If you are unable to use the fingerprint scanner after sleep, you can fix it easily from the Windows 10 settings. Here’re the exact steps to follow.
Windows 10 devices with a fingerprint scanner can sometimes face a strange issue where after waking the system from sleep, the scanner doesn’t recognize the finger. Subsequently, you cannot use the fingerprint scanner no matter how many times you try. Simply put, under certain circumstances, the fingerprint scanner is not working after sleep in Windows 10.
For a vast majority of Windows 10 users, the fingerprint scanner will work perfectly fine. However, due to some driver issues and scanner settings, the fingerprint scanner might be asleep even after you wake up the system from sleep. This happens due to Windows 10’s power management settings. Since the fingerprint scanner is in sleep mode, it does not work as it should even after you wake the computer.
Thankfully, the issue is pretty easy to fix. All you have to do is change the fingerprint scanner’s power management settings and stop Windows 10 from putting it to sleep when you put Windows 10 to sleep. Though sounds confusing, it is pretty easy to do. Follow the steps below to fix fingerprint not working after sleep in Windows 10.
SOLVED: Fingerprint Scanner Not Working After Sleep
To make the fingerprint scanner to work properly after waking up from sleep, you need to change a power management setting of that specific device from the device manager. Here are the steps to follow.
- First, open the Start menu. You can do that by pressing the Windows key on the keyboard.
- Search for “Device Manager” in the Start menu and open it.
- After opening the Device Manager, expand the “Biometric devices” option.
- Now, right-click on the fingerprint device and select the “Properties” option.
- Go to the “Power management” tab in the properties window.
- Uncheck the “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power” option.
- Click “Ok” to save changes.
- Close the Device Manager.
- Restart Windows 10.
That is all. From this point onwards, the fingerprint scanner should work perfectly after waking the system from sleep. This is because Windows won’t put the fingerprint scanner to sleep when you put the system to sleep. As such, it should work just fine.
If the issue still persists, I recommend you uninstall the driver, reboot the system, and reinstall the driver again. You can download the fingerprint scanner driver directly from the laptop or device manufacturer website. Make sure the driver is up to date. After reinstalling the driver, follow the above steps. It should solve the fingerprint not working after sleep issue in Windows 10.
That is all. I hope that helps. If you are stuck or need some help, comment below and I will try to help as much as possible. If you like this article, check out how to set up fingerprint authentication in Windows 10.
This worked perfectly for Thinkpad X1 Yoga Gen2. Description of the problem and solution clear and concise – Thanks!
Worked well for me on LG Gram.
Thank you, now my scanner is working like blazing fast.
There is no power management section. What should I do?
Avi, if the fp reader has an error or notice icon next/on it, try disabling and re-enabling the device, and then open the properties again and see if the power management tab is available. That’s what did it for me.
If there is no power management tab, it is possible that your fingerprint hardware doesn’t support it. If that’s the case, there is nothing much you can do.
Avi, if the fp reader has an error or notice icon next/on it, try disabling and re-enabling the device, and then see if the power management tab is available. That’s what did it for me.
Thanks! This fixed my issue. It was working for years out-of-the-box but then, it suddenly stopped working recently.
Crappy Windows. After more than 30 years, they still can’t figure out “sleep”. There are still various annoying bugs with this basic feature on Windows.