Most Windows laptops come with a fingerprint sensor as an added security feature. With the help of the fingerprint sensor, you can easily log in to your device without entering the PIN or complicated password. It is an advanced way to keep your Windows PC protected as it uses your biometric details for authentication. So, swipe press your finger on the sensor, and as soon as your details are verified, you’ll be logged in to your device.
Image source: Framework Laptop
Are you facing some problems while unlocking your device with a fingerprint sensor? Is the fingerprint sensor not working on Windows 11? Well, it’s a commonly reported issue that can easily be fixed by following a few troubleshooting steps.
In this post, we have listed a variety of solutions that you can use to fix the fingerprint sensor not working issue on Windows PC. Let’s get started.
Why would the Fingerprint Sensor Fail to Work?
There may be a couple of reasons why your Windows device would fail to unlock via fingerprint scanner. Here are some of the most common ones:
- Presence of dirt or liquid on the sensor.
- Outdated drivers.
- Bugs or technical glitches.
- Corrupt file or misconfigured system setting.
- Outdated OS.
How to Enable the Fingerprint Sensor Feature on Windows
If you own a laptop with a built-in fingerprint sensor, you can find this option in Settings. Here’s what you need to do.
Tap the Windows icon placed on the Taskbar and select “Settings”.
Switch to the “Accounts” section from the left menu pane. Tap on “Sign-in options”.
Look for the “Fingerprint Recognition” option on the right. If the status shows “This option is currently available,” it probably indicates your device doesn’t support this functionality. You will have to buy a laptop with a fingerprint scanner to use this feature.
How to Fix the Fingerprint Sensor on Windows 11?
Solution 1: Update the Drivers
Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “Devmgmt.msc” in the textbox and hit Enter.
Tap on Biometric Devices. Right-click on the fingerprint device and select “Update Driver.”
Tap on the “Search automatically for drivers” option.
Follow the on-screen instructions to update the fingerprint sensor drivers on your device. After updating the drivers, shut down your PC. Press the Power button and then use the sensor to check if the issue was resolved.
Manually keeping track of outdated and missing system drivers is a tedious task. Well, not anymore. Download and install the Smart Driver Care utility tool on your Windows PC to save yourself from the hassle of manually updating drivers. Smart Driver Care is one of the best driver updater tools for Windows that scans your entire device to look for outdated/missing/corrupt drivers and fetches their latest updates. With the help of the Smart Driver Care utility tool, you can update all the outdated drivers in just a single click to enjoy an improved PC performance.
Solution 2: Add a New Fingerprint
Here comes another simple hack to resolve the fingerprint scanner not working issue on Windows.
Launch the Settings app and head on to Accounts> Sign-in options.
Tap on “Fingerprint Recognition” and select “Add a Finger.”
Follow the on-screen instructions to add a new fingerprint and check if the issue was resolved.
If your device’s new fingerprint is readable, you can head back to settings and remove the previous fingerprint.
Also read: How to Setup Fingerprint Lock on WhatsApp
Solution 3: Uninstall and Reinstall Fingerprint Driver
If the fingerprint drivers installed on your machine have become corrupt due to any reasons, reinstalling the drivers might help.
Press the Windows + R key combination to open the Run dialog box. Type “Devmgmt.msc” and hit Enter.
Tap on “Biometric Devices” and then right-click on the fingerprint device and select “Uninstall device”.
Now, reboot your device so that Windows can automatically re-install the latest drivers.
Also read: 8 Best Free Fingerprint Lock Apps For Android
Solution 4: Update Windows
Using an outdated OS can also trigger the fingerprint not working issue. So, here’s what you need to do.
Launch the Settings app and switch to the “Windows Update” section from the left menu pane.
Hit on the “Check for Updates” button and wait for a while. If any update is available for your device, Windows will notify you. You can upgrade your Windows PC to the latest Windows version right away.
After updating Windows, reboot your device and check if the issue was resolved.
Also read: What’s More Secure? Fingerprint Recognition vs. Facial Recognition
Conclusion
Here are a few simple methods to fix the fingerprint sensor not working issue on Windows 11. Also, you can even try wiping the sensor with a clean piece of cloth to make sure that the surface is not clogged with any dirt. You can use any of the above-listed methods to get the sensor up and running again within no time.
Do let us know which method did the trick for you. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section. Follow us on social media – Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
