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

View in context

34 replies

Feb 20, 2026 5:20 PM in response to s_0

Thanks for the input, though really why should people have to go through to (probably not) have to fix this issue, which is clearly yet another "bug?"

chris01

Level 1

9 points

Feb 21, 2026 9:54 AM in response to mattwestbright

This worked for me, thanks!

Feb 24, 2026 1:23 PM in response to mattwestbright

None of these steps work. Touch ID is totally broken and Apple refuses to admit they have a problem. Typical.

Mar 14, 2026 7:27 AM in response to TheSimulator

Thanks, JMS16-34. This workaround worked for me too! It's great to have this feature back :-)

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

MacBook Pro Touch ID not working after 26.3 update