Touch ID no longer unlocks MacBook Air after macOS Sonoma 14.8 update

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Level 1

23 points

Touch ID no longer unlocks MacBook Air after macOS Sonoma 14.8 update

Since upgrade to Sonoma 14.8, TouchID no longer unlocks my Mac: I need to type the password to unlock the Mac after waking it.

I've just used TouchID to log in to this forum and I've used it to confirm book purchases after upgrading. There doesn't seem to be a technical issue, I'm under the impression that this feature was specifically removed.

How to restore this?

Or how to further investigate this?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Since upgrade to Sonoma 14.8, TouchID no longer unlocks Mac although TouchID is working properly for other functions

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.8

Posted on Sep 22, 2025 2:23 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

iamshivam

Level 1

92 points

Sep 23, 2025 11:30 PM in response to BobAalsma

this isn’t a hardware fault. In macOS Sonoma 14.8, Apple quietly changed Touch ID behavior so it no longer unlocks your Mac after sleep/restart if FileVault is enabled, you’ll always need the account password first. After that, Touch ID works again for Apple Pay, App Store, and other confirmations, which is why you still see it working elsewhere.

There’s no setting to toggle this back, only workaround is disabling FileVault (not ideal for most people) or waiting to see if Apple reverses this in Sequoia.

If you want to double-check, go to System Settings > Touch ID & Password and confirm “Use Touch ID for unlocking your Mac” is still ticked, it should be, but won’t override the new requirement after wake.

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Answer 2

Sep 24, 2025 8:38 AM in response to iamshivam

iamshivam wrote:

this isn’t a hardware fault. In macOS Sonoma 14.8, Apple quietly changed Touch ID behavior so it no longer unlocks your Mac after sleep/restart if FileVault is enabled, you’ll always need the account password first. After that, Touch ID works again for Apple Pay, App Store, and other confirmations, which is why you still see it working elsewhere.

I believe that's incorrect. I have FileVault enabled. Touch ID still works to unlock my make after sleep.

TouchID never worked after a restart. That is as designed.

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Answer 3

BobAalsma Author

Level 1

23 points

Sep 24, 2025 6:38 AM in response to iamshivam

It seems you're right.

I'm not quite sure I see the benefits of this decision, I'd welcome a reversal in a future release.

But at least good to know what causes this discomfort, thx!

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Answer 4

Sentinel

Level 1

14 points

Sep 28, 2025 3:58 PM in response to iamshivam

I have file vault enabled. Sometimes touch ID works, sometimes it doesn't. Just like Apple software. This is what Apple looks like in 2025: implementing dumb "features" to make the user experience worse.

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Answer 5

Sep 29, 2025 9:48 AM in response to Sentinel

Sentinel wrote:

I have file vault enabled. Sometimes touch ID works, sometimes it doesn't. Just like Apple software. This is what Apple looks like in 2025: implementing dumb "features" to make the user experience worse.

The fact that you have a problem doesn't mean everyone does. Once I realized I can't use my right index finger for Touch ID because of my eczema and changed to another finger, I haven't had a problem.

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