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Windows Fingerprint Isn’t Working: 9 Easy Ways to Fix it

Follow our solutions, one by one, in order to fix the fingerprint issue

11 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Afingerprintscansounds fantastic if you have confidential data on your computer and don’t want anybody to access it. Unfortunately, the Windows Hello fingerprint is not working for some users.

The message states thatWe couldn’t find a fingerprint scanner compatible with Windows Hello fingerprintso let’s see how we can resolve this issue.

Why did my fingerprint scanner stop working on Windows?

If the associated drivers are faulty, outdated, or incompatible, your fingerprint reader will not function properly. In addition, some system files may get corrupted, which prevents you from using the fingerprint reader.

Moreover, your fingerprint reader software or other software might be causing the Windows fingerprint not working issue. If you have recently reinstalled Windows from Microsoft, be sure to update the chipset firmware for your computer.

Not being able to use your fingerprint can be a security risk, and in this article, we’re going to cover the following issues:

After updating to Windows 11, many users startedcomplaining on the Microsoft Answerswebsite that their fingerprint reader stopped working and they could no longer use it to log in:

I upgraded to Windows 11 from my Windows 10 laptop meeting all the requirements. Since then I’m unable to use my fingerprint scanner on my laptop. After a day, the sign-in settings on the settings app are also not opening. I re-installed my biometric drivers but it didn’t work out. Please help me fix this issue. Is this a bug and will it be fixed in the next updates?

As several users with ASUS laptops reported this issue, one might assume that there are some compatibility issues with the drivers for the respective readers.

However, one user responded in the same thread that the fingerprint reader from his ASUS laptop works well.

Anyway, this doesn’t seem to be an isolated incident since other users complained on theAcer community websiteabout the same problem:

My Acer 5 fingerprint reader was working great with Windows 10. When I changed to Windows 11 it stopped working. There are no options available for the Windows 11 sign-in window (Settings, Accounts, Sign-in Options). Is there a fix available or will one be available in the future? Will the fix be automatically installed by Windows Update?

In this case, the user updated the fingerprint reader’s driver from the Device Manager Biometrics section and solved the problem immediately.

We don’t have an official solution, but this is likely a case of driver compatibility issues that will be gradually updated as Windows 11 matures.

Speaking about upgrades, you might have noticed that WindowsFingerprint stopped working after installing a particular update.

Many users reported the same issue, so it’s safe to declare this does not happen strictly when switching to a new OS. Regular feature updates can trigger incompatibility issues as well.

To rule out this possibility quickly, we suggest you revert to recent updates and check Windows Hello’s functionality.

Here’s how to do that:

If the issue is solved, you might want torun the Windows Update Troubleshooterbefore trying to reinstall the problematic update to avoid triggering the same behavior.

How do I fix my fingerprint on Windows 10?

1. Rollback drivers/use default drivers

Often, it’s better to use the latest driver optimized for Windows 10, so make sure you visit your fingerprint scanner manufacturer and check for the latest Windows 10 drivers.

It’s also worth mentioning that in some instances, older drivers can work better than the latest ones, so you might also try some older drivers.

Updating drivers manually is risky, so we recommend you download and install dedicated software to do it automatically.

Outbyte Driver Updater

2. Switch to a local account/ create a new account

You can try creating a new account and setting up the fingerprint scanner. After that, just delete the latest version and switch back to the old one.

IfWindows won’t let you add a new account, our expert guide will help you fix the problem and get things back to normal.

3. Prevent your PC from turning off USB devices

Your system may be turning off your USB device to save power. By deactivating this feature, your fingerprint reader will still be active.

4. Update HP Support Assistant

If the fingerprint reader doesn’t work in Windows 10, the problem might be theHP Support Assistantapplication. If you have this application on your PC, update it to the latest version.

You can do that by running the application and choosing the update option or downloading the latest version from HP’s website.

After the application is updated, restart your PC, and the fingerprint reader will start working again.

Remember that this solution works only if you’re using an HP device. If you have a PC from another brand and you don’t have an HP Support Assistant on your PC, then this solution doesn’t apply to you.

5. Use a different fingerprint reader

If the issue persists, you can use a differentfingerprint reader. Sometimes, your fingerprint reader might not be compatible with your computer’s hardware configuration or operating system.

Therefore, before buying a new fingerprint reader, ensure the device is compatible with your machine.

We recommend getting the Kensington VeriMark USB Fingerprint Key, a tiny fingerprint reader fully compatible with Windows.

6. Uninstall the fingerprint software

After removing the fingerprint software, you will need to remove the fingerprint driver from your PC.

Next, restart your PC. Windows 10 will install the default driver, and the issue should be resolved. If you have trouble opening the Setting app, look at our comprehensive article to solve the problem in no time.

7. Remove fingerprint scanning and update the fingerprint driver

Still not working? Here’s another comprehensive guide that could help youfix the Windows Hello problemonce and for all.

8. Remove and recreate your PIN

9. Update your BIOS

The problem might be your BIOS if the fingerprint doesn’t work in Windows 10. However, if your device has a built-in fingerprint reader, you might be able to fix this problem byupdating your BIOS.

The BIOS update is an advanced procedure; if you’re not careful, you can cause irreversible damage to your PC.

In addition, many users are recommending updating your chipset drivers, so make sure you try that too. You can update your drivers using our first two solutions from this guide.

How do I reset my fingerprint reader?

We hope you managed to fix the fingerprint scanning for your Windows 10 device using our solutions.

If the PIN isn’t working on Windows 10, here’s an excellent guide to help youfix the PIN problem in Windows 10immediately.

If you updated your operating system and need help, check our guide onhow to fix the fingerprint sensor error in Windows 11.

For more suggestions or questions, reach out to the comments section below. Other users might appreciate your input.

Windows Fingerprint Isn’t Working: 9 Easy Ways to Fix it#

Why did my fingerprint scanner stop working on Windows?#

How do I fix my fingerprint on Windows 10?#

1. Rollback drivers/use default drivers#

Outbyte Driver Updater#

2. Switch to a local account/ create a new account#

3. Prevent your PC from turning off USB devices#

4. Update HP Support Assistant#

5. Use a different fingerprint reader#

6. Uninstall the fingerprint software#

7. Remove fingerprint scanning and update the fingerprint driver#

8. Remove and recreate your PIN#

9. Update your BIOS#

How do I reset my fingerprint reader?#