After upgrade to Sonoma 14.6 Touch ID stopped working to unlock by single touch

Updating to 14.6.1 solved my issue. After update, as I logged in again after restart, it prompted me to enroll in Touch ID automatically (I had deleted the only fingerprint for troubleshooting purposes and couldn’t re-add before), and it now completed successfully! Unlocking computer and password manager both work again.

In case it helps anyone (or their IT department).. I was having an issue after the 14.6 update where touch ID worked fine at startup, but once you locked the machine, touch ID wasn't available to either unlock the device or for any other applications until restarted. The machines experiencing this problem were under JAMF Pro control, and had the CIS Benchmark deployed for compliance. The problem was reproducible on a fresh install.

The problem ended up being the "Disable Login to Other User's Active and Locked Session" rule. When the relevant setting was changed (you can see what it is set to with "sudo security authorizationdb read system.login.screensaver") it stopped touch ID from being usable from the screensaver (which is expected behaviour), but it also resulted in touch ID not working at all afterwards. It also stopped all desktop widgets from working. We resolved it using: "sudo /usr/bin/defaults write /Library/Preferences/com.apple.loginwindow screenUnlockMode -int 1`" and will disable the rule for now until we can figure out what's going on with it. It was working without issue prior to 14.6.

Did it? It made mine perform even worse. With this update (both 14.6 and 14.6.1), the entire auto-lock and log-in/unlock process through Touch ID is botched on my end. This is actually one of the most frustrating OS updates I've experienced so far. Logging in or unlocking your screen is the first thing you want to do without any issues.

Not sure if you experienced the same issue, but I have to wait approximately 7 seconds after initiating the screen lock before it responds and gives me a login screen to log back in, and Touch ID isn’t working for 7-10 seconds, no matter how you press it. Re-adding a new fingerprint and enabling/disabling Touch ID doesn’t work either. I had to fully disable Touch ID just to log in somewhat normally, but even then, it takes 7-10 seconds every time your screen is locked before you can unlock it. And if you’re unlucky, even after being able to log in, it simply jumps back to the login screen after opening for 2 seconds.

Apple Support is unable to resolve the issue either. I guess we’ll have to wait for another patch before this is resolved—if it even gets resolved with that patch. Until that moment, I think I'll have to roll back to a version before 14.6, I guess, to be able to log in again. Unless someone here knows a fix that works?

[Edited by Moderator]

14.6.1 solved my issues.

All touch-id problems resolved by 14.6.1 update as well as a number of others with widgets.

For those who experience the Slow Touch ID function post the update to Sonoma 14.6

If the computer is a Corporate Computer which is enrolled in a Mobile Digital Management Service ( MDM ), like Jamf or similar 

The solution is to communicate with your Company IT Department 

Explain to them what the issue is  and Open a Service Ticket with them

The maintenance of the computer is theirs and theirs alone  and there is very little that can be done to fix their issue on these Forums .

No issues using the Touch ID

Had only 1 Registered Fingerprint before the update to 14.6 and only the same 1 Fingerprint afterwards

Suggest restarting your machine a couple of times and Test

Still issues >>

Restart in Safe Mode. This will perform a Disk Repair, clear cache files and only load Apple Software, extensions and fonts. The boot up will be slow and can take some time - Normal.

Safe Mode will also eliminate Third Party Software, extensions and drivers from loading.

It will only load the Minimum amount of Core Apple Processes to allow the the computer to function at a reduced Level of Performance 

Does the issue present in this mode ?

Sometimes a Safe Boot followed by a Normal Boot will just put things right.

same issue here, but first with black screen showing only the cursor.. only after updating to 14.6.1, it was good at 14.6

Apple Silicon M1 Max, managed by the company through Intune. I have seen this issue with every single Apple Silicon-based MacBook we have that has done the update. Multiple restarts do not clear it.

I am not sure what business would have a bluetooth-based keyboard with this.

However, I have not seen this issue with one of the older MacBooks sporting a TouchBar. I will confirm tomorrow whether that is Intel-based or Apple Silicon-based.

If you were to refer to the Original Reply to the Original Authors question

Using a M3 MBA that was upgraded from Sonoma 14.5 to Sonoma 14.6

Zero Third Party Security Software, Zero Third Party Disk Cleaner or Third Party Disk Optimizer

Since Monday of this week and every day since then

No Touch ID Issue was so every

Download the Application Etrecheck ( External Link ) directly from the Developer.

The Application is Not a " Silver Bullet " but only a tool to examine the Hardware / Software used on this computer 

This is a Diagnostic Tool that makes no changes to the computer.

It makes a coherent and readable inventory of both the Hardware and Software used on the computer 

The application is free or paid for added features. 

The Report will Not Reveal Any Personal Information. 

Post back the Full Report - copy and paste - >>>> using the Additional Text Icon  <<<<

Lt.Tuvok wrote:

Same issue with my business MacBook M2 Pro.

Mainly with login sessions to MacOS. I noticed it after updating to 14.6

Several colleagues complain about this problem

This tends to imply the computers are company computers ?

For those who experience the Slow Touch ID function post the update to Sonoma 14.6

If the computer is a Corporate Computer which is enrolled in a Mobile Digital Management Service ( MDM ), like Jamf or similar 

The solution is to communicate with your Company IT Department 

Explain to them what the issue is  and Open a Service Ticket with them

The maintenance of the computer is theirs and theirs alone  and there is very little that can be done to fix their issue on these Forums .

I installed macos 14.6.1. This issue was still happened untill i restart and plugged in it into the power. After problem was resolved and i don't kbow how tf it happened. So i restarted it again and problem occur first time but after it solved.

lkrupp wrote:

Try disconnecting and removing the keyboard from the Bluetooth list. Turn the keyboard off and then back on and reestablish the Bluetooth connection.

Good idea.

For some reason I sense this question may become or is becoming a " Honey Pot "

Try disconnecting and removing the keyboard from the Bluetooth list. Turn the keyboard off and then back on and reestablish the Bluetooth connection.

Consult with your IT department

They control the computer and are responsible to maintain the devices