean and dry cloth. Also, make sure your fingers are also dry and clean.

Fix 2: Restart your Mac

If Touch ID worked perfectly fine a few moments ago but stopped responding suddenly, you can restart the Mac to clear glitches preventing the Touch ID sensor from making the response.

Fix 3: Update to the latest macOS

Updating macOS is your next step if Touch ID still won't work after a fresh restart. It helps fix bugs related to Touch ID on your current OS. This also applies to Touch ID not working after a recent update. For instance, If you noticed MacBook Pro Touch ID not working after upgrading to macOS Monterey, the best solution is to install a subsequent version that may contain bug fixes to your problem.

To update macOS, go to the Apple menu > System Preferences > Software Update or the Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update, then follow the onscreen instructions to install available updates to your Mac.

Fix 4: Check Touch ID settings

Sometimes, MacBook Touch ID not working is simply a settings issue. If Touch ID functions well with most services but for a specific task, you may have disabled it for doing so.

How to check Touch ID settings on Mac:

You should also ensure that the Automatic login is off by navigating to the Apple menu > System Preferences > User & Groups, clicking the lock icon, then tapping on Login Options to make changes.

Fix 5: Add a different fingerprint/Re-add your fingerprints

If the issue persists after updating macOS and checking settings, you can delete the saved fingerprints and re-add new ones. Or, if you have only one fingerprint registered, add a different one. You can save up to 5 fingerprints on Touch ID and use up to 3 fingerprints per account.

How to delete and re-add fingerprints on Mac:

Fix 6: Check compatibility

If you are using a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID features, you need to check if your Mac is eligible for using Touch ID. According to Apple, only Apple Silicon Macs running on macOS Big Sur 11.4 or later fit the compatibility.

Fix 7: Turn the Magic keyboard off and on

If your Magic keyboard is compatible with Mac but refuses to work, try turning it off, connecting it with Mac through its Lightning to USB - C cable, then turning it on again. You can remove the cable and use the keyboard wirelessly if Touch ID works.

Fix 8: Temporarily disable Touch ID

Some users managed to fix macOS Monterey Touch ID not working by disabling and re-enabling it.

To do it, follow these steps:

Fix 9: Test in Safe Mode

Safe Mode allows you to safely turn on Mac without loading unnecessary software that could render Touch ID on MacBook Air not working. The way to boot into Safe Mode depends on the processor your Mac has.

Boot into Safe Mode on Intel-based Macs:

Boot into Safe Mode on M1 Macs:

Once you are in Safe Mode, try adding fingerprints or using Touch ID as you intended. If it works in Safe Mode, restart your Mac to see if the issue persists.

Fix 10: Reset Touch ID on MacBook Pro/MacBook Air

Suppose MacBook Air Touch ID not working issue continues in Safe Mode. It's time to reset Touch ID settings on Mac by resetting SMC or clearing Secure Enclave data. We've explained the steps to reset SMC in the section regarding Touch ID not showing in System Preferences on Mac, scroll up to get more information. Otherwise, check how to reset Touch ID on MacBook Pro with the method below.

How to reset Touch ID on MacBook Pro by clearing Mac's Secure Enclave data:

If you are using a T2 Mac, you should back up your Mac with Time Machine because clearing your Mac's Secure Enclave data will erase all data on your Mac. Proceed with the steps below if you are sure that your Mac doesn't have the T2 chip, or you have backed up your Mac.

Fix 11: Contact Apple Support

The Touch ID not working on MacBook Pro problem should be fixed by following the above solutions. If not, there are likely hardware issues on the Touch ID sensor. And you should contact Apple support to make an appointment with the nearest Apple store or Apple-authorized servers and get your Mac & the Magic keyboard checked.