Level 1

25 points

MacBook Pro Touch ID not working after 26.3 update

After the 26.3 update, I can no longer unlock my MacBook Pro (M1 Max) using Touch ID.

After the machine has locked, I have to enter my password to unlock it (there's no option to use Touch ID). Touch ID does still work, it's just not available on the unlock screen.

I tried going to Settings / Touch ID & Password, then toggling the "Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac" option. (To be clear, this was ON before I toggled it.) When I set it back to ON, I get prompted for my password. However, it seems, despite entering the correct password, MacOS prevents me from re-entering it for an increasing duration (just now, it was disabled for 19 minutes):

After the required period has elapsed, I can typically login at the second attempt, but Touch ID is still unavailable when the machine next locks.

In case it's relevant, I'm using an Active Directory server to authenticate my login (it's running and available).

I did not ever have this issue prior to the 26.3 update (although MacOS's support for AD completely sucks).

Any suggestions?

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 26.3

Posted on Feb 13, 2026 9:24 AM

Top-ranking reply

JMS16-34

Level 1

14 points

Posted on Feb 13, 2026 9:58 AM

Hi,

I have the same problem with a MacBook Pro M4 and a standard session.

I tried several things and even reinstalled macOS, but nothing worked...

On the other hand, Touch ID worked well to unlock my applications. It was only for unlocking my session that Touch ID wasn't working.

To check that the problem did not come from my session, I finally created a new standard session called "test" and there Touch ID was indeed offered after locking this session!

But the surprise was when I logged in again to my old user session, Touch ID miraculously came back!

I destroyed this "test" session and now everything works normally.

Everything happened as if the creation of this new “test” session had unlocked the Touch ID mechanism.

It looks like a bug in version 26.3.

Let me know if this tip solved your problem.

Kind regards

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34 replies

TheSimulator Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 13, 2026 11:00 AM in response to leroydouglas

As it happens, I've been able to resolve this.

Here's what I did:

I rebooted my machine. It's always worth a try, eh?
Upon reboot, I tried to login and despite using my correct password, I was locked out for three hours. (I think the issue here, which is a common one for me, is that MacOS doesn't appear to start WiFi upon reboot, so the login can't authenticate with my AD server. Despite my account being "mobile", MacOS doesn't seem to cache my password, and I've given up trying to fix that. But that's another issue I have.)
I have a separate, local admin account, so I logged into that. Logging in as this user has the side-effect of starting WiFi, so that my machine can talk to my AD server. I then created a terminal and used ssh to login to the same MacBook using my domain account, in the hope of resetting the lock-out on my account. Whether it did that or not, I'm not sure, but I was able to login via ssh.
I then logged out of the local admin account.
I then was able to successfully log into my AD domain account. Whether the lock was reset by successfully logging in via ssh in step 3, or through this second attempt on the main MacOS login screen, I'm not sure. But I was in. Yay!
I closed the lid on my MacBook Pro, then opened it. Hey presto! I can unlock it using Touch ID.

I'm not sure if this is related to the solution proposed by @JMS16-34, but it seemed to have the same effect.

In any case, I hope this helps someone else...

Feb 15, 2026 6:58 AM in response to TheSimulator

Same problem MBP M1 pro: in my case, logging into the administrator account (I very rarely log into that account) I find that the touch ID works, once I did that, going back to my normal account the touch ID started working ...

s_0

Level 1

26 points

Feb 15, 2026 9:23 AM in response to mansanas321

Do you have another user account on the MacBook or can you create one? Several people have resolved the issue by logging out of one user account, briefly logging into another user account, and then going back to the original account. However, that doesn't seem to have worked for everyone.

Feb 15, 2026 8:05 PM in response to s_0

I tried this but never worked. But guess what? It works now if you rest you palm on the laptop while using touch ID. Read on Reddit it is due to static energy that you need to rest your palm now while using touch ID. Never did that before upgrading -- so whatever Mac wants us to do.

JMS16-34

Level 1

14 points

Feb 13, 2026 10:54 AM in response to TheSimulator

Yes, only created a new standard session named "test", logged into test, create a Touch ID finger print then lock this session and I could unlock it with Touch ID.

And after that everything works like before now...

(I'm not using AD to login, only local sessions)

Feb 17, 2026 11:20 AM in response to TheSimulator

I had to logout and login a few times before it finally worked. Thanks for the suggestion!

Feb 13, 2026 7:14 PM in response to TheSimulator

I think they mean to setup a new standard user account. As opposed to a new administrator account.

I'm having the same problem and I'm going to try setting up a new standard user tomorrow. Hopefully that will fix my issue. Unlocking the screen works for my admin user, but not for my standard user.

Feb 14, 2026 11:11 AM in response to Paul Fischer

This did not fix the problem on my main standard user account.

I created a user named test as a standard user. I added a new fingerprint to it. TouchID to unlock the screen worked. When I logged out and logged back into my main user account nothing had changed. I believe it is something wrong with my user profile.

I'm on an M4 Mac Mini.

Feb 14, 2026 10:12 PM in response to TheSimulator

I have a Macbook Air M3 and after upgrading to MacOS 26.3, my TouchID also stopped working. I tried all the tips from restarting to deleting and installing new fingerprints, to restarting to safe mode -- all not working. At times, it will work by registering fingerprints but once you needed to use it, it doesn't recognise any or not work at all! I suspect this is due to the software upgrade.

Don't tell me this is the end of it!

TheSimulator Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 13, 2026 10:26 AM in response to leroydouglas

I hadn't done that at the time I posted, because Touch ID works for other things (such as installing apps, changing system settings, etc.)

So I tried that, by attempting to delete one fingerprint, and was asked for my password. After entering it (correctly), I get this:

There are times I f*****g hate MacOS...

leroydouglas

Level 10

205,214 points

Feb 13, 2026 11:05 AM in response to TheSimulator

TheSimulator wrote:

I'm not sure if this is related to the solution proposed by @JMS16-34, but it seemed to have the same effect.

In any case, I hope this helps someone else...

Good computing TheSimulator ! Glad to hear you resolved the issue.

simarms

Level 1

8 points

Feb 24, 2026 7:07 AM in response to TheSimulator

For me, I have only one account, and that is an admin account. I tried simply logout and logging in, Cannot logout and switch account, nothing is able to fix the Touch ID.

Also, Touch ID stopped working on both my personal laptop as well as company laptop as soon as I updated to 26.3.

TheSimulator Author

Level 1

25 points

Feb 13, 2026 10:27 AM in response to JMS16-34

Can you elaborate on what you mean by a "test session". Do you mean that you logged in as a different user, then logged out again?

Jlariv2

Level 1

8 points

Feb 17, 2026 10:56 AM in response to TheSimulator

None of these solutions worked for me.

Feb 17, 2026 11:59 PM in response to ksv666

Thank you for sharing this

I have multiple accounts and I faced this issue

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MacBook Pro Touch ID not working after 26.3 update