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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments No comments

208 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Anonymous
    2022-03-29T04:45:41+00:00

    Upgraded from Windows 10 to 11, finger print scanner builit-in 'PixelAuth WBF Device' does not work after upgrade to Windows 11. Purchased a 3rd party USB fingerprint scanner 'ELAN WBF Fingerprint Sensor' based on a different chip/driver. Neither work. The ELAN scanner seem to work for one finger, did a single scan attempt then Windows Hello Fingerprint setup reported oops something went wrong and only option is to cancel the attempt to record a finger. After that single scan attempt, has not worked since.

    I have tried every single solution I have found in this thread, as well as via Google that might or implied might be a fix, nothing has worked. I have uninstalled, rolled back, enabled/disabled, rebooted, etc., etc. etc. Nothing works or improves on the situation.

    PixelAuth WBF Device, Driver Date1/26/2021, Version 19.5.37.706

    ELAN WBF Fingerprint Sensor, Driver Date 7/27/2021, Version 3.10.12001.10402

    Hardware

    Device name Link
    Processor AMD Ryzen 7 3750H with Radeon Vega Mobile Gfx 2.30 GHz
    Installed RAM 16.0 GB (14.0 GB usable)
    System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
    Pen and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

    Operating System

    Edition Windows 11 Pro
    Version 21H2
    Installed on ‎3/‎26/‎2022
    OS build 22000.556
    Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22000.556.0

    0 comments No comments
  2. Anonymous
    2022-03-20T18:26:43+00:00

    Good Day Samuel,

    My name is Vignesh Thirunavukkarasu, I am also using Windows 11 Home laptop and community member like you. Let us work together to sort this out.

    My biometric is not visible in device manager.

    And there is no fingerprint driver in any files.

    I my laptop there is an inbuilt fingerprint scanner available but i can't able to access those features.

    Please help me to sort this problem.

    Laptop Manufacture: Lenovo

    Model : Ideapad 3

    0 comments No comments
  3. Anonymous
    2022-03-20T04:18:05+00:00

    The fingerprint reader works fine for me. The issue that I face is that I cannot register another fingerprint,
    Nor can I delete the currently registered fingerprint.
    Likewise, I also cannot change or remove the currently registered PIN too.

    I have tried to solve this issue for quite a long time now. I tried reinstalling the driver, updating it, using the older version, but nothing seems to work.

    Image

    So, as requested, I am posting the system model and manufacturer below.
    System Model: HP Pavilion Laptop 14-ec0xxx

    Manufacturer: Hewlett Packard

    Appreciate it if you could help me solve this issue.

    0 comments No comments
  4. Anonymous
    2022-03-16T19:30:13+00:00

    Same issue with a MSI laptop. I even tried an external usb fingerprint reader and spent an hour with that companies tech. It works on my windows 10 computer but not on my msi, dell, or Lenovo which all run windows 11. I tried all of the fixes and I keep getting the yellow triangle on the biometric reader in the device manager. I have an updated driver that will not install. I run the inf install and I don't get an error message nor do I get a completed install message. I seems like the updates might be making some of the drivers non functional and all of the erasing or restarting helps some for a bit but the underlying issue is the drivers not being fully compatible with whatever they are doing in win 11. I would think either microsoft gets it together and Eventually gets driver issue fixed or each manufacturer will have to role out new drivers to be compatible with the changes.

    0 comments No comments
  5. Anonymous
    2022-03-02T04:08:15+00:00

    Hello none of my USB Bus Controllers have the warning yellow triangle. Do you have any other suggestions? I have the Surface Pro laptop Go by Microsoft with Windows 11 upgrade

    0 comments No comments