Touch ID no longer working on MacBook Pro after upgrade to macOS Catalina 10.15.5

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Touch ID no longer working on MacBook Pro after upgrade to macOS Catalina 10.15.5

Hi,

I recently upgraded my MacBook Pro (15-inch; 2018) to macOS Catalina 10.15.5 and since then I'm no longer able to log in using Touch ID. macOS refuses to recognise either fingerprint (I had two scanned) and forces me each time to log in using my password.

I tried resetting my fingerprints and that works, but macOS still refuses to log in using Touch ID.

Touch ID still works because it still allows me to switch user and to enter accessibility options, but the authentication no longer works.

Has anybody experienced a similar issue?

(I searched Apple Communities, but couldn't find a similar post)

Thanks!

MacBook Pro 15”, macOS 10.15

Posted on Jun 6, 2020 11:39 AM

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Answer 1

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Paul_Magis Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2020 8:14 AM in response to Paul_Magis

Good news: problem seems solved!

Two observations (& I don't claim they are explanations/relevant):

I deleted the two fingers configured under Touch ID and rescanned them again renaming them with acronyms (RMF instead of right-middle-finger)
Before I used to log in in two quick steps: push on the Touch ID to wake from sleep, lift finger and let finger rest on Touch ID to be scanned & to log in. I discovered that pushing the Touch ID once (now?) is sufficient to wake up and log in simultaneously.

Issue closed (for me). Thanks for your support and suggestions!

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Answer 2

Jun 6, 2020 3:24 PM in response to Paul_Magis

Paul_Magis wrote:

Hi,

I recently upgraded my MacBook Pro (15-inch; 2018) to macOS Catalina 10.15.5 and since then I'm no longer able to log in using Touch ID. macOS refuses to recognise either fingerprint (I had two scanned) and forces me each time to log in using my password.

I tried resetting my fingerprints and that works, but macOS still refuses to log in using Touch ID.

Touch ID still works because it still allows me to switch user and to enter accessibility options, but the authentication no longer works.

Has anybody experienced a similar issue?

(I searched Apple Communities, but couldn't find a similar post)

Thanks!

Reset the SMC https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

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Answer 3

Jun 7, 2020 7:26 AM in response to Paul_Magis

Paul_Magis wrote:

Thanks, but uhuh, that sounds like a pretty drastic solution, especially as the link you provided does not mention Touch ID...

There is nothing drastic about resetting the SMC— it controls the entire touchbar as well as TouchID.

If no resolve— then try Try resetting NVRAM/PRAM http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1379

there is some USB in play here (ie TouchID) as well, including among others.

USB Device: USB 3.1 Bus

USB Device: Apple T2 Bus

USB Device: Apple T2 Controller

Beyond this two basic resets if no resolve I would suspect a hardware issue,

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

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Answer 4

Paul_Magis Author

Level 1

5 points

Jun 7, 2020 4:25 AM in response to a brody

Thanks for your reply!

However I would think that when the Touch ID sensor got dirty, I should experience also issues when adding a fingerprint in the Touch ID Control panel, but the procedure seems to work as smoothly as before.

In the meantime, Touch ID recognises half of the time one finger and never the second (which still makes me suspect a software issue (how the fingerprints are recognised) than a hardware issue (how the fingerprints are scanned).

I'll check for the AppleCare. Thanks!

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Answer 5

Jun 7, 2020 8:16 AM in response to Paul_Magis

Paul_Magis wrote:

• Good news: problem seems solved!

Two observations (& I don't claim they are explanations/relevant):

I deleted the two fingers configured under Touch ID and rescanned them again renaming them with acronyms (RMF instead of right-middle-finger)

• Before I used to log in in two quick steps: push on the Touch ID to wake from sleep, lift finger and let finger rest on Touch ID to be scanned & to log in. I discovered that pushing the Touch ID once (now?) is sufficient to wake up and log in simultaneously.