Why your Mac wants your password instead of Touch ID after a restart

Why it happens

Your fingerprint data is kept locked inside a secure part of your Mac's chip, and your Mac only trusts it after you've proved who you are with your password. So it asks for the password after every restart or shut down, if you haven't typed it for 48 hours, and after five fingerprint tries that don't match. That way the password stays the real key, and a fingerprint is just the quick way back in.

How to fix it

1. At the login window, click your name if needed and type your Mac password, then press Return.

2. Use Touch ID as normal from then on. The next time the screen locks or the Mac wakes from sleep, rest your finger on the Touch ID key.

3. If you see the message that your password is required to enable Touch ID, type it once more. It comes up after 48 hours without a password or after several failed finger reads, and it's expected.

Still not fixed?

1. If Touch ID doesn't work even after you've typed your password, open Touch ID & Password and check that your fingerprints are listed and Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac is on.

   Touch ID & Password›Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac

2. If one finger often fails, dry and clean your finger and the sensor, then delete that fingerprint and add it again with Add Fingerprint.

   Touch ID & Password›Add Fingerprint

3. If your MacBook is closed and you use a separate keyboard, Touch ID only works when that keyboard has its own Touch ID key. Otherwise you'll need to type your password, or open the lid.

4. If Touch ID never accepts any finger, even right after typing your password and adding the fingerprint again, contact Apple Support or a repair shop. The sensor may have a hardware fault.