Get Touch ID on your Mac recognising your finger again

Why it happens

Touch ID only works for fingers saved on this Mac and for the jobs you've switched on. A wet, greasy or cut fingertip, or a dirty sensor, stops it reading you. Your Mac also asks for the password instead after a restart and after several failed tries, which is a security rule.

How to fix it

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu and click Touch ID & Password. Check that your finger appears under Fingerprints.

   Touch ID & Password›Fingerprints

2. Turn on Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac, and any other uses you want, such as Apple Pay or password autofill.

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

3. Dry your hands and wipe the sensor, the top-right key, with a soft lint-free cloth. Rest your finger flat on it rather than pressing hard.

4. Still no luck? Hover over the fingerprint, click the delete button on it and confirm with your password. Then click Add Fingerprint and lift and touch the sensor until the print fills in.

   Touch ID & Password›Add Fingerprint

Still not fixed?

1. After a restart, your Mac always wants your password once. Type it, and Touch ID works again after that.

2. A Magic Keyboard with Touch ID only works with Macs with Apple silicon. On one of those, connect the keyboard with its cable once, then try again. It also needs to be paired in Bluetooth settings.

   Bluetooth

3. Add the same finger a second time as another fingerprint, or add a different finger. It gives Touch ID more to match against.

4. Restart your Mac from the Apple menu and test again.

5. If the sensor never responds, even when adding a new fingerprint, it's likely a hardware fault in the sensor or keyboard. Contact Apple Support or a repair shop.