Touch ID not working on Mac? Check the password prompt first

A password prompt after starting or restarting the Mac is normal. Apple also requires a password in situations such as a long gap without unlocking or repeated failed scans. Sign in with your Mac login password, then use the Apple menu to lock the screen. Try your fingerprint at that screen. If it works there, the earlier password prompt was an expected security check.

Open System Settings → Touch ID & Password. If the fingerprint works for unlocking the Mac but Safari still asks for a password, check the autofill option separately. Make sure you are in the Mac user account where you added the fingerprint. Touch ID settings and saved fingerprints belong to that user account.

Dry your finger and the sensor. Moisture, lotion, or a cut can interfere with recognition. If a different finger is easier to scan, use Add Fingerprint in Touch ID & Password and follow the prompts. If needed, remove the unreliable fingerprint and add it again. Test the new fingerprint at the lock screen before changing other settings.

Check that the keyboard has Touch ID and that your Mac and macOS meet Apple’s requirements for that connector model. Turn the keyboard off and on, connect it directly to the Mac with a USB cable, and wait at least 10 seconds before trying Touch ID. If it works over the cable and fails wirelessly, check for wireless interference. If it still cannot enroll a fingerprint on a supported setup, use Apple Support and tell them whether the wired test worked.