I've had my M1 MacBook Air (Big Sur/512 GB SSD model) for about a month. Each day sometimes when I open it up I can use the Touch ID to unlock it but about half the time I have to type in my password. Is there a way to make it use Touch ID more often? What is the algorithm that the Mac OS uses to determine when Touch ID can be used to unlock it and when a password is required?
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 11.1
sberman,
Thanks again for your assistance. I went into the Security & Privacy panel and adjusted the "Log out" setting to logout after 300 minutes of inactivity. That change seems to have worked. Now when I open the lid to wake up the laptop it almost always now can be unlocked with Touch ID. Thanks for you suggestion!
If you open the laptop from sleep, one possibility is System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General > Users > Advanced > Log Out After (xx) Minutes of Inactivity
You need to enter your password when you start your Mac.
Your Touch ID is sufficient when you awaken your Mac from sleep.
Thanks for the response. I am aware that the password is required when the laptop restarts. The issue is that at least half the time during the day when I open the laptop to wake it up it asks for the password vice letting me use Touch ID to wake it up.
Glad that answered your question!
Enjoy your Apple gear.
Touch ID to unlock a MacBook Air
