How to Add a Secondary Fingerprint to Touch ID on Your Mac

If you own a modern MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or an iMac with a Magic Keyboard, you are likely already using Touch ID to instantly unlock your computer, authenticate Apple Pay purchases, or autofill passwords. By default, you register one fingerprint (usually your right index finger) during the initial setup process.

However, relying on a single fingerprint can be frustrating. If your primary finger is wet from washing dishes, covered by a bandage, or if you simply prefer using your left hand while drinking coffee with your right, the sensor will fail. To make unlocking your Mac much more convenient, you can easily add multiple fingerprints to your Touch ID profile.

Adding a New Fingerprint

macOS allows you to store up to three different fingerprints per user account (or a total of five fingerprints across all user accounts on the same machine).

1. Click the Apple menu (the small Apple logo) in the very top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select System Settings from the dropdown menu (or System Preferences if you are using an older version of macOS).
3. Scroll down the left-hand sidebar and click on Touch ID & Password.
4. In the main panel, you will see a list of your currently registered fingerprints (usually just named “Finger 1”). Click the button labelled Add Fingerprint.
5. Your Mac will immediately prompt you to enter your administrator password to verify your identity. Type your password and press Enter.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions. Place your new chosen finger (such as your left index finger or a thumb) on the Touch ID sensor. Lift and rest your finger repeatedly, adjusting the angle slightly each time, until the graphic on the screen fills entirely with red lines.
7. Once the scan is complete, click Done.

Renaming Your Fingerprints

By default, macOS names your prints “Finger 1”, “Finger 2”, and so on. If you ever need to delete a specific print because it is no longer reading correctly, these generic names make it impossible to know which one to remove. You should rename them immediately.

1. While still in the Touch ID & Password menu, hover your mouse over the text that says “Finger 1” or “Finger 2”.
2. Click directly on the text to edit it.
3. Type a descriptive name, such as “Right Index” or “Left Thumb”, and press Enter to save it.
4. If you ever want to delete a fingerprint, simply hover your mouse over the name and click the small “x” icon that appears.