Fingerprint not working on Windows 11: How to Fix

fingerprint not working windows 11

There exist quite a few ways through which you can sign in to your PC, including the likes of PIN, Password, and Windows Hello. If we talk about the latter one, it allows you to unlock your PC via facial recognition or fingerprint. But that doesn’t seem to be the case for many. Numerous users have voiced their concern that the fingerprint is not working along the expected lines on their Windows 11 PC.

For others, the issue is all the more concerning as they are not even able to set up the fingerprint on their brand-new PC. Along the same lines, some have said that they are not able to add a secondary fingerprint. In most of these scenarios, users are also greeted with the “this option is currently unavailable” error and are asked to try again later. If you are also getting bugged by these issues, then this guide will make you aware of numerous workarounds to rectify them. Follow along.

Fix Fingerprint not working on Windows 11

fingerprint not working windows 11

One of the most common causes of this issue is using old, outdated, or corrupt Goodix Fingerprint drivers. Therefore, let’s proceed ahead and manually update the drivers to the latest version.

STEP 1: Download Windows 11 Fingerprint Driver

First off, get hold of the fingerprint drivers corresponding to your PC from below.

Via Microsoft Store
Via OEM Official Website
Via Third-Party Site
Via Microsoft Update Catalog
  • Microsoft Update Catalog: Link

STEP 2: Install Windows 11 Fingerprint Driver

Once you have got hold of the drivers, let’s install them onto your PC. Here’s how it could be done:

  1. To begin with, right-click on the Windows icon at the Taskbar and select the Device Manager.
  2. Then expand Biometric Devices, right-click on Goodix Fingerprint, and select Update Driver.
  3. Click Search automatically for drivers and check if Windows is able to find and install it.
    search automatically for drivers
  4. If it isn’t, then select Browse my computer for driver and select the downloaded drivers.
    browse my computer for driver
  5. Wait for the process to complete. Once done, restart your PC and the issue stands rectified.

That’s it. These were the steps to fix the issue of fingerprint not working on your Windows 11 PC. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution as soon as possible.

Why is Fingerprint not working on my Windows 11 PC?

There could be quite a few reasons why Fingerprint is not working on your Windows 11 PC. From the basic reasons of specks of dust accumulating over the fingerprint to the slightly more concerning ones like the drivers getting corrupted or outdated. In the case of the former, a simple wipe should get the job done whereas the latter would require you to update the drivers to their latest version or uninstall and reinstall them if it has got corrupted.

In rare cases, the issue might also stem out from a buggy update rolled out by Microsoft. If that happens, then you could take two different approaches- either wait for the patch to be rolled out or uninstall the update, and rollback to its earlier stable build, and stay on that version until the patch is released.

What are the Best Alternatives to Fingerprint Unlock for Windows 11

While fingerprint is still the most widely used method to unlock your PC, however, if it tends to get bugged at regular intervals, then it could prove to be a cause of a great deal of infuriation. Therefore, you could consider switching over to a different approach when it comes to unlocking your PC. In this regard, you could choose from PIN, Password, and Facial Recognition.

Fingerprint not working on my Windows 11 PC
Credits: Microsoft Community

In most instances, the latter has proven not to be a trusted source as it has a high failure rate when compared with its counterpart, so it’s recommended to opt for a PIN or Password. While they are the older methods, still they are the tried and tested ones and hardly result in any issues whatsoever.

Is there a Universal Fingerprint Driver for Windows 11?

This has been one of the most commonly asked questions by many users as to whether there exists a common fingerprint driver for all PCs. Unfortunately, the answer is in a negative tone. There’s no universal fingerprint driver as such and you’ll have to download and install the one that corresponds to your PC.

In this regard, we have listed them under STEP 1, so make sure to grab hold of the one that corresponds to your OEM. With that said, if you cannot find a standalone driver for your PC, then you may opt for installing the Goodix Generic Drivers [shared above]. This might help you address the underlying fingerprint issue.


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