My Touch ID only works when my magic keyboard is plugged in

Ebaydio,

Whenever we're troubleshooting issues with unexpected behavior, it's important to start with the basics and work our way from there.

Since the issue is still occurring, we want to recommend that you create a new user account on your Mac and see if the issue affects that new account as well. This is purely for troubleshooting purposes, to try and isolate the root cause of the issue. Here are the steps to create a new user account: Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support. After you create a new test account, go ahead and log in to that account and see if you are able to recreate the issue or if it seems to be resolved.

If the issue doesn't happen in the new account, then the next step would be removing login items on your primary account and testing the issue again. Those login items boot up alongside your primary user account so if the issue is only happening on that account, then it would suggest that one of those items is causing this to happen.

Here is how to do this step:

1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click General  in the sidebar, then click Login Items on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)

2. Make a list of the login items in the Open at Login list—you’ll need to remember them later.

3. Select all of the login items, then click the Remove button

4. Choose Apple menu  > Restart.

5. If this solves the problem, open Login Items settings again, add the login items one at a time, and restart your Mac after adding each one.

When the problem occurs again, follow the steps above to remove only the last login item you added.

That info can also be found here: Remove login items to resolve startup problems on your Mac

We hope that this information is helpful.

​Have a great day!

When I updated to Ventura from Monterey, My touchID didn't work at all. So I went into System Settings, and removed the two I had created originally. Then I made two new ones. One finger from the left and and one from the right hand. Then it worked just fine. If you haven't already, you might want to try making a new one.

Hi Ebaydio,

The steps outlined in "Try these steps" may help resolve the issue you're experiencing with your Magic Keyboard and Touch ID. Make sure to disconnect your keyboard and test Touch ID after each of these steps to see if it resolves.

Try these steps

Try using Touch ID after each step:

1. Make sure that you have the latest version of macOS.

2. Make sure that your fingers and the Touch ID sensor are clean and dry.* Use a clean, lint-free cloth to wipe off any dirt or debris on the Touch ID sensor.

3. Your finger should cover the Touch ID sensor completely. While Touch ID is scanning, you shouldn't tap too quickly or move your finger around.

4. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), click Users & Groups, then click the lock  to make changes. Click Login Options, then make sure that Automatic login is off.

5. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (or System Preferences), click Touch ID & Password, then turn on the setting to use Touch ID to unlock your Mac.

6. Try to add a different fingerprint. Choose Apple menu  > System Settings (Or System Preferences), click Touch ID & Password, then click Add Fingerprint.

7. For Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, turn your keyboard off and on, then connect your keyboard to your Mac with the USB to Lightning cable. After you turn Magic Keyboard off then on, Touch ID may be unavailable for up to 10 seconds.

8. Restart your Mac.

Thank you for being part of the Apple Support Communities.

Kindest Regards.