Windows Hello Fingerprint Is Not Working – How To Fix ?

It can be very annoying when you try to login to your Microsoft account and suddenly realize that you have forgotten your password. Nearly everyone in this world who has access to the internet has gone through that turmoil, including us.

It has been a dream for many years that one won’t need to remember all those passwords, but rather use the fingerprint and directly login without any fuss. Well, that dream is a reality now. With the Windows Hello Fingerprint, you can log in to your account just by flicking your finger on any Fingerprint reader in Windows 10.

Though this sounds wonderful, what if Windows Hello Fingerprint is not working all of a sudden. Now, those troubling passwords start to seem a wonderful alternative, don’t they?

We have received many reports from the users who are facing this problem. If you are also facing this problem, then don’t worry as in this article we will discuss how you can diagnose and troubleshoot it.

Why Is Windows Hello Fingerprint Not Working?

If you see the fingerprint scanner not working in Windows 10, then most likely the following causes are responsible for it:

• If Biometric input is disabled on your computer, then the Hello Fingerprint won’t work.
• Outdated fingerprint drivers are also known for causing this issue.
• Having the Fast startup feature enabled triggers this problem.
• Unnecessary background apps can also be responsible for this problem.
• If Windows gets corrupted, then you can face this issue.
• It can also be caused by malfunctioning hardware.

What To Do When Windows Hello Fingerprint Setup Is Not Working?

As mentioned above, there can be various different causes that can lead to this problem. Now, it’s time to troubleshoot all the above-mentioned causes one by one.

Solution 1: Close All Unnecessary Background Apps

Unnecessary background apps can conflict with Windows Hello Fingerprint ad stop it from working. In this scenario, performing a clean boot should solve this problem. To perform a clean boot, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run utility.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
   The System Configuration panel should open up.

3. Select the Services tab and check the Hide all Microsoft services option.
4. Finally, click on the Disable all option and click on OK.

Restart your computer to have a clean boot.

Solution 2: Update The Fingerprint Driver

Many users have reported that outdated fingerprint drivers can also cause this problem. If fingerprint drivers are outdated in your computer, then updating them should fix this issue.

To update the fingerprint driver, follow the steps given below:

1. Right-click on the start button and click on the Device Manager option from the pop-up menu on your screen.
2. Now, locate the Fingerprint driver and right-click on it.
3. Click on the Update driver option from the pop-up menu.

4. Select the Search automatically for updated driver software option. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the process.

Restart the computer after the update finishes. Now, check if still the Windows hello fingerprint setup is not working.

Solution 3: Enable Biometrics In Local Group Policy Editor

If the Biometrics setting is disabled, then this problem is bound to happen. In these circumstances, enabling the Biometrics should fix this issue.

To enable Biometrics, follow the steps given below:

1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run utilitty.
2. Type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
   This will open the Local Group Policy Editor on your screen.

3. Navigate to the Computer Configuration >Administrative Templates > Windows Components >Biometrics in the Local Group Policy Editor.
4. Right-click on the Allow users to log on using the biometrics option.
5. Click on the edit option from the pop-up menu. Then, check the Enabled option and click on OK.

Now, close down the Local Group Policy Editor and check if the problem persists.

Solution 4: Disable Fast Startup

Many users have reported that having Fast startup enabled can cause the fingerprint scanner not working in Windows 10. If Fast startup is enabled on your computer, then you have probably found the culprit.

In this scenario, disabling the Fast startup should fix this issue. To disable Fast startup, follow the steps given below:

1. Type Power and Sleep settings in the Windows Search bar and select the appropriate option.
2. Click on the Additional power settings below the Related settings.
3. Select the Choose what the power buttons do option.

4. Next, click on the Change settings that are currently unavailable option and then, uncheck the Turn on fast startup (recommended) option.

Finally, restart your computer and check if the Windows hello fingerprint still not working.

Solution 5: Reset Windows

The Windows system files can get damaged or corrupted and cause the Windows hello fingerprint setup not working issue. In this scenario, doing a complete reset of your Windows should fix this problem.

To reset Windows, follow the steps given below:

1. Type Reset this PC in the Windows search bar and select the appropriate option.
2. Click on the Get started option under Reset this PC.
3. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the reset.

You can also check out this article on Windows update stuck if you want.

Wrapping Up

So, now you know what to do if Windows hello fingerprint is not working on your computer. Follow the above solutions carefully as they should help you with this problem. Feel free to share your views on this article in the comment section below.