Fingerprint reader not working on Windows 11: "This option is currently unavailable"

Question

I recently got a Dell Inspiron with Windows 11 preloaded. The fingerprint reader was working fine at first, but now it appears to not be working with windows hello. The option to add a finger or remove the fingerprint are greyed out and not clickable.

I've seen posts about this issue in Windows 10, but the fixes aren't working for me.

Answer 1

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Good Day Samuel(26),

My name is Carlo, I am also using Windows 10 pc and community member like you. Let us work together to sort this out.

Here's the steps you can try.

-Go to Device Manager

-Expand the Biometric driver or Human Interface Device

-Look for Fingerprint driver that was installed

-Right click and Update

-Look for "Browse my computer for driver

-Let me pick drivers available drivers

-Choose an old driver and use it.

Restart your computer and check the fingerprint.

If issue persist, let's download the updated driver.

What is the exact model of your computer?

To check the system model proceed with these steps.

-Press Windows key + R

-Type msinfo32 and hit enter.

-Look for the system model and manufacturer and post it here.

I hope the information above helps. Please let me know how it goes.

Have a wonderful day ahead and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Carlo T.

Answer 2

Dear Carlo TJ,

Thank you for the help. I tried the steps you suggested, but the issue persists.

My computer is a Dell Inspiron 7415 2-in-1.

I found the latest driver online and it is already installed, so I do not believe this is a driver issue.

Answer 3

Good Day Samuel(26).

I appreciate your time getting back to this thread, please proceed with these steps.

-Go to Device Manager

-Expand the Biometric driver or Human Interface Device

-Look for Fingerprint driver that was installed

-Right click and Uninstall

Once uninstalled, go to this link below and download and install the driver

https://dl.dell.com/FOLDER07209316M/1/Fingerpri...

Restart once done and check.

Have a wonderful day ahead and stay safe.

Sincerely,

Carlo T.

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Answer 4

Mine is completely gone since the last Windows Update.

HP Envy Laptop 17-cg1xxx

Is there a way to prevent this from happening every single time??!

HP states that the most recent update should have made windows hello available for sign in.

My computer has the Windows Hello - four options...

they are all currently unavailable

Answer 5

In the case of my Dell Inspiron, no "Biometric Device" appears in the device manager, not even the "Biometric Device" heading appears.
I have found a workaround, though:
In the device manager, click on "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" near the bottom.
If you have the same flaw that I had, one of the controllers will have a yellow triangle with an exclamation mark on it signaling a problem with that device. Right-click on it and select the driver tab. Click "Uninstall Device."
Once you have uninstalled it, you can reboot and windows will reinstall it with the default (older) driver (at least I think this is what it is doing). When you return to the device manager, you should now see the "Biometric devices" heading and if you open it you will see "Goodix fingerprint." When you return to settings, the fingerprint settings will no longer be greyed out and you can set it up. In my case, it reappeared with all my original settings intact.
Dell, Goodix, and Microsoft are stuck in a death spiral trying to resolve this. Eventually, there will be a new driver or a new update that will fix it.
Let me know if this helps.