Use Touch ID on Mac
If your Mac has Touch ID, you can use it to unlock your Mac, authorise purchases from the iTunes Store, App Store and iBooks Store, and to make purchases on the web using Apple Pay. You can also use Touch ID to sign into some third-party apps.
Touch ID is located at the top-right corner of the keyboard, next to the Touch Bar or row of function keys, depending on the model of your Mac.
Set up Touch ID
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Preferences, then click Touch ID.Click “Add a fingerprint”, enter your password, then follow the onscreen instructions.
You can add up to three fingerprints to your user account (your Mac can store up to five fingerprints in total).
Click the tickboxes to select how you want to use Touch ID:
Unlocking your Mac: Use Touch ID to unlock this Mac when you wake it from sleep.
Apple Pay: Use Touch ID to complete purchases you make on this Mac using Apple Pay.
iTunes & App Store: Use Touch ID to complete purchases you make on this Mac from the Apple online stores.
Safari AutoFill: Use Touch ID to automatically fill in usernames and passwords and to automatically fill in credit card information in Safari.
Rename or delete fingerprints
On your Mac, choose Apple menu
> System Preferences, then click Touch ID. Do any of the following:
Rename a fingerprint: Click the text below a fingerprint, then enter a name.
Delete a fingerprint: Click a fingerprint, enter your password, then click Delete.
Use Touch ID to unlock your Mac, log in or switch users
To use Touch ID for these tasks, you must have logged in to your Mac already by entering your password.
Unlock your Mac and some password-protected items: When you wake your Mac from sleep or open a password-protected item, just place your finger on Touch ID when prompted.
Log in from the login window: Click your name in the login window, then place your finger on Touch ID.
Only user accounts that have passwords can be unlocked with Touch ID. Share-only users and guest accounts cannot use Touch ID.
Switch users: Click the fast user switching menu in the menu bar, choose a different user, then place your finger on Touch ID.
To use Touch ID to switch to another user, you need to have set up fast user switching, and the user you switch to must have logged in to the Mac already by entering a password.
Use Touch ID to purchase items
Log in to your Mac by entering your password.
Purchase items using Apple Pay or from one of the online Apple stores.
Place your finger on Touch ID when prompted.
If you have problems with Touch ID
If Touch ID doesn’t recognise your fingerprint: Make sure your finger is clean and dry, then try again. Moisture, lotions, cuts or dry skin can affect fingerprint recognition.
If you still have to enter your password: Sometimes you’ll need to enter your password to continue using Touch ID. For example, users must re-enter their password every 48 hours and after five incorrect fingerprint attempts.
Note: For added security, only logged-in users can access their own Touch ID information; an administrator cannot change another user’s Touch ID preferences or fingerprints.