Fingerprint sensor not responding on MacBook Air

I have the same issue as the original poster. Just like the original poster, my Touch ID began failing during a long trip (I live in California and just spent 3 weeks in England).

I hope Apple will address this issue and why it happens during travel.

Now that sounds like a really daft solution from DaftBeast, but it actually works, thanks so much. I've been trying everything, ( rebooting, reinstalling, upgrading even kicking it) since I lost the ability to use TouchID on my Macbook Air a couple of months ago. So pleased I came across your advice to use the 'palm and finger method' to log in, but its a pity that APPLE, with all their resources, can't come up with a solution to fix the problem. I wonder if they actually have staff to read these posts? Obviously not, it would seem.

This answer above is the only thing that has worked for me as well! I do not know how you figured that out, or for what unforeseen reason that it works. But I'm thankful that is does as I use this for a Urgent Care management position and save all my passwords and use the fingerprint to login. i had been lost for two days on how to get it to work again. This was the fix.

That is absolutely crazy. It worked flawlessly. Thank you so much for sharing this. This must have to do with how TouchId works, it might need to pass some current and maybe coming in contact reduces static electricity that is messing up the sensor or something like that. Either way, you are a genius.

WOW! Doubted this remedy when I first read it ......... but it works haha .... I had wasted hrs cleaning and adding new fingerprints etc! all to no avail. So I was thinking $$$$$ .... Thank you so much for posting :)

Hello everyone, I was having the same issue where my TouchID was not working on my MacBook Air. I tried to restart, update my IOS, cleaned my fingers, Touch ID button...called apple support and they pretty much went through the same questions/procedures that I had already done. I also deleted my original thumb fingerprint and tried to add it again but it didn't work. I also tried to add another finger but it wasn't picking up. Came across this thread, rested my right palm near the trackpad and added my thumb back in and it worked! it doesn't make any sense but it worked. So glad as I didn't want to go to the Apple Store and have them charge me so much money to fix the touchid button.

Me too, my hands are small & I couldn't reach with my index finger. However, I did what someone else suggested & unplugged the charger, I was then able to add other fingers without having to rest my palm on the trackpad. So bizarre why this suddenly started happening.

I have the same issue on Mac pro. Touch ID instantly fails when I click add fingerprint, does not give me a Touch ID option on logins anymore. I've done every possible step I could find online, reached out to Apple, they tried a few things while sharing screens and nothing. Also reinstalled my OS & tried the palm near trackpad method, no joy. Not sure what to do anymore other than hoping someone find another fix here.

Well have you tried DaftBeast's solution?

Fingerprint sensor not responding on MacB… - Apple Community

Also the palm thing worked for me thank you!

yeah that too worked for me.thanks buddy!

Well the palm thing worked for me too. Weird and frankly annoying that this what you have to do to get something to work the way it should. But thank you to the poster who discovered this. <3

Brilliant works! thank you..

This worked for me, too. Thanks!

This thumb palm thing is actually working.! Thank you.