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 16, 2021 2:52 PM in response to SE RamerVest

Go to the menus and click restart then right after that hold down the power button/ Touch ID button for 10 seconds. Then lower ur back on and it should work

CEAIT

Level 1

4 points

Jan 27, 2021 4:31 PM in response to CEAIT

2019 MacBook Pro - 2nd time around did it after power down Press and hold the power button w/Shift, control, option

Feb 2, 2021 1:41 PM in response to joseph.nader

Update: After a new Big Sur install my fingerprint device is working okay, today. I’ll never know the root cause of this issue and my confidence in Apple is degraded.

jjmcgaw

Level 1

4 points

Mar 9, 2021 4:44 PM in response to urtzy13

Starting to look like its Little Snitch causing the issue - try uninstalling, rebooting and then reinstalling.

denysop

Level 1

4 points

Feb 11, 2021 4:16 AM in response to urtzy13

I have a MacBook Pro 13' 2020. Problems started with Big Sur update but not immediately. For quite some time Touch ID worked as expected. Suddenly it stopped for a few times already.

I tried:

Soft reset with 10 seconds pressing T2 chip (or power button). I did it with Mac plugged in, unplugged, with shut down, without shut down and finally measure the time with stopwatch. Also experimented with different time (10 secs, 20 secs, few minutes and so on.

DID NOT HELP!

2. More hard reset as it is in the official Apple instruction: shut down + 7 seconds for Control + Option + R Shift + 7 seconds for the same + power button. Again did a lot of magic with plugged/unplugged, different time.

DID NOT HELP!

3. I tried NVRAM + PRAM reset according to the instruction. Different manipulations and variations.

DID NOT HELP!

4. Eventually I bring my Mac to the official service provider. They kept it for two and a half weeks and reset it to the factory settings and returned it back to me with description: "Issue was not reproduced".

Ok, after the service it was working for a while. But, gosh, it took them TWO AND A HALF WEEKS!!! The service in Czech Republic is simply sucks. Don't recommend to go there to anyone.

After some time I dared to update my "fixed" Mac to Big Sur again since it was not seeing my Time Machine (format was changed so Big Sur time machine is not visible by older versions). And guess what? After a while issue reproduced again.

I have tried all the steps above and went even further. I decided to reset my Mac myself. I installed Catalina and

IT DID NOT WORK!

I tried all reset manipulations again. Then left my Mac plugged in for a night. And it suddenly started work! I have updated it to Big Sur and it worked. The next day after update it stopped work again.

I am pretty sure it is sort of issue with Big Sure itself. However Catalina reset did not work for a while also. Resets do not help.

I am already going mad about it and almost want my money back for this piece of faulty hardware/software bundle.

P.S. It is still not clear for me what is the root cause of the problem and what is the universal solution (NO NONE OF RESETS WORKS).

However I wonder if there is an opportunity to raise a defect to Apple? I would like to do that. There is obviously a problem. Or let me know if I can fix it myself programmatically (I am a new user of Mac and I am already very disappointed).

Mar 9, 2021 6:13 AM in response to Peter Almere

Re-install of Big Sour did not help.

However I CAN use touch-id and Apple Pay immediately after clean installation of the software. But as soon as I have restored my account with Migration Assistant the problem returns.

I tried:

1) Installation with iCloud (and touch-id) set up and then migrating.

2) installation with first migration and then set up of iCloud and touch-id

3) installation and trying to use TimeMachine to get my documents back. This won't let me bring back my documents and tells me to use Migration Assistant that then brings back the problem.

(smc reset does not work)

So the next Big Sour project will be backing up on usb drive without TimeMachine just by hand. And then reinstallation after which I will I have to restore my documents by hand. The fault will be in some library or what-ever that is copied from old system to new by Migration. (I guess..... )

katcole

Level 1

4 points

Dec 29, 2020 4:09 PM in response to Please-HelpMyMac

Resetting the SMC worked for me too. Thank you.

BMJD9999

Level 1

8 points

Dec 31, 2020 8:36 AM in response to BMJD9999

Resetting the SMC worked!

ms.ko

Level 1

8 points

Jan 25, 2021 3:32 PM in response to ms.ko

Mine was not taking fingerprints until I reset by holding the button for 10 seconds, but then it did.

Feb 4, 2021 5:34 AM in response to urtzy13

I was experiencing the same issue for a long time up until visiting this thread. Restarting my MacBook Pro fixed the issue.

Jan 16, 2021 12:28 PM in response to Deenie1

I know it is frustrating but you can fix it after the update.

Restart your computer and hold down the power button for 10 seconds.
After you are logged in go to Apple > System Preferences > Touch ID > Select all 4 boxes.
Add another fingerprint if you want.

That's it. You should be able to use your fingerprint for everything again.

Hope this helps!

sheryl41

Level 1

4 points

Jan 20, 2021 3:28 PM in response to urtzy13

Yes, resetting the SMC as explained worked for me! Thanks!

Swap719

Level 1

4 points

Feb 16, 2021 9:55 PM in response to urtzy13

SMA reset fixed the Touch ID issue for me

MACBook 16

hunor14

Level 1

4 points

Jan 30, 2021 1:49 AM in response to urtzy13

In the Settings, in the Touch ID, need to click the UNLOCK YOUR MAC!

Settings -> Touch ID -> ✅ Unlock your Mac

(photo)

(My Mac is on language Hungarian, but you click in the first button: A Mac feloldása)

Feb 28, 2021 12:12 PM in response to jjmcgaw

Hi Jamie,

I think you found the source of the problem. I have tried all of the above solutions, but without luck. Interestingly, I also have little snitch and Bitdefender. So, this might be the problem.

Best regards,

Aristotelis

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Touch ID stopped working after Big Sur update