Fingerprint Scanner not working suddenly

[shr-sam24]

My fingerprint scanner stopped working about 2 days back. It says "something went wrong" each time I try to scan on login. When I tried setting up a new finger to tide the problem, it just wouldn't recognise it. I tried cleaning the sca.  My laptop camera is apparently not a Windows Hello compatible camera (?), so no alternate solution, but 

[Sneha_01]

Hi @shr-sam24 

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you're facing an issue with your fingerprint scanner, and it's no longer recognizing your fingerprint or allowing you to set up a new one. Let's go through a few troubleshooting steps to address the problem:

1. Check Fingerprint Scanner Driver

Sometimes, an issue like this can be related to an outdated or corrupted fingerprint scanner driver.

Solution:

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.
2. Expand the section labeled Biometric Devices and look for your fingerprint scanner.
3. Right-click on the scanner and select Update driver.
4. Choose Search automatically for updated driver software.
5. If Windows doesn’t find an update, you can visit the laptop manufacturer’s website (e.g., HP, Dell, Lenovo) and download the latest drivers for your specific model.
6. After updating, restart your computer and check if the issue persists.

2. Re-enable or Reset Fingerprint Recognition

Sometimes, simply disabling and re-enabling the fingerprint recognition feature can fix the issue.

Solution:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.Go to Accounts > Sign-in options.
2. Under Windows Hello Fingerprint, click on Remove to delete the current fingerprint data.
3. Restart your computer and then try setting up the fingerprint scanner again by clicking on Add a fingerprint.
4. Follow the instructions to enroll a new fingerprint.

3. Check Windows Biometric Service

If the Windows Biometric service is not running, the fingerprint scanner will not work.

Solution:

1. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down and find Windows Biometric Service.
3. Make sure the service is Running and its Startup type is set to Automatic.
4. If it’s stopped, right-click on it and select Start. You can also set it to Automatic by right-clicking and selecting Properties, then changing the startup type.
5. Restart your PC to see if the issue is resolved.

4. Check for Windows Updates

It’s possible that a recent Windows update caused the fingerprint scanner to stop working. You should ensure that all the latest updates are installed.

Solution:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.Go to Update & Security.
2. Click on Check for updates.
3. Install any available updates, including optional updates if they are related to hardware (e.g., biometric devices).Restart your computer.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

Rachel571

HP Support