Hey all, can I share my experience with my new Mac Mini and my frustrations with a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID please.
This following issue is with Apple and I’m awaiting a resolution.
My MacMini is 4/5 weeks old. It has M2 Silicon with OS Ventura 13.4.1 and 16Gb memory. I’m using an Apple 27” Thunderbolt Display.
Background: My MacBook Pro has has given me four years of faultless Touch ID operation at work so I put aside my home iMac and purchased the MacMini to use with a new Touch ID Magic Keyboard that I was gifted.
Touch ID seemed to be working fine but after a few days I could no-longer unlock the MacMini.
I went to System Preferences, removed one of the three learnt finger-prints and attempted to enter my fingerprint again: The sensor was apparently not working and was not reading my print. I rebooted the Mac and the sensor worked again but I soon lost the ability to unlock the screen again. BTW after each learning of a fingerprint, lock and unlocking the Mac worked without any problem with the failure occurring after a few hours.
I contacted Apple Support and was told that I should replace my Keyboard. As I did not have a receipt, I had no warranty and so purchased a new Magic KB with Touch ID; it certainly seemed that the Touch ID sensor in my keyboard was at fault
The new keyboard seemed to work OK for a few days, then the same issues crept back.
I contacted Apple Support again. We ran diagnostics etc. This time I was relieved to hear that there was a technical article related to my MacMini and the Touch ID KB. The fault as I was told had been documented. I asked when it was documented and I was told back in May. Had my first contact with Apple Support read this article, it may not have been suggested that I purchase a new Magic KB with Touch ID. Sigh, but to be honest I was just happy to hear an acknowledgment of the fault and that it had been documented and a solution was being worked on.
In the meantime, I was directed to leave my MacMini on-line and a work-around would be applied remotely. After an hour, the work-around seemed to work, but alas things again went down-hill soon after. I’ve now packed away the Touch ID keyboard and I’m using my extended USB Apple KB.
I’ve been pestering Apple Support for updates on the issue, but there is no news yet and the fault is in the hands of Apple engineers.
This has been my experience and I’m sharing in the hope that it is of some comfort to anyone with the same problem.
Has anyone else been told that there is an issue with Touch ID and a M2 MacMini?
I would be happy to hear if you’ve overcome the problem as I really like the Touch ID feature of the keyboard.
Have a Great Day and thanks MacRumours for this forum.