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Can I adjust the time period that Touch ID remains "active"?

Can I adjust the time period that Touch ID remains "active"? If I am inactive for say 5 min, I have to re-enter my login password; I'd much prefer to just use touch ID on my magic keyboard. Is there some place I can enter a variable time-frame to keep Touch ID active/available?


MBP M1 14"; Studio Display; MacOS 12.4



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 12.4

Posted on Jun 22, 2022 6:20 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 22, 2022 8:14 PM

fusodrvr wrote:

1. Thanks leroydouglas. Two parts to my reply to yours:

My Preferences screen does NOT show the third option in your screenshot
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/fa9a0531-b6ee-443b-b8a0-62cf85001ee8
"Disable automatic login"
Not sure if that is part of this or not. I am running a M1Pro CPU, which I have found presents a bunch of other anomalies some of which Apple says are "to be expected" - that in my view [experience with Macintosh since mid 1980s] are not features but in my opinion bugs.

2. I do show the circled option, and it is checked because I do want to require a password after a period of sleep or screensaver. WHAT I WANT is to be able to use Touch ID to enter the password. If I uncheck this option, then I am asked if I want to forego a password to open my Mac - which I actually do not want to do.

Please continue to advise!!


Enable/Disable automatic Login is not an option if File Vault is on.


If you have checked "require psswd" verify your sleep options in

Change Energy Saver preferences on a Mac desktop computer



Make any changes to the above that suit your needs— I was not making any recommendations there...just verify the options are set to suit your needs.


Also verify >System Preferences>Security & Privacy>General>Advanced that you do not log your self out







If you still have an issue see the following:


If Touch ID isn't working on your Mac - Apple Support.


Lock the screen of your Mac - Apple Support







5 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 22, 2022 8:14 PM in response to fusodrvr

fusodrvr wrote:

1. Thanks leroydouglas. Two parts to my reply to yours:

My Preferences screen does NOT show the third option in your screenshot
https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/fa9a0531-b6ee-443b-b8a0-62cf85001ee8
"Disable automatic login"
Not sure if that is part of this or not. I am running a M1Pro CPU, which I have found presents a bunch of other anomalies some of which Apple says are "to be expected" - that in my view [experience with Macintosh since mid 1980s] are not features but in my opinion bugs.

2. I do show the circled option, and it is checked because I do want to require a password after a period of sleep or screensaver. WHAT I WANT is to be able to use Touch ID to enter the password. If I uncheck this option, then I am asked if I want to forego a password to open my Mac - which I actually do not want to do.

Please continue to advise!!


Enable/Disable automatic Login is not an option if File Vault is on.


If you have checked "require psswd" verify your sleep options in

Change Energy Saver preferences on a Mac desktop computer



Make any changes to the above that suit your needs— I was not making any recommendations there...just verify the options are set to suit your needs.


Also verify >System Preferences>Security & Privacy>General>Advanced that you do not log your self out







If you still have an issue see the following:


If Touch ID isn't working on your Mac - Apple Support.


Lock the screen of your Mac - Apple Support







Jun 22, 2022 6:41 PM in response to fusodrvr

fusodrvr wrote:

Can I adjust the time period that Touch ID remains "active"? If I am inactive for say 5 min, I have to re-enter my login password; I'd much prefer to just use touch ID on my magic keyboard. Is there some place I can enter a variable time-frame to keep Touch ID active/available?

MBP M1 14"; Studio Display; MacOS 12.4


>System Preferences>Security & Privacy>General see if this require password option got turned on







Require a password after waking your Mac - Apple Support


Verify your options here

>System Preferences>TouchID



Use Touch ID on Mac - Apple Support


Jun 22, 2022 7:08 PM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks leroydouglas. Two parts to my reply to yours:


  1. My Preferences screen does NOT show the third option in your screenshot

"Disable automatic login"

Not sure if that is part of this or not. I am running a M1Pro CPU, which I have found presents a bunch of other anomalies some of which Apple says are "to be expected" - that in my view [experience with Macintosh since mid 1980s] are not features but in my opinion bugs.


2. I do show the circled option, and it is checked because I do want to require a password after a period of sleep or screensaver. WHAT I WANT is to be able to use Touch ID to enter the password. If I uncheck this option, then I am asked if I want to forego a password to open my Mac - which I actually do not want to do.


Please continue to advise!!

Jun 24, 2022 6:37 PM in response to fusodrvr

fusodrvr wrote:

I think I did not explain my problem well enough in my OP.
I am using a 14" M1-Pro MB, plus a brand new Studio Display.

<snip>

Not an obvious much less plausible relationship to me.
Any ideas??



You will have to file a bug report and see if this can get looked at or resolved:  hhttp://www.apple.com/feedback



You can contact Apple Support in an effort to escalate this issue beyond Tier One all the way up to Apple engineers for a look see: Call Customer Support  (800) MYAPPLE (800–692–7753)

Jun 24, 2022 6:21 PM in response to leroydouglas

I think I did not explain my problem well enough in my OP.

I am using a 14" M1-Pro MB, plus a brand new Studio Display.

In the first several weeks since I rec'd my M1 MB, Touch ID has been working just the way I wanted on the MB alone [no Display for me yet]:

• if screensaver had started and had been running for a modest [?? exact] time, I could login with Touch ID quickly and reliably, whether using the built in keyboard or a Bluetooth Magic kb with touch ID key;

• if I had been logged out for a while [again, exact time ??] I might be asked [irregularly] for a password;

all good, I'm willing to be asked from time to time to verify.


From the moment I connected my new Studio display, things did not work this way anymore. Every time I was inactive long enough to activate screensaver [yes, I know, that's adjustable by me] I repeatedly [& without exception] got the message:

"Password required to enable touch ID," and I had to enter my password to open my screen.

Eventually, when I simply unplugged the Thunderbolt connection between my M1 MB and the Display, things worked as I wanted. Plugging back in restored the problem - touch ID not available to login.


I stumbled on another thread in this discussion forum where in several posters described the same message and problem. One, and later a few others, reported that if you go to Settings>Touch ID and check the option "Use touch ID sensor for fast user switching"


that this cured the problem - regardless of the fact that they did not have a second registered Account and were certainly not actually switching between accounts.

I checked this option and restarted, and for roughly 1/2 hour things were good; then I began getting the "Password required" message again.

After a couple more plug/unplug cycles of the M1 & Display, things now seem stable in the 'Touch ID works properly' mode.


I've been using Macs since the mid-1980s, and therefore troubleshooting the hardware & software as well. What is this? "Fast user switching somehow affects enabling of touch ID"???

Not an obvious much less plausible relationship to me.

Any ideas??

Can I adjust the time period that Touch ID remains "active"?

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