Level 1

46 points

Touch ID stopped working after Big Sur update

I have a 13-inch 2019 MacBook Pro that I just upgraded to Big Sur 11.1. After the restart, I wasn't being asked for Touch ID, only my password. I went into System Preferences and everything was checked. I tried restarting but that didn't help. I deleted my fingerprints, turned off all the Touch ID options and restarted the Mac. I went back into System Preference and tried to add a fingerprint, but when I click on the +, nothing happens. I can check the boxes, but once I exit the Touch ID screen and go back in, they are unchecked again. Any ideas?

MacBook Pro with Touch Bar

Posted on Dec 17, 2020 4:22 PM

Top-ranking reply

Peter Almere

Level 3

512 points

Posted on Mar 11, 2021 5:40 AM

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.

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154 replies

Kkll123

Level 1

8 points

Jan 15, 2021 10:11 AM in response to urtzy13

Press shut down and right after you click that and it starts shutting down, press the finger button and hold down on it for 12 seconds. Then open it back up and it should be fixed

Jan 17, 2021 10:16 AM in response to urtzy13

Shut Down Your MAC, Then Hold the Power Button for few seconds (10-15). As it will be Login TouchID will start working.

Jan 23, 2021 10:22 AM in response to urtzy13

It wasn't working for me either, but after I pressed these 4 buttons I could use Touch ID after installing Big Sur. I pressed control, option, shift and the power button.

ms.ko

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2021 3:18 PM in response to urtzy13

Resetting by holding down the power button for 10 seconds did the trick for me, as well.

Jan 27, 2021 6:51 PM in response to urtzy13

Resetting the SMC worked. After resetting the SMC, make sure you go back into Settings > TouchID and enable unlocking your Mac, Apple Pay, etc.

Mar 9, 2021 3:52 PM in response to jjmcgaw

Uninstalling Little Snitch & then restarting fixed it! BTW, NOTHING else in this forum did.

Feb 2, 2021 9:34 PM in response to urtzy13

I had to do two things to make touch-id work. I am running an MBP 2016 and upgraded from Catalina to Big Sur 11.1 today.

FROM: https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201295

Shut down your Mac.
Press and hold the power button for 10 seconds, including control+left option+shift, then release the button. (You'll hear a quick swoosh)
Wait a few seconds, then press the power button to turn on your Mac.

THEN!!!! You must enable unlocking here:

Re-enable "Unlocking your Mac" in System Preferences -> Touch ID.

Apple, this appears to be a common problem after updating the OS

jjmcgaw

Level 1

4 points

Mar 10, 2021 7:43 PM in response to mawolfe52

It shouldn’t be issues with the Apple built in firewall but 🤷🏻‍♂️ - may be something in the interaction between Little Snitch preboot cache and the T2 chip (google it) thats causing problems for people with Little Snitch installed - seeing as you don’t have it installed , ( and assuming you don’t have any other third party firewall or Internet security product) make sure you are following the Apple authorised PRAM and SMC reset instructions for your specific Mac model (ie T2 chip or no T2chip). If that doesn’t work, try a Disk first aid repair using Disk Utility( google it as well) and make sure you aren’t super low on disk space. sorry I’m out of suggestions other than a full system reinstall from scratch after that OR Apple Genius Bar im afraid ... good luck!

Jan 4, 2021 7:29 PM in response to urtzy13

I had the exact same issue. I reset the SMC then restarted my mac and the issue was resolved.

Jan 26, 2021 10:21 PM in response to urtzy13

Shut down MAC. Hold power button for 10 seconds and start the MAC. It works fine.

Dec 23, 2020 11:35 AM in response to urtzy13

HI!

I found how to fix this problem!

Look, first you need to hard restart your Mac

Second, go to Preferences -> Touch ID -> Add fingerprint

All works! You just need to hard restart your Mac, and that's all!

Dec 23, 2020 11:45 AM in response to sele18

1-You should delete the finger print that is there now in your Touch ID !

2-Then shut down the Mac BUT Don't just shut it down, FORCE SHUT " HARD RESET" it down by holding the power button until it shuts off & KEEP holding it for another 20 secs or more to be safe ! Then power it up.. At that point you should be able to redo your finger print & all should work ! APPLE SYSTEM Preference- TOUCH ID

Dec 24, 2020 1:24 AM in response to urtzy13

Resetting the system management controller (SMC) does the trick but you have to check the checkbox "Use Touch ID for unlocking your mac" again under System preferences > touch ID, after the reset. I thought the reset didn't solve the problem but it did, I just had to enable Touch ID again.

Feb 1, 2021 10:21 AM in response to Please-HelpMyMac

I had also the problem of my password not being recognized, in the solution given above (https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201295) the second solution worked. I tried first holding the power button for 10 seconds and that did not work, but the second more involved, but still simple, solution worked like a charm. Thank you!

Feb 10, 2021 10:11 AM in response to Agapoulas

Here is what worked fir me:

Reinstall your original OS using the widely accepted instructions from Apple.
Setup the fingerprint features of your MBP.
Using the update tool install all system updates as suggested.
Install the OS upgrade when prompted. In my case I went from High Sierra to Mojave as suggested.
Again install all suggested system updates.
When prompted install the Big Sur upgrade.
My MBP fingerprint sensor works perfectly now when no other suggestions worked.

Good luck!

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Touch ID stopped working after Big Sur update