Fingerprint reader not working on Windows 11: "This option is currently unavailable"

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Anonymous
2021-11-28T21:29:19+00:00

I recently got a Dell Inspiron with Windows 11 preloaded. The fingerprint reader was working fine at first, but now it appears to not be working with windows hello. The option to add a finger or remove the fingerprint are greyed out and not clickable.

I've seen posts about this issue in Windows 10, but the fixes aren't working for me.

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-02-28T18:59:47+00:00

    I think you will find that the biometric device was not recognized. Consequently, it will not show up under biometric devices in the device manager, but it will show as an error under USB Bus Controllers. The device in question will have a yellow triangle with an exclamation point in it. I have found that if I disable it and restart the computer, the problem will resolve itself. Let me know if this works for you.
    Go to the device manager and see if there is an error in USB controllers.
    Let me know if this works.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-02-28T18:56:30+00:00

    I think you will find that the biometric device was not recognized. Consequently, it will not show up under biometric devices, but it will show as an error under USB Bus Controllers. The device in question will have a yellow triangle with an exclamation point in it. I have found that if I disable it and restart the computer, the problem will resolve itself. Let me know if this works for you.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-02-22T21:14:27+00:00

    Here's what I did. (I think, it was a while ago) In the device manager, I opened "Universal Serial Bus controllers" (actually, if there is an error, it should already be open). If there is a problem with one of the devices, there, it will show an exclamation mark (!) inside a yellow triangle. Right-click on the line with the "!" and select "remove device." Then, try rebooting and see if it works.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-02-22T15:24:53+00:00

    I have the same issue. And I can't remove the fingerprint. That option is blacked out for me.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-02-21T12:57:07+00:00

    Yes I did the same thing and it finally worked. Eveytime that Windows makes updates I have the same problem. :(

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