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
    2022-02-07T17:51:59+00:00

    Sir,

    I've been facing the same issues but in Windows 11. I tried various Methods but the Driver just won't work

    Please help me :(

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-02-08T00:59:52+00:00

    Here's what I did. I've got a Samsung Galaxy S notebook/laptop with the Snapdragon mobile chipset instead of an Intel, wifi one. I upgraded to Windows 11 and shortly thereafter the fingerprint scanner went kaput (stopped working). I actually posted on here earlier in the year about my issue, but thank God it was resolved before any replies came in.

    Try this if you haven't. First put Windows into troubleshooting mode, which may or may not spot the issue. Do a hard reboot (diff ways, but I just hold the power button on for like 10 seconds, and it'll cycle on, off, and on again). Go into Windows Hello settings and remove all fingerprints that you had saved. Do another hard rebooting, then go back to Windows Hello (fingerprint/security) and rescan your fingerprints. After this you may need to power off/power on PC, and then hopefully you'll be at the sign-in screen and can use your fingerprint.

    I hope this helps. From my understanding Windows tries to reinstall/update drivers through Windows Updates AND when you do a hard (or maybe it's considered soft?) reboot. Have a little patience, as you may have to do this a couple times (rebooting, uninstalling / reinstalling fingerprints) because I did. It would let me get halfway through scanning my fingerprint and then just quit accepting input, not sure why, I'm not a technician, but this way worked for me. Theres also some great other fixes in this thread as well.

    God bless my friend!

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-02-08T18:51:13+00:00

    Hi Calro,

    Tried your steps of using the old driver, still the fingerprint reader did not show up, then I followed other steps updating the driver and restarting... damnnn it worked like a charm :D so happy about it now finally!!!!

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-02-13T01:01:37+00:00

    Thank you so much for your help. I did everything you recommended and IT WORKED!!!!!!

    Thanks again.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-02-13T21:04:38+00:00

    The issue is not restricted to Dell or HP products. I have a new Surface Pro 8 that is 5 weeks old came loaded with Windows 11. I have received a couple of updates since buying the Surface. I have the latest OS build 220000.493. All the sign in options show the same message "This option is not currently available". If I click on the sign in option it says this cannot be used until you have a password. My Password with my Microsoft Account is working and I can sign into my account. this is a major problem and I am seeing a lot of people on the net complaining about it. How can this be fixed?

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