Why is my Windows Hello fingerprint function 'unavailable'?

Leann the Swiftie Park 5 Reputation points
2026-01-27T12:39:23.9733333+00:00

I have Windows Hello but haven't added a fingerprint function because I can't. It says 'this option is currently unavailable' because

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Accounts, profiles, and login

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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-27T12:39:34.6+00:00

    If your Windows Hello fingerprint function is showing as 'unavailable', it could be due to several reasons related to hardware compatibility or settings. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

    1. Check Biometric Device Compatibility: Ensure that your fingerprint sensor is compatible with Windows Hello. You can check this by going to Device Manager and expanding the Biometric devices section. If the device is not listed or has a warning icon, it may not be compatible.
    2. Driver Issues: If the fingerprint sensor is present, try reinstalling the driver. Right-click on the fingerprint device in Device Manager and select Uninstall Device. After uninstalling, restart your device; Windows should attempt to reinstall the driver automatically.
    3. Windows Hello Settings: Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and ensure that Windows Hello is set up correctly. If the fingerprint option is still unavailable, try removing any existing PIN and re-adding it.
    4. Virtualization Based Security (VBS): Make sure that VBS is running. Open System Information and check if Virtualization Based Security is listed as Running. If it is not, you may need to enable it in your system's BIOS settings.
    5. Biometric Service: Restart the biometric service by opening a command prompt as an administrator and entering net stop wbiosrvc && net start wbiosrvc.

    If you have checked all these aspects and the fingerprint option remains unavailable, it may indicate that your device does not meet the requirements for Enhanced Sign-in Security (ESS) or that there is a hardware issue.

    References:

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  2. SD - IA 180.5K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-27T13:58:09.7533333+00:00

    Hi Leann,

    Let us check what we can do.

    Please supply the following Information.

    Right-click the Start button and Choose the Run option

    Type in msinfo32

    Press enter.

    Take a screenshot of the System Summary window and post it in the next reply.

    I look forward to your response and am eager to collaborate until we find a solution.

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  3. Kapil Arya 38,501 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-01-27T17:08:22.56+00:00

    Check in Device Manager, if you've fingerprint driver installed there.

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  4. Norah-L 11,425 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-01-28T01:48:20.8266667+00:00

    Hello Leann the Swiftie Park!

    Thanks for posting your question to the Q&A forum.

    From what you described, Windows Hello fingerprint on your Windows 11 is showing “this option is currently unavailable,” so you’re unable to add it as a sign‑in method. The causes for this issue can vary, including account, driver problems, service, or policy settings, …

    Below are some troubleshooting methods you can try:

    1. Remove work/school account

    Go to Settings > Accounts > Access work or school. Check if an organization account is listed; if yes, select it and click Disconnect.

    Restart the PC and test again.

    If the issue persists:

    2. Run Windows Update to install the latest patches and drivers.

    3. Open Services, right‑click Windows Biometric Service, set Startup type to Automatic, then stop and restart the service.

    4. Update or reinstall the fingerprint driver

    Win + X > open Device Manager, expand Biometric devices, right-click your fingerprint scanner, and select Update driver (or Uninstall device then restart for auto-reinstall).

    5. Enable Biometrics at the policy level

    Disclaimer: Modifying the registry or workgroups is usually geared towards advanced users and it can help fix some problems, however, improper registry modifications can cause serious problems. Therefore, please make sure to follow the steps below strictly. For further protection, make a backup of the registry before modifying it. For more information on how to backup and restore the registry, please refer to: How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

    Open Registry Editor and go to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Biometrics

    Set Enabled from 0 to 1

    Hope one of these could help you! I'm here if you need further support!

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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  5. TiSKE TiSKE 0 Reputation points
    2026-10-06T10:36:26.33+00:00

    I’m experiencing the same issue.

    Lenovo ThinkBook 16P - G5 model—it has a fingerprint sensor on the power button.

    I’m a Windows Insider subscriber.

    Everything was working fine before the Windows 11 Pro 26H2 update.

    When I pressed the power button while the computer was off, it recognized my fingerprint and the computer booted up without any issues.

    After the 26H2 update,

    when I press the power button, the fingerprint sensor doesn’t work and the desktop doesn’t appear. I unlock the screen with a PIN.

    If the computer goes into sleep mode while it’s on,

    or if I restart it without shutting it down first,

    the fingerprint sensor works on the lock screen and my desktop appears.

    The problem is this: when the computer is turned on for the first time, it won’t boot using the fingerprint sensor on the power button.

    The fingerprint sensor works later on. This is an issue during the initial startup.

    I deleted the fingerprints and re-registered them. It didn’t fix the problem.

    I reinstalled the system using the 26H2 ISO, but it didn’t fix the problem.

    There’s no driver update available on the Lenovo support page either.

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