What to do if Touch ID on your Mac isn’t working for purchases

The Touch ID sensor has been available on the Mac since 2016: first on the MacBook Pro, later also on the MacBook Air and Mac desktops via the Magic Keyboard for Mac. The Touch ID sensor lets you unlock your Mac and make purchases from the App Store and other Apple online stores. But what do you do if Touch ID on Mac isn’t working in the App Store or iTunes Store? You can read that here!

• #1 Update software
• #2 Reconsent
• #3 Add an extra finger
• #4 Enter your password>

#1 Update your Mac’s software

As a first step, it is always good to check whether you have installed the latest software. Apple regularly releases updates with bug fixes and security improvements. Either way, it’s good to keep your software updated. Therefore, check here whether updates are available:

1. Open System Settings (in older macOS versions this is called: System Preferences).
2. Click the General > Software Update menu.
3. Update available? Then follow your Mac’s instructions.

After performing the software update, the Touch ID issue may be resolved. Is there no new software update available, or has it not helped? No worries. Then we move on to the next step.

#2 Reauthorize purchases with Touch ID

Sometimes it can help to re-authorize Touch ID to make purchases with it. For security reasons, Apple allows this to be set by the user. This permission may be completely disabled, but even if it is enabled you can still try something.

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences in older macOS versions).
2. Click Touch ID & Password.
3. Check the box next to iTunes Store, App Store and Apple Books or turn them off and on again.
4. What can also help is adding an extra finger or resetting your finger.
5. If prompted, enter the password for your user account.

You have just (again) given permission to your Mac to use Touch ID when making purchases in one of the Stores. Before you can use this you will have to re-enter your password (see step 4).

#3 Add an extra finger for Touch ID

Your finger may be damaged or there may be another reason why your fingerprint is no longer recognized properly. You can always try adding an extra finger for Touch ID. To do this, proceed as follows:

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences in older macOS versions).
2. Click Touch ID & Password.
3. Add an extra finger and see if it works.

#4 Enter your password

The Touch ID sensor only works after you enter your password at least once. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the App Store.
2. Find any (free) app.
3. Click Download, then Install.
4. Your Mac will ask if you want to use Touch ID for future purchases. Click Yes.
5. Enter your Apple ID password once.

The app will now be downloaded and installed. If it was just an app for testing, you can immediately delete the app. For future App Store purchases, you will only need to scan a finger to confirm your identity.

Apps themselves can also use Touch ID, for example to protect the contents of a diary app. Please note that you must give permission for this separately for each app. You also have to give permission for Touch ID for every Apple store. If you have installed an app via the App Store and given permission to use Touch ID, you will have to give permission for Touch ID again when downloading a music track from iTunes. So it applies to every app.

Did you know that you can also use Touch ID in Safari to easily and securely log in to websites? You can read how to use Touch ID for websites in our separate article.