Touch ID on my MacBook Air works poorly

Hi there

Please try this

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. Turn off automatic login for your user account.
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.

See this link for further reference

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

You must enter the password when rebooting the computer.

You will also need to enter the password about once a week in my experience (Apple says 48 hours IIRC).

See the last section of this Apple article for details when a password is required:

Use Touch ID on Mac - Apple Support

laoxiao wrote:

Although Touch ID is still 100% effective for my Apple Wallet and many applications I almost never works any more to open my computer. What to do?

Open computer ?

What is open computer ?

If you mean first turn ON the computer from being OFF

Suggest you look at where you are Required to Type in your computer password

Just below that box

It should say something like " To enable Touch ID you need to log in " implied, you first type in the password

Then, Touch ID is active and available to be used