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

Reported
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
    2021-12-30T13:35:08+00:00

    I have the same issue., and tried most methods. But on my HP elite are multiple accounts and only one of them has that issue.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-01-07T14:40:42+00:00

    same problem crops up with both my laptops what is the issue

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-01-09T11:22:14+00:00

    I had the exact same issue but my biometric section was visible and status of device was also okay. But I also found the exclamation mark on one of the USB device and it was showing that the device has failed to restart. But I did not uninstalled it. Just right click on the said device> properties> driver and then disable the device and then again enabled it. YOUR PROBLEM IS RESOLVED!!! The exclamation sign will disappear and you will also find fingerprint options in sign in options. Thanks DCHarrison!

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-01-11T15:15:15+00:00

    I had the same issue, my machine is a Microsoft Surface Go 2, the finger print login feature stopped working after I updated from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

    Thanks very much for posting your experience and the fix.

    I launched "Device Manager" found the finger print device and then disabled the it and then again enabled it.

    My problem has been resolved.

    Credits to DCHarrison and Robin_Ben

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-01-16T22:34:00+00:00

    Hi Carlo,

    This did not work, and the issue is still unresolved.

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