Touch ID stopped working after Big Sur update

I believe I finally solved the problem of, at least, my own touch-id problems.

I tried to re-install Big Sur a few times but it did not resolve the problem. However each time that I completely wiped my HD I could set touch-id up and it would keep working. But the problems came back as soon as I used Migration Assistant.

This led me to believe that some settings etc. that I could not skip from migration, were each time taken from my old MacBook Pro. That did not run Big Sur and was an Intel without T2 chip. Since Big Sur many security settings had changed and on a MacBook Pro M1 there are even security differences in the hardware.

But what went wrong I wondered. Then on this Apple support Forum some users told that their problems went away after deleting Little Snitch. And these problems even stayed away after re-installation of this FireWall module.

When I first set up the M1 computer I was struck by the fact that the FireWall was disabled by default. I thought of that as a serious fault on Apple's side. But now I thought that this might have been on purpose. Maybe my own firewall was blocking the use of touch-id. Or maybe some settings of my old laptop were imported into the settings of my new one and caused a conflict. Or maybe some apps that originally had full disc access on my old computer, could obstruct security settings on my new one.

So I went to the security and privacy panel in the system settings. I first removed all app's that had full disc acces, I had already disabled them but now I removed them from the list until the list was blank. Then I went to the firewall and disabled it. Then I deleted all my fingerprints.

I closed the system settings and with my cursor I restarted the computer.

After initial start-up the laptop stalled and a program called Recovery Assistant came up. And it started to recover the security settings. I did not do anything it started by itself I have never heard of this app before.

After restoration of the security settings, the app disappeared and the M1 started up as normal.

This morning my touch-id is still working as normal and I am pretty sure that it will keep working. I have enabled the FireWall after giving in new finger prints yesterday. But I did not enable Stealth mode.

After upgrading from Catalina to Big Sur, I found two issues. First, Touch ID did not work. When I attempted to create a new fingerprint option under Users & Groups, I could not unlock these preferences because my admin passcode also did not work. Shutting down, holding the power button for at least 10 seconds, followed by a normal restart, fixed both of these issues.

Amy, see my comment from Dec 20th above. There is a somewhat subtle difference between powering down, which takes about 5 seconds, and the RESET, which takes 10 seconds or so. The behavior of your MacBook will help determine which you are doing. On a power down, the screen goes black, after which one releases the power button. On a RESET, first the screen goes black and the MacBook appears to shut down. By continuing to hold the power button down, it does a little extra, you hear the cooling fan come on and off for about 1 second, and then all goes quiet. Wait a few seconds more before releasing the power button. Then wait about 30 seconds before pressing the power button again to restart. This should fix your issue(s). If not, make an appointment with the nearest Apple store.

Had the same issue, until I came across this article: Reset SMC. But it only works if you have the T2 security chip! So check that first. This solved my Touch UI problem after upgrading to Big Sur.

What you need to do is reset the System Management Controller (SMC) by:

• Shut down your MB
• Press and hold the power button for about 10 secs
• Release and wait about 3 or 4 seconds
• Press the power button again.

I had the same issue (2019 MacBook Air) , but none of the fixes from Apple (resetting the SMC) did the trick. I was able to fix it like this:

1. Shut down your Mac
2. Power on in Safe Mode: press the Power button to start your Mac and immediately press and hold SHIFT until the login screen comes up
3. Log in with password
4. go to Settings
5. Delete your current fingerprint, then add a new one
6. Restart as normal

This worked for me. I hope this helps someone!

Resetting the SMC as explained here https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201295 ended up doing the trick for me.

I only had to do the first suggestion....shut down your MAC and hold the power button for 10 seconds. After restarting, Touch ID worked properly.

I had same this issue and I made these next steps and its working fine now:

1. Shut down your Mac.
2. Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, then release the button.
3. Wait a few seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.

more info go here > (https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201295)

Thanks,

I can verify that uninstalling Little Snitch, restores the Touch ID log in function. I also noticed that after re-installing it, Touch ID still works. So, basically, I installed it and reinstalled it, and the problem is solved for me. Bitdefender does not affect any function.

Hope this helps.

Resetting the SMC by shutting down MAC and holding the power button for 10 seconds resolved the issue for me

Thanks for this - I just upgraded yesterday and discovered my touch ID wasn't working. I followed the shutting down and holding the power button for 10 seconds and then was able to set up the touch ID again. All good now.

I followed another who had the same issue and posted to shut down the computer and immediately hold the power key for 10 seconds (the key that was used to make the fingerprint imprint). When I powered it up, the Option to use the fingerprint returned.

Resetting the SMC by shutting down MAC and holding the power button for 10 seconds resolved the issue for me as well. Then I went into settings and selected the option to open using fingerprint. When it asked for a password it worked this time.

Shutting down my computer, holding down a the power button/Touch ID pad for 10 full seconds, then pressing it to start up again - worked for me and reset the problem of not offering Touch ID option at startup and not responding to “add a finger” commands - all which occurred after the Big Sur 11.1 update.

I had the same problem! But mine got fixed I just held the touch button for some seconds till the screen got blank for a sec and then it got normal. It helped. I also shut down my Mac and held the touch button for 30 seconds!

This exact thing happened to me as well; you just have to turn your Mac off, then press the power button for 10 seconds, wait a few seconds and finally press the power button again.

After you've done that, try creating a new Touch ID.