How to Reset Touch ID on a MacBook: Remove and Add a Fingerprint

To reset Touch ID on a MacBook, delete the saved fingerprint from your account in System Settings > Touch ID & Password, then add it again. You can remove one print that is not being recognized or delete every print saved to the account for a clean restart. This process does not change your Mac login password, erase files, or reinstall macOS.

Before resetting, know that a password prompt is sometimes normal. macOS requires your password after a restart or shutdown, after more than 48 hours without unlocking, while changing Touch ID settings, or after five unsuccessful fingerprint matches. In those cases, enter your Mac account password once; you may not need to remove a fingerprint.

Before you reset Touch ID

Make sure you know the password for the Mac user account whose fingerprints you plan to change. You will need it to unlock the settings and enroll a replacement. Also check that your finger and the sensor are clean and dry. Moisture, lotion, sweat, oils, cuts, or dry skin can interfere with recognition. If the sensor needs cleaning, follow Apple’s instructions for your MacBook model; use a soft, lint-free cloth and never spray cleaner directly onto the computer.

Delete a saved fingerprint

1. Choose the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen, then select System Settings.
2. In the sidebar, click Touch ID & Password. Scroll down the sidebar if you do not see it.
3. Click the fingerprint you want to remove. Enter the password for the currently signed-in Mac account when prompted, click Unlock, and then click Delete.

If only one finger is giving you trouble, delete that fingerprint and leave the others in place. To fully reset Touch ID for this account, repeat the delete step for each saved fingerprint. The change applies to the current user account; other users manage their own Touch ID settings. Once you have removed the prints you want to replace, continue with enrollment below.

Add your fingerprint again

1. In Touch ID & Password, click Add Fingerprint.
2. Enter the Mac account password and follow the instructions on screen.
3. When asked, place the finger you want to register on the Touch ID sensor in the keyboard’s upper-right corner. Lift and rest it again as directed so the Mac can capture the print. Follow any prompts to adjust how you position your finger.
4. After enrollment finishes, click the name below the fingerprint to rename it if you want. Select the checkboxes for the features you want Touch ID to control, such as unlocking the Mac, Apple Pay, purchases, password autofill, or fast user switching. Availability can vary by Mac and account setup.

Apple allows up to three fingerprints for one user account and up to five fingerprints total on a Mac. If Add Fingerprint is unavailable, check whether the account has reached its limit or whether other users’ fingerprints are using the Mac-wide capacity.

If Touch ID still does not work

• Check the conditions. Dry your hands and the sensor, then try again. Changes in skin condition and residue can make an otherwise valid print harder to read.
• Check the feature setting. If Touch ID works to unlock the Mac but not for a purchase or password autofill, confirm that the relevant option is enabled in Touch ID & Password.
• Update and restart. Install available macOS updates and restart the Mac. Apple also recommends deleting and adding the fingerprint again, or trying a different finger, when recognition remains unreliable.
• Get service if enrollment fails. If the sensor is missing from settings, Add Fingerprint stays unavailable despite available slots, or the Mac cannot complete enrollment after these checks, contact Apple Support or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. A firmware or SMC reset is not Apple’s general Touch ID troubleshooting procedure.

For model-specific cleaning directions, Apple says to shut down the MacBook, unplug its power adapter, and clean the Touch ID power button on applicable MacBook Pro models with a soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water only. Keep moisture out of openings.

Apple references

• Apple: Use Touch ID on Mac — setup, deleting or renaming fingerprints, limits, and available uses.
• Apple: If Touch ID isn’t working on Mac — cleaning, updates, restart, reenrollment, and password requirements.
• Apple: How to clean your Apple products — MacBook-specific cleaning guidance.