Touch ID on Macbook Air is an electronic fingerprint recognition feature created by Apple for authentication. It lets you unlock your Mac and authorize purchases from the App Store and iTunes stores using Apple Pay. Furthermore, you can sign in to third-party apps on the go. In case you have not yet set the Touch ID on your Macbook Air, you can set it and complete tasks with your fingerprint easily.
How to Set Up Touch ID on Macbook Air
1. Navigate to the Apple menu on your Mac.
2. Click System Preferences and click Touch ID & Password.
3. Next, tap the Add a fingerprint option.
4. Type your Password and click Ok.
5. Proceed with the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Note: You can add up to three fingerprints for a user account. Also, save up to five fingerprints on your Mac.
6. Next, you need to select how you wish to use the Touch ID, like unlocking your Mac, Apple Pay, iTunes Store, App Store &Apple Books, autofill passwords, and for fast user switching.
Note: Check out the procedure to fix the Encryption Credentials Have Expired on Mac issue if you are concerned about your security.
How to Delete and Rename Fingerprints on Macbook Air
1. Navigate to Apple Menu on your Mac.
2. Select System Settings and choose Touch ID & Password.
3. To rename your fingerprint, click the name under the fingerprint and enter the new name.
4. To delete a fingerprint, select the one you wish to delete and enter the password. Then, tap Ok and click the Delete button to complete the process.
How to Use Touch ID on MacBook Air
First, enter your password to log in to Mac to use the Touch ID for the below-mentioned tasks.
To Unlock Mac
To unlock your Mac from sleep or open the password-protected apps, place your finger on the Touch ID tab.
Log in with Touch ID
If you want to log in from the login window, tap your name and keep your finger on the Touch ID tab. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
Note: The Sharing-only users and guest users cannot use the Touch ID to unlock their accounts on Mac.
Switch Users
To switch users quickly, tap the switching menu on the search bar and select the user, and then keep your finger on the Touch ID.
Touch ID with Apple Pay
To use the Touch ID to make purchases through Apple Pay, first, log in to your Mac. Next, purchase the items using Apple Pay from online Apple stores. When prompted, place your Finger on the Touch ID to make payments to complete the purchase using Apple Pay.
How to Fix Touch ID on Macbook Air Not Working
Below are the troubleshooting methods you could try when the Touch ID is not working.
1. Sometimes, your fingerprint will not be recognized by the Mac, it is because your finger is not clean. So, you need to ensure your finger is clean and dry before using the touch ID. You can also try using moisture and lotion, as dry skin can cause such issues.
2. If you cannot unlock your Mac, register your fingerprint or enter the password using Touch ID.
3. The next fix you could try is to update your Mac OS to macOS 11 Big Sur, as an outdated OS version will lead to your Touch ID not working.
4. Next, you need to delete and add your fingerprints again on your Macbook Air to check if it works now.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Touch ID is placed at the top right of your keyboard on your Macbook Air.
Up to three fingerprints can be added to a user account’s Touch ID.
Go to Apple Menu and select System Settings, then select the Touch ID. Next, choose to Add a fingerprint and enter your Password to add your fingerprint.