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
    2021-11-30T01:09:22+00:00

    Good Day Samuel(26).

    I appreciate your time getting back to this thread, please proceed with these steps.

    -Go to Device Manager

    -Expand the Biometric driver or Human Interface Device

    -Look for Fingerprint driver that was installed

    -Right click and Uninstall

    Once uninstalled, go to this link below and download and install the driver

    https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER07209316M/1/Fingerpri...

    Restart once done and check.

    Have a wonderful day ahead and stay safe.

    Sincerely,

    Carlo T.

    Standard Disclaimer: This is a non-Microsoft website. The page appears to be providing accurate, safe information. Watch out for ads on the site that may advertise products frequently classified as a PUP (Potentially Unwanted Products). Thoroughly research any product advertised on the site before you decide to download and install it.

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

    Hi Carlo,

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

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  3. 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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  4. Anonymous
    2023-05-27T15:08:55+00:00

    Hello all the friends out there with the windows fingerprint or facial ID issues, there are only a few known working solutions:

    1. always works: Create another user with fresh profile, sign-in options will be available again
    2. always work: Reset the PC (a real hassle)
    3. Not always work: disable biometric driver/uninstall/re-install

    Microsoft has this chronic issue but failed to fix it even in Windows 11. Please direct this complaint to MS.

    Thank you,

    Phil

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-01-17T00:00:17+00:00

    Windows Hello, I hate to have to say it, but it is not user friendly when a security device doesn't work (even if it did or should). If you had an enterprise or whatever capable Windows, there could be a little more ability, but it is still highly unfriendly.

    It might not be fixable. The only fix might be to wait for some Windows update to someday to fix it. The way its made is kind of to not allow users to tamper or work with it since its security and the way into Windows.

    However, if the security key works say in a browser with a 2fa website login then Windows Hello is the issue.

    If it doesn't work from a browser, then you have an issue with it working and would need to solve that. That would not be a Windows Hello issue directly. You might need to have Dell fix that or buy something else Windows hello allows. As I would expect that to be a physical issue. A security key should just work. If it would randomly fail so easily, its unreliable for security, and shouldn't be used.

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