New MacBook Air touch ID not working

See “If you have problems with Touch ID” here.

Use Touch ID on Mac - Apple Support

Appleydappley wrote:

The iOS is Sequoia 15.7.2 and the keyboard and pad are spotless.

You should be using macOS Tahoe.

How to upgrade to macOS Tahoe 26 - Apple Support

Is another finger less "worn?" Might be worth a try.

I hand-processes a lot of small steel parts in my early years. My right thumb and index finger took the brunt of the abuse from case-hardened part edges, machinist files, and India stones. They looked like your picture. My pinky, ring finger, and "freeway" finger seldom suffered like the others.

Odd that it works flawlessly on my iPhone. Suggests it uses a different method of assessment.

You may be on to something. Today with healed fingers I find my iPhone is less picky about Touch ID than my M4 Pro Macbook Pro. Now that the weather is cooler, I often need to exhale on my fingertip to get Touch ID to work. Can't say if it's because my fingertip is warmed, rehydrated, or both, but that usually works on my laptop.

"New MacBook Air touch ID not working: I have a MacBook Air that is under 3/12 old. I have installed and deleted/reinstalled the Touch ID on numerous occasions and it only rarely works at all, asking for the password instead. I created three different touch identities using the same index finger but that hasn't helped either. The iOS is Sequoia 15.7.2 and the keyboard and pad are spotless. The Touch ID on my 3 year old iPhone works flawlessly. Any suggestions?"

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Fingerprint Not Working with Touch Bar:

Other Finger:

Looks like a bad booboo on your finger. So, add a few other fingers, and then trash this one, in the meantime. You might be able to use a third-party external fingerprint reader, and see it that works.

Troubleshooting Touch Bar:

Go Here: If Touch ID isn't Working on your Mac - Apple Support

When I was working in wood working construction in the past, I would register a less-used finger. Using my right index or thumb sometimes proved to be problematic depending on what I was doing at work at the time. I would register the middle finger or even the pinky (or some finger on the left hand) and multiple different fingers (you can register up to three). Bottom line is don't rely on that particular finger for the MacBook.

”Thank you for the replies above. I’m going to try a less worn one as you suggest. I suspect most Mac users have looked after their digits better than me but pleased to hear that some of you have hands that have been in manual labour too. Much appreciated, particularly the ‘freeway finger’, a new one on me.”

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No Finger Print:

You are welcome. Makes me wonder about those folks in Lord of the Rings special features, where they reportedly lost all their fingerprints from making all the metal suits. Without a fingerprint, and just a flat finger, would that get in the way, and be a bug of its own?

TheLittles wrote:

Without a fingerprint, and just a flat finger, would that get in the way, and be a bug of its own?

Supposedly, before fingerprints were used for identifying purposes, their only use was for adding texture to the hands/fingers for gripping things....the bottom of the feet and toes may be another story though; not many people are able to hold and grip things with their feet although they are useful on slippery surfaces when barefoot.

“[…]....the bottom of the feet and toes may be another story though; not many people are able to hold and grip things with their feet although they are useful on slippery surfaces when barefoot.”

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Well that’s a thought-and-a-half —and a great way to troubleshoot!

“Good Lord! I had no idea when I posed the original question that it might lead to the LOTR, prehensility, possibly Hobbits’ feet, and police forensics. Thank you to all for your contributions, made my week and a happy Chanukah, merry Christmas, Solstitial greetings to you all.”

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You are welcome.