Top 5 Ways to Fix Windows 11 Fingerprint Not Working

Aug. 07, 2023 / Updated by Eloise to Windows 11

Windows Hello feature uses our fingerprint, face, or iris to unlock our device and access various apps and services. And now we are accutomed to signing in to  Windows 11 device with just a touch of our finger. It’s fast, easy, and secure. But what if the fingerprint scanner stops working on Windows 11? How can we fix it and get back to using fingers as our password?  In this article, we’ve gathered the top 5 ways to fix fingerprint reader recognition not working issue.

Common Windows Fingerprint Sensor Issues

  • Windows fingerprint this option is currently unavailable.

  • Windows Hello fingerprint reader not working after a Windows update.

  • Windows Hello fingerprint reader not working after sleep.

  • Windows fingerprint setup not working.

  • Windows fingerprint sign in not working.

  • Windows fingerprint scanner not working.

  • Windows fingerprint sensor not working.

Fixes For Windows Fingerprint Sensor Stopped Working

Fix 1: Check if the Biometrics is Enabled

The first thing you should do is to check if the biometrics feature is enabled in the Local Group Policy Editor. This is a tool that allows your computer to authenticate your identification from your fingerprint.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box.

Step 2: Type gpedit.msc and click OK to open the Local Group Policy Editor.

Step 3: In the left pane, navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Biometrics.

Step 4: In the right pane, double-click on Allow the use of biometrics policy.

select-allow-the-the-use-of-biometrics.jpg

Step 5: Select Enabled option and click OK to save the changes.

Restart your device and see if the fingerprint recognition works.

Fix 2: Update Biometric Device Driver 

The biometric device driver allows your device to communicate with the fingerprint scanner hardware. If the driver is not compatible with Windows 11 or has some errors, it can prevent the fingerprint recognition from working properly. To fix this issue, you need to update the biometric device driver.

You can choose a manual update in Device Manager, but If you want to monitor the status of your drivers at all times in the future and enjoy the labor-saving way of updating your drivers with a single click, then Driver Talent  is your best bet. It is a professional driver updater that can help you scan, download, and install the latest and correct drivers for your device automatically in just two steps. It can also backup, restore, and uninstall drivers easily.

Download Driver Talent

Step 1: Launch Driver Talent and click on Scan button to scan your device for any driver issues.

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Step 2: After the scan is completed, click on Update button next to the biometric device driver to download and install the latest version of it. Also, you can update all the available drivers by clicking Install All.

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Step 3: Restart your device and see if the fingerprint recognition works.

Fix 3: Modify Windows Biometric Service

Biometric Service manages the biometric data on your device and enables the Windows Hello feature. Sometimes, this service may be disabled or not running properly, which can cause the fingerprint recognition not working issue. To modify the Windows Biometric Service, follow these steps:

Step 1: Type services in the search bar and open the Services window.

Step 2: In the list of services, find and right-click on Windows Biometric Service and select Properties.

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Step 3: Under the General tab, make sure that the Startup type is set to Automatic.

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Step 4: If the service status is not running, click on Start button to start it.

Step 5: Click on OK to save the changes.

Restart your device and see if the fingerprint recognition works.

Fix 4: Perform a Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter

Another possible way to fix Windows 11 fingerprint not working issue is to perform a hardware and devices troubleshooter. This is a built-in tool that can help you diagnose and fix various hardware and device issues on your device. It can also detect and resolve any problems with your fingerprint scanner hardware or software. To perform a hardware and devices troubleshooter, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Windows +R to open the Run command, type msdt.exe -id DeviceDiagnostic in the box and press Enter.

Step 2: In the pop-up window, click the Next button to run the troubleshooter.

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Step 3: Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the troubleshooter.

Fix 5: Check for Windows Update

Sometimes, the fingerprint recognition not working issue may be caused by some glitches or bugs in the Windows 11 system, which can be fixed by installing the latest Windows update. To check for Windows update, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press Windows + I to open the Settings and select Update & Security > Windows Update.

Step 2: Click on Check for updates button from the right pane to check if there are any available updates for your device.

Step 3: If there are any updates, click on Download and install button to download and install them.

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Tags: Windows hello fingerprint reader,  Windows hello fingerprint recognition,  Windows fingerprint sensor,  Windows fingerprint scanner, 

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