Say goodbye to entering a complex password and start using your fingerprint to unlock your device.
Log in with a password or PIN becomes old-fashioned. For this, Windows 10/11 introduced the Hello feature to ensure login security biometrically.
If your laptop has a built-in fingerprint scanner, you must enable it. 
Don’t know how to set it up? Then, read this article to the end and set the Windows Hello fingerprint right away. Let’s begin!
How to Enable Windows Hello Fingerprint Recognition
To log in to Windows 11 with a built-in fingerprint scanner supported by Windows Hello, Open Settings on Windows. Go to the Account sign-in section, and from there, select Fingerprint recognition. Then, set up using the on-screen instruction by scanning your fingertips.
Scanning the fingerprint is the most secure way to use it for login purposes. No one can replicate your fingerprint to protect your data from the device.
According to the National Forensic Science Technology Center, no two people have ever been found to have the same fingerprints — including identical twins. The twisting fact is a person’s fingerprint also varies between each finger.
If you don’t want to enable Windows auto-login, you can always go for the fingerprint option to avoid typing a pin or password all the time. Let’s look at the steps to enable Windows Hello fingerprint recognition.
Here are the processes to enable Windows 11 Hello fingerprint recognition:
- Click on the Start icon and select Settings.
- Navigate to Accounts > Sign-in options.
- Select Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello).
- Click on the Setup button and then click Get started.
- Enter the PIN or password for verification.
- Touch the finger scanner with your fingertip. Ensure fingers are not wet.
- Rest and lift your finger at different angles to capture the edges of a fingertip.
- Click on the Close button after finishing the setup process.
You can add multiple fingers to unlock the device. If you’re not the only one who uses the PC, you can add other users’ fingerprints too. Windows 11’s Hello supports multiple fingerprints.
To add another fingerprint, simply click on the Add finger button by going to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options > Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello).
Enabling fingerprints will add a new security layer to the device and make it more secure. Speaking of new features, you might have heard of Cortana, the personal voice assistant for Windows. This feature has become the talk of the town now.
So, you can turn on Cortana for voice assistant on your Windows 11 device too.
How to Remove Windows Hello Fingerprint Recognition
After giving your PC access to someone by rolling the fingerprint for login, you might want to remove it now. The process is far easier than adding a fingerprint. If that’s the case and you want to remove a fingerprint or multiple, there is a Remove button to delete those.
Sometimes a malfunctioned fingerprint scanner can trigger issues such as being stuck at the lock screen before login. To fix this type of issue, you can apply several methods, along with removing the fingerprint if it’s defective.
To remove any fingerprint from Windows 11, follow the procedures below.
Here are the steps to remove Windows Hello fingerprint recognition:
- Press Windows + I key to launch Windows Settings.
- Navigate to Accounts > Sign-in options > Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello).
- Click on the Remove button for that specific fingerprint.
- Enter the PIN or password for verification.
- Click OK to finish the removal process.
As I stated, you can add multiple fingerprints to log in to your Windows 11. Adding an index finger along with a thumb is recommended to avoid incidents like misreading fingerprints sometimes.
Is Fingerprint Login Really Secure?
If you compare fingerprint recognition security with password or PIN, fingerprint locks provide more security. Setting up a device login with a weak password or PIN might compromise the device’s security. That’s where fingerprint recognition is the elephant of the room.
But, you must set up a strong password or PIN along with your fingerprint. While setting up the fingerprint, you must set up a PIN or Password in case the scanner fails to scan correctly.
The concerning matter is while the fingerprint scanner failed to scan the fingertip, the device asks to log in with a password or PIN. That’s why a weak passcode is prone to leak your device’s storage data.
Fingerprint data is encrypted and stored in the device’s local storage, whereas the passcode gets stored in the cloud. So, it’s difficult for a scammer or hacker to steal fingerprint data. But noting is impossible, and fingerprints can be hacked too.
The final word is fingerprint is more secure than passwords still now.
Some more guides on why does Windows 11 crash so much.
FAQs
Does fingerprint work on Windows 11 devices?
Yes, fingerprint security is a part of the Windows Hello feature. Windows 11 has this feature, and fingerprint recognition works smoothly for login to the device. But the device must have a built-in fingerprint scanner sensor for it.
How can I install fingerprint drivers on Windows 11?
To install fingerprint drivers on Windows 11 installed devices, you can go to the laptop manufacturer’s website and download the driver. After that, search for your exact laptop model and download the fingerprint driver for Windows 11 OS.
Why can’t I set up fingerprint recognition on Windows 11?
Probably the fingerprint scanner driver isn’t installed, or the driver is outdated. Due to a damaged fingerprint scanner sensor, you cannot set up fingerprint recognition. So, check for a backdated driver or a defective scanner sensor.
How many fingerprints can I add to Windows 11?
You can add at least 10 fingerprints to Windows 11 for login. There is no maximum limit, but you shouldn’t add more than 10 fingerprints.
Final Words
Modern devices are now equipped with biometric security like fingerprints, iris or facial scanners. That’s why Microsoft introduced Windows Hello with biometric security.
To enable biometric security like fingerprint recognition, firstly, your device should have a built-in sensor, and secondly, you must add fingerprints. In this article, I have shown how to set up Fingerprint recognition(Windows Hello).
I hope you have successfully enabled it. For more assistance regarding Windows Hello, knock me in the comment box. Good luck!
