MacBook Pro Touch ID not working after 26.3 update

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

TheSimulator wrote:

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):

https://discussions.apple.com/content/attachment/94561389-9066-45cd-af1b-2eaf37002dd2

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?

Have you deleted all finger prints and set it back up...?

ref: If Touch ID isn't working on Mac

TheSimulator wrote:

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...

Yep that is frustrating indeed.

—A SafeBoot Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support will sort many anomalies

Does a quick disk repair before it fully boots up, and certain system caches get cleared and rebuilt, third party system modifications and system accelerations are disabled temporarily.

Login and test. Reboot as normal and test. Caches get rebuilt automatically.

If not sorted, I would Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753) escalate the issue up the chain of command, get engineers involved for some resolve

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple Support - Apple Support

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)

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.

Thanks for sharing that!

I had the same issue after upgrading an M3 Max MacBook Pro to 26.3. I couldn't use Touch ID to unlock the computer, but Touch ID worked within applications. I tried turning off and on the Touch ID setting, rebooting, deleting and recreating fingerprints, and booting in Safe Mode. Nothing helped.

After reading about using a different session, while still in Safe Mode I logged out of my regular account and logged into another account I had previously created on my Mac. Touch ID worked with that account. I then logged out and logged into my regular account. Touch ID worked there. I rebooted in normal mode and Touch ID continued to work.

I don't know if it made a difference but for completeness, the first account I was using (my regular account) does not have administrator privileges and the second account I used--which fixed the problem--does have administrator privileges.

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.

The concept of this solution worked for me. I already had a separate administrator account from my day-to-day login. Simply logging out of my daily account and back into my admin account and back to my daily account fixed the problem. I did not have to use Safe Mode.

I had the exact same problem, just logging out (Apple Icon -> Log Out User...) fixed the problem for me, Touch ID now works again normally.

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.

Yes, starting in Safe Mode restores touch ID... for a while. Then it no longer works -- neither on my M1 nor my M3 MacbookPros. Yes, wiping out the fingerprints and redoing them also works... for a while. Then it stops working. This bug, which appeared with MacOS 26 and now is even worse in 26.3, is a major pain. Touch ID no longer unlocks my Macs, nor lets me enter sites that allow access by touch -- I have to insert passwords. Very aggravating, and Apple's response is a robotic loop of the same suggestions -- which all stop working after a while. Could be that 16 GB of memory isn't enough to handle the new liquid glassy system without losing some basic functionality? (My 18 GB M3 MBP just responded positively to logging out, logging in as someone else, then going back to my main login. Fingerprint is now working on unlock from sleep and also on an assortment of sites that allow touch ID -- BUT: I'm holding my breath to see how long it works before disappointing me again.)

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!