Dell XPS 13 fingerprint reader not working? 3 ways to fix it
- Logging in to Windows using the fingerprint reader is a quick and secure way, but for Dell XPS 13 users, the reader seems to be not working.
- First, try to reinstall the driver, in case it's corrupt.
- If you started facing the issue after installing a driver update, roll back to the previous version, or try the other methods here.
The fingerprint is probably one of the most convenient and secure sign-in options. Most laptops released in the last few years come with a scanner. But for some Dell XPS 13 users, the fingerprint reader is not working.
Problems with the fingerprint reader generally arise due to issues with the driver, particularly after an update. Also, it could have to do with a misconfigured BIOS or the current set of data may have gone corrupt.
So, let’s see how you can fix the Dell XPS 13 fingerprint reader not working issue.
What do I do if Dell XPS 13 fingerprint reader is not working?
1. Reinstall the driver
- Press Windows + S to launch the Search menu, enter Device Manager in the text field at the top, and click on the relevant search result.
- Double-click on Biometric devices to expand and view the devices under it.
- Right-click on the fingerprint reader, and select Uninstall device from the context menu.
- Tick the checkbox for Attempt to remove the driver for this device, and click Uninstall at the bottom.
- Once done, restart the computer and Windows will automatically install a fresh driver for the reader.
A corrupt driver is a major issue and can cause the device to malfunction or stop working at all. Reinstalling the corrupt fingerprint reader driver did the trick for most users. To identify one, look for a warning sign near the corner of the device icon.
2. Roll back driver update
- Press Windows + R to launch the Run command, enter devmgmt.msc in the text field, and either click OK or hit Enter to launch the Device Manager.
- Next, double-click on Biometric devices.
- Right-click on the fingerprint reader, and select Properties from the context menu.
- Navigate to the Driver tab.
- Click on the Roll Back Driver button.
- Now, select a reason for rolling back the driver version, and click on Yes at the bottom.
- After the uninstall is complete, restart the computer for the changes to fully come into effect.
If you started encountering the problem after updating the driver, either manually or via Windows Update, reverting to the previous version should fix the fingerprint reader not working problem in Dell XPS.
Also, you can use a reliable third-party app to reduce the chances of encountering such errors by installing only the right drivers. We recommend DriverFix, a dedicated tool that will automatically update all the drivers and only install the best available version.
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3. Remove the current fingerprint and add a new one
- Press Windows + I to launch Settings, and select Accounts from the tabs listed in the navigation pane on the left.
- Next, click on Sign-in options on the right.
- Click on Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello).
- Now, click the Remove button to delete the currently set fingerprint.
- Once done, click on Set up to add a new fingerprint.
- Click on Get started and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.
If there are issues with the currently set fingerprint, it would appear as if the fingerprint reader in Dell XPS 13 is not working. So, remove the current one and add a new fingerprint instead.
These are all the ways you can fix the Dell XPS fingerprint reader not working issue and use it to log in to Windows from now on.
If these don’t work, which is highly unlikely, try some general troubleshooting to fix issues with the fingerprint sensor in Windows 11.
Also, you may perform a system restore since this can eliminate a wide range of issues and take your system back to a relatively healthy state.
If you have any other queries or know of a fix that’s not been listed here, drop a comment in the section below.
