After upgrade to OS 26 Touch ID only works sporadically on 2019 MacBook Pro

Turning off Touch ID then turning it back on worked for me. Didn’t have to redo Touch ID or make any changes.

System settings > Touch ID & Password > Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac - toggle off then toggle on

If that doesn’t work, toggle off, close system settings, wait a few seconds reopen and toggle on. You can also toggle off, restart your Mac then toggle it back on

photojeep1722 wrote:

Since upgrading to OS 26 Tahoe, my Touch ID only works sporadically to log in after sleep. There have been times, after walking away from my laptop for over an hour, when I tap the keyboard to wake it up that the screen initially shows the last thing I was working on as though no password is needed but then that quickly disappears and I have to enter my password because there is no Touch ID option. Other times, after the same time asleep, I have the Touch ID option available. I own a 2019 MacBook Pro (Intel processor) and it's possible that is part of my issue, but I'm hoping someone here might have a solution.

Any ideas anyone?

The go to way is remove all finger prints and set it back up— yes.

ref: Use Touch ID on Mac - Apple Support

On an Intel machine you can try —

resetting the System Management Controller Reset the SMC of your Mac - Apple Support

Even though SMC controls the touchbar, the T2 Controller is responsible for TouchID as well, so some USB is in play, this would be NVRAM in part, notice:

USB Device: Apple T2 Bus

USB Device: Touch Bar Backlight

USB Device: Touch Bar Display

USB Device: Apple T2 Controller

therefore resetting NVRAM/PRAM Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support

(get at least two-three rounds of the chimes when holding the NVRAM Reset)

Tahoe update caused problems for my Touch ID, too. The first steps did not work. I asked Mac Chat:

I had to delete and redo my fingerprint after reset;

Cleaning the button with a soft cloth and toggling on/off did not work for me. Redoing the fingerprint worked. There was no lag on Touch ID like before. AW-4:20 mountain time Sept 27.

Let us hope this helps some more people.

MacBook Pro (16-inch, 2019, Intel/TouchBar) same issue since 'upgrading' to Tahoe. If I wait 10-12 seconds on the singin screen then Touch ID becomes an option and works fine. However I should be able to lift the lid, place my finger, and be working in an instant.

Resetting SMC: no change

Disable Touch ID, reboot, enable: Worked once but now no change

I've reported it to Apple as a bug via their feedback so hopefully will be acknowledged and fix. I know in the grand scheme of things a 10-12 second delay isn't the end of the world but it's bloody annoying lol

I haven't had this much trouble with macOS since the dictation bug. In fact, I can say that this Touch ID bug is even more annoying and often prevents me from using my MacBook normally.

While still searching for a solution, I found the recommendation to try resetting the SMC. I tried it, and it seems to have helped, at least for now. I'm curious if anyone has tried it and if it made a difference.

Reset the SMC: The System Management Controller (SMC) handles low-level functions like power management. To reset it on most Macs, turn off the Mac, then press and hold the Option + Control + Shift keys and the power button for 10 seconds. Release the keys, then turn your Mac back on.

The solutuin is to turn off Touch ID then turning it back. Didn’t have to redo Touch ID or make any changes, go to:

System settings > Touch ID & Password > Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac - toggle off then toggle on

If that doesn’t work, toggle off, close system settings, wait a few seconds reopen and toggle on. You can also toggle off, restart your Mac then toggle it back on.

Medvedev Den wrote:

Unfortunately it's back again =( Seems to be there is a problem with bridgeos of T2 chip. Ended up setting up my apple watch to unlock mack. Thanks god it's not broken yet

Most times, the MacBook's firmware is also updated alongside the OS update. This could be the reason for both versions of the OS behaving in the same way despite you backdating the OS.

On another thread, someone reported that deleting the fingerprint(s) and re-adding them helped. System Settings > Touch ID & Password, hover over the fingerprint to see the (x) at the upper left to delete it.

I had the same issue but just upgraded to 26.1 and that seems to have fixed the issue.

This appears to be fixed in Sequoia 15.7.2 and Tahoe 26.1. Checked with my Intel MBP 2019 and Intel MBP 2020.

OS 26.1 fixed this issue for me. Worst os transition in the last 25 years, had to do a clean install. Absolutely atrocious. The don't fix things that are not broken department needs more coffee. The smc, p-ram reset twiddle the thingy never ever solves missing qa if anything, this is not how apple products should work and is better done by MS.

Huh - I just tried the "turn it off & on again". I also tried adding a new fingerprint & it just hangs on "Preparing for Touch ID setup" (2024 macbook pro, external keyboard w/sensor).

I also deleted all the fingerprints & am trying to add one again and it's the same message & no resolution.

Aha - when I rebooted the machine, I was then able to add new fingerprints & it works for e.g. autofill of passwords.

Update: Just updated to Sonoma 14.8.2. It seems that the Touch Id is working correctly again when unlocking the laptop. Thank you, Apple, for fixing this.

I assume the update for macOS 26 also contains this fix.

Cheers!

Lancaster54 wrote:

I own a 2019 MacBook Pro (Intel processor) and it's possible that is part of my issue, but I'm hoping someone here might have a solution.

I doubt a hardware issue... this type of bug after updates is not new.

I have had no issue with TouchID on Intel 16" MBP and macOS 26.

You can try reinstalling the macOS to sort issues if software

How to reinstall macOS

Recovery (both M1/M2/M3/M4 and Intel) — How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support