If your PC is equipped with fingerprint scanner, you can use your fingerprint to sign in to Windows 10. We have also discussed about setting up fingerprint in our how to use fingerprint to sign in to Windows 10 guide.
Over the past week, two readers have asked us to publish a solution to greyed out fingerprint setup button in Settings > Accounts > Sign in options section. If you’re also looking to setup fingerprint on your Windows 10 PC but the setup button is greyed out, please read on to know the solution.
Solutions to greyed out fingerprint setup in Windows 10
Solution 1 of 3
Setup PIN first
A large section of Windows 10 users not aware of the fact that the PIN must be setup first to be able to setup fingerprint. In other words, you must be using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10 to be able to use fingerprint scanner as the PIN can’t be setup without signing in with a Microsoft account. That is, setup PIN to see fingerprint setup button.
If you’re sure that you’re using a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows 10, please go through our use PIN to sign in to Windows 10 guide for step-by-step instructions to setup PIN on your PC. Note that your PC must be connected to the Internet in order to setup PIN.
Also, when you haven’t setup PIN, you’ll see “You must setup a PIN before you can enroll in Windows Hello” message just above Fingerprint setup button.
Solution 2 of 3
Check the fingerprint scanner driver is installed
If your Windows 10 includes a fingerprint scanner and the correct driver is installed, you should see Fingerprint section under Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. In other words, the Fingerprint section will not appear if there is no fingerprint scanner in your PC or if the correct fingerprint scanner driver is installed.
If your PC has fingerprint scanner but it’s not appearing in Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, it’s a good idea to visit your PC’s manufacturer’s website to download the latest version of the driver for your fingerprint scanner.
And if the fingerprint option is not being show under Setting > Accounts > Sign-in options even when the driver is installed, you can use the following directions to update your fingerprint scanner driver in Windows 10.
Step 1: Right-click on Start button on taskbar to open the power user menu and then click Device Manager to open the same.
Step 2: If your PC is equipped with a fingerprint sensor, you will see Biometric devices entry in Device Manager.
Step 3: Expand Biometric devices entry, right-click on your finger print scanner and then click Update Driver Software message.
Step 4: Click the first option labeled Search automatically for updated driver software to let Windows 10 automatically search for the newest version of the driver and automatically install the same, if available.
Solution 3 of 3
Check BIOS/UEFI to turn or off fingerprint scanner
On most PCs, the fingerprint scanner can be turned on or off in BIOS or UEFI settings. So, above solutions didn’t help you, do open BIOS/UEFI and then open security section to see an option to turn on or off fingerprint scanner.