Unable to activate PIN or Fingerprint sign-in options.

Question

Hi,

My Lenovo T490 computer works perfectly except for the biometric identification, I would like to use the fingerprint reader on the device. The hardware must be working fine because the latest version of Lenovo Diagnostics Evolution, recommended by the manufacturer, is able to test my fingerprint scan.

Gabor

Answer 1

Hello,

Thank you for posting the question on Microsoft Windows forum!

Based on your query of not being able to activate PIN or Fingerprint sign-in options, you can try the following methods purportedly getting the fingerprint reader back on the device.

1.Modifying Power Setting to Turn Off Fast Startup

• Navigate to this path Settings > System > Power & Sleep > Additional Power Settings > Choose what Power buttons do > Change settings that are unavailable > uncheck Fast Startup.

2.Reset Fingerprint Options

1. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign In Options
2. Locate Fingerprint options and click Remove under them.
3. After that, click Get Started and follow the on-screen instructions to reset Fingerprint.
4. Reboot your PC if needed.

3.Checking Group Policy Settings (for Pro version only)

1. Open Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc)
2. Navigate to this path Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Biometrics
3. Click on Facial Features and right-click on Configure enhanced anti-spoofing option.
4. Select Edit and disable the Configure enhanced anti-spoofing feature.
5. Reboot your PC.

4.Check if Windows Biometric Service startup type is set "Automatic"

1. On command prompt, type services.msc
2. Locate Windows Biometric Service and check its startup type setting is Automatic.

You can refer to the following article for more information regarding Lenovo Fingerprint issue.

• https://pcsupport.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/thinkpad-t-series-laptops/thinkpad-t490-type-20q9-20qh/solutions/ht104227-fingerprint-is-not-working-after-upgrade-to-windows-10-thinkpad

Hope the above information is helpful!

Answer 2

Hi,

Thanks for your help, I've almost completed all of your suggestions. Everything is in the right place as you suggested in my system except this: "uncheck Fast Startup." which I can't find yet in my energy settings panel. Otherwise I've tried uninstall the driver of my biometric device from device manager and install the newest driver from originally released yesterday by Lenovo. After all of these settings and tryings I've restarted Windows but now I just can find the same grayed buttons in Windows Settings for User login options with Fingerprint and Pin options.

Answer 3

Hi,

If the grey-out button in Windows Settings for User login options looks like the above screenshot. You can try the below steps.

1. On command prompt, type gpedit.msc
2. Navigate to this path Computer > Administrative Templates > System > Logon Enable convenience PIN sign-in
3. Navigate to this path Computer > Administrative Templates > Windows Component > Windows Hello for Business Enable Use Biometric
4. Navigate to this path Computer > Administrative Templates > Windows Component > Windows Hello for Business Enable Use Windows Hello for Business.
5. Open Registry key and add the key "AllowDomainPINLogon" and its value 1. Please make sure to back up your registry before making any change to it by following the instruction of this article. In case, something go wrong. You can swiftly reverse it.

• https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/how-to-back-up-and-restore-the-registry-in-windows-855140ad-e318-2a13-2829-d428a2ab0692

Hope the above steps might be helpful!