Fix Windows Hello Not Available on This Device

Windows Hello lets you sign in with your face, fingerprint, or PIN, but sometimes Windows reports “Windows Hello is not available on this device.” This usually happens after a driver update, a BIOS change, a corrupted user profile, or a Group Policy setting. The fixes below walk through the most common causes in order, from a quick restart to deeper registry and driver checks, so you can get biometric or PIN sign-in working again.

What You’ll Need

Administrator access to the Windows PC (you’ll need to approve User Account Control prompts)
A working keyboard and mouse (in case you need to sign in with your password)
Your Microsoft account password or local account password (you’ll need it to sign in during some steps)
If using a fingerprint reader or IR camera, the device must be physically connected and powered on

Step-by-Step

Restart your PC. Click the Start button, select Power, then Restart. A simple reboot clears temporary driver glitches and often restores Windows Hello. If the error persists after restarting, continue.
Check if Windows Hello is enabled in Settings. Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options. Look for the Windows Hello section. If it says “Windows Hello is not available on this device,” click the link that says “Learn more” or “Set up” if it appears. If the option is greyed out, move to the next step.
Run the Windows Hello troubleshooter. Go to Settings > System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters (Windows 11) or Settings > Update & Security > Troubleshoot > Additional troubleshooters (Windows 10). Find “Windows Hello Face” or “Windows Hello Fingerprint” (depending on what you use) and click Run. Follow the prompts. This fixes corrupted biometric configuration files.
Update or reinstall the biometric driver. Press Win + X and select Device Manager. Expand Biometric devices (or Cameras for IR face cameras). Right-click your device (e.g., “Fingerprint Sensor” or “IR Camera”) and select Update driver. Choose Search automatically for drivers. If no update is found, right-click again and choose Uninstall device, check the box “Delete the driver software for this device” if it appears, then restart. Windows will reinstall the driver on boot.
Reset Windows Hello from the command line. Right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin). Type the following command and press Enter: reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinBio\Database /f. This clears the biometric database. Restart your PC, then go back to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and try setting up Windows Hello again.
Check Group Policy settings (Windows Pro/Enterprise only). Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and press Enter. Navigate to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Biometrics. Double-click “Allow the use of biometrics” and set it to Enabled. Also check “Allow users to log on using biometrics” and set it to Enabled. Close the editor and restart.
Verify the PIN is still available. If the error is specifically about PIN, go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options, click PIN (Windows Hello), and select “I forgot my PIN” or “Remove” (you’ll need your password). Then re-add a new PIN. This often fixes the “not available” message for PIN users.
Check for a pending Windows update. Go to Settings > Windows Update and click Check for updates. Install all pending updates, especially driver and security updates, then restart. A recent update may have broken the biometric stack, and a newer update usually patches it.
Create a new user account (last resort). If none of the above works, the user profile may be corrupted. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, click Add account, and create a new local or Microsoft account. Sign into that account and try setting up Windows Hello there. If it works, migrate your files and settings to the new profile.

Common Mistakes

Skipping the restart after uninstalling the driver. The driver reinstall happens on boot; if you don’t restart, Windows may keep using the broken driver.
Using the wrong command prompt. The registry delete command must be run as Administrator. If you run it in a normal window, you’ll get an “Access denied” error.
Assuming the camera or fingerprint reader is working. If the hardware is disabled in BIOS or the device is physically faulty, no software fix will help. Check Device Manager for a yellow warning icon.
Deleting the entire WinBio database without backing up. This removes all registered fingerprints and faces for all users. They will need to re-enroll, which is expected, but be aware it’s not just your profile that’s affected.
Forgetting to check the PIN separately. The error message can apply to PIN even if your fingerprint works. Fixing the PIN is a separate step (Step 7).

Tips

Keep your biometric driver updated through Windows Update or your PC manufacturer’s support site. Avoid downloading drivers from third-party sites.
If you use a desktop PC, make sure the IR camera or fingerprint reader is plugged directly into a USB port on the motherboard, not a front-panel hub, which can cause intermittent disconnects.
After a BIOS update, re-enable the “TPM” and “Secure Boot” settings if they were reset. Windows Hello relies on TPM for secure key storage.
If you have multiple monitors, the IR camera might be attached to a monitor that is turned off. Wake it up before trying face sign-in.
For laptops, some manufacturers disable the fingerprint reader when the lid is closed or the device is in tablet mode. Check your manufacturer’s manual.

Troubleshooting

If the steps above don’t resolve the issue, try these additional checks in order:

Check Device Manager for errors. If the biometric device shows a yellow exclamation mark, right-click it, select Properties, and look at the “Device status” box. A code like “Code 10” or “Code 24” means the device isn’t starting. Try “Update driver” again, or check the manufacturer’s website for a specific driver.
Run SFC and DISM. Open Terminal (Admin) and run sfc /scannow. After that completes, run DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth. Restart and try again. This repairs corrupted Windows system files that may be blocking Windows Hello.
Check if the service is running. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter. Find “Windows Biometric Service”. Double-click it, set Startup type to Automatic, and if it’s not running, click Start. Then restart your PC.
Review recent changes. If the error started after a specific update or software install, use Settings > Windows Update > Update history to uninstall that update, or use System Restore to roll back to a restore point before the problem began.
Check BIOS settings. Restart your PC and press the key to enter BIOS (usually Del, F2, or F10). Look for settings like “Fingerprint Device,” “IR Camera,” or “TPM” and ensure they are set to Enabled. Save and exit.
If all else fails, perform a Windows repair install. Download the Windows 11 or Windows 10 Installation Assistant from Microsoft’s website, run it, and choose “Keep personal files and apps.” This reinstalls Windows without removing your data and often fixes persistent driver or service issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why does Windows Hello say “not available” even though my camera works?
A: The IR camera for face recognition is different from a regular webcam. It needs a dedicated infrared sensor. If your laptop only has a regular camera, Windows Hello Face won’t work, but PIN and fingerprint should still be available.

Q: Will I lose my fingerprints if I delete the WinBio database?
A: Yes, all enrolled fingerprints and faces for all users on the PC are removed. You’ll need to set up Windows Hello again after the restart. Your files and passwords are not affected.

Q: Can I use Windows Hello without a Microsoft account?
A: Yes, but only the PIN option works with a local account. Face and fingerprint sign-in require a Microsoft account in most Windows 10 and 11 versions. If you’re using a local account, switch to a Microsoft account in Settings > Accounts > Your info.

Q: The error appears after a Windows update. How do I fix it quickly?
A: First, restart. If that doesn’t help, uninstall the most recent update via Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. Then check for updates again, but pause them for a week to let Microsoft release a fix.

Q: Is it safe to delete the registry key mentioned in Step 5?
A: Yes, the key HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WinBio\Database only holds biometric enrollment data. Deleting it forces Windows to rebuild the database. It does not affect passwords, files, or other settings.

Q: My fingerprint reader worked before, but now it’s gone from Device Manager entirely.
A: This usually means the hardware is disabled in BIOS or the driver was completely removed. Check BIOS settings (Step in Troubleshooting) and then uninstall/reinstall the driver from the manufacturer’s website, not from Device Manager.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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