Why is password required instead of Touch ID?

[mac_in_tosh]

Just got a 2019 MB Pro a few weeks ago. Seemingly at random it will require password entry rather than allow Touch ID. This is not after reboot, log out or any of the other conditions under which it is expected to happen. As an example, password was required for one of the three accounts this morning, but not the other two. Thanks.

 

[jerryk]

They require a password if you have not unlocked your mac in 48 hours, or any of the other events listed below:

From https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207054

In some situations, you need to enter your password instead of using Touch ID:

• If you've just restarted your Mac
• If you've logged out of your user account
• If your fingerprint isn't recognized five times in a row
• If you haven't unlocked your Mac in more than 48 hours
• If you've just enrolled or deleted fingerprints

 

[mac_in_tosh]

They require a password if you have not unlocked your mac in 48 hours, or any of the other events listed below:

But none of those things happened.

 

[jerryk]

But none of those things happened.

Based on your statement of using multiple accounts

• If you've logged out of your user account

[automerge]1569347124[/automerge]

 

[mac_in_tosh]

Based on your statement of using multiple accounts

• If you've logged out of your user account

[automerge]1569347124[/automerge]

We rarely log out, just switch accounts (which doesn't trigger password entry), and I don't recall doing it recently in the account in question but I'll keep that in mind. Thanks.

 

[RUQRU]

I notice that when I delete an app it asks for the password rather than touch id.

 

[dlparker]

This seems a little strange to me. I understand the logic of cuts, hand lotion, etc, but it seems a lot more likely that someone would find out my password than to have my finger...

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I notice that when I delete an app it asks for the password rather than touch id.

Was just going to post the same. Had to enter a password today in order to delete the Cinebench application. This was a minute or so after using my fingerprint for some other kind of authentication. Was surprised by the request.

 

[Adora]

Was just going to post the same. Had to enter a password today in order to delete the Cinebench application. This was a minute or so after using my fingerprint for some other kind of authentication. Was surprised by the request.

I am wondering too why I permanently have to enter passwords when installing anything or changing something in system settings or just doing something in Finder. That's really annoying if you have TouchID.

This for example is disabled and I can't find other settings.

 

[DaveEcc]

I get this too, regularly, for no discernible reason. It can be as simple as I close the lid while I go make a coffee, come back and it wants a password. I assumed there was a 'verify via password once a week' or something rule.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Biometrics is a convenience option and it doesn't replace the (primary system defined) use of the actual device password.

 

[Adora]

I get this too, regularly, for no discernible reason. It can be as simple as I close the lid while I go make a coffee, come back and it wants a password. I assumed there was a 'verify via password once a week' or something rule.

Sometimes it just looks like you need a login password but TouchID is working too.

I yesterday needed my password just for leaving Network settings and today the same for iCloud settings. In both cases I didn't even change anything in there. Could also be a bug of 15.3 Beta. Or is this normal?

 

[PotentPeas]

I've seen this too. Every now and then it will require the password and even have a little prompt text along the lines of "Your password is required to enable touch ID". This is when I have just normally locked the Mac and walked away for a while, nothing like a log out or a reboot or someone else messing with my system and doing failed fingerprint scans.

I know the iPhone does or at least used to require the password instead of face ID or touch ID about once a week even if nothing weird happened, just as a sort of security check. I assumed that macOS is doing something similar. Maybe most people don't actually run into this because they actually reboot their systems more than once a week?

 

[Fishrrman]

I'm probably one of a very few MacBook Pro owners who has never set up the "fingerprint ID" function.

And I never will.
Pushing 80 now, so that's not likely to change.

Plain, ol'-fashioned passwords do the job for me.
And that's all I need.