If you’re having “Windows Hello isn’t available on this device.” in your Settings windows, you’re not alone. Many Windows 10 users are reporting this problem as well. No worries, it’s possible to fix. Here is the 3-step fixes for you to fix your problem.
What is Windows Hello?
Windows Hello allows you to login into your system by recognizing your fingerprint or your face or your iris (like Surface) rather than using a pin code or a password, provided that you have a webcam and a finger scanner that work.
With Windows 10 Anniversary Update, this feature has extended to apps and websites, which include banking apps and other sensitive apps.
How do I fix it?
Here are 3 solutions for you to try. You may not have to try them all; just work your way down until you find the one works for you.
1. Update Your PC
2. Enable Biometric from Administration
3. Update Your Fingerprint Device Driver
Step 1: Update Your PC
First of all, make sure that you’ve installed any possible update that is available for Windows 10. See if you have needed patches installed:
1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and I at the same time. Click Update & security.
2) Click the Check for updates button. Install available updates found.
When you finish, move on to the second step.
Step 2: Enable Biometric from Administration
If you don’t have the administrator permission, you’re not likely to use Windows Hello on your PC. To fix it:
1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and R at the same time, then type gpedit.msc and press Enter.
2) Follow the path: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components. On the right side of the pane, double-click Allow the use of biometrics.
3) Click Enabled. Then click Apply and OK to save the change.
4) Reboot your computer and then move on to the next step.
Step 3: Update Your Fingerprint Device Driver
If your fingerprint device driver is outdated or faulty, you’ll find the hardware impossible to use. You can update the device driver to fix it.
1) On your keyboard, press the Windows logo key and X at the same time, and click Device Manager.
2) Click the icon for Scan for hardware changes on the top bar.
3) Expand Biometric devices. Right-click the fingerprint sensor device that you have and click Uninstall.
4) You can choose to reboot your computer for Windows to help you locate the driver that it could find for your device.
Or, as an alternative, you can choose to update the driver by yourself.
If you don’t have the time, patience or computer skills to update your drivers manually, you can do it automatically with Driver Easy.
Driver Easy will automatically recognize your system and find the correct drivers for it. You don’t need to know exactly what system your computer is running, you don’t need to risk downloading and installing the wrong driver, and you don’t need to worry about making a mistake when installing.
You can update your drivers automatically with either the FREE or the Pro version of Driver Easy. But with the Pro version it takes just 2 clicks (and you get full support and a 30-day money back guarantee):
1) Download and install Driver Easy.
2) Run Driver Easy and click Scan Now button. Driver Easy will then scan your computer and detect any problem drivers.
3) Click the Update button next to the flagged fingerprint device to automatically download and install the correct version of this driver (you can do this with the FREE version).
Or click Update All to automatically download and install the correct version of all the drivers that are missing or out of date on your system (this requires the Pro version – you’ll be prompted to upgrade when you click Update All).
Hi,
Thanks for your comment.
I’m sorry that Driver Easy doesn’t work for you. The problem might not be caused by driver issues. Please feel free to contact our support team at support@drivereasy.com for assistance regarding this issue.
If you have any questions, please leave your comment again.
Ain’t no one gonna install yo freeware f off wit dat LOLLL
Nothing work. all are banal. I tried everything from more than 20 websites…. nothing.
My mic work on my phone but not on windows 10
Yup doesn’t do a single thing for me. Been trying to figure out why Windows is refusing to use the mic in line. Every time I try to use my microphone and enable it, instead of using the mic itself.. it uses the output line. So basically anything that is currently running through my speakers will be fed through the mic line on top of it.. basically giving the whole “echo” effect and a feedback loop. Haven’t been able to find a fix for it.
I’ve tried each on of those fixes word to word and my external mic that connects to the 3.5mm jack still doesn’t work. The drivers have been updated, it is enabled, not muted, I checked Privacy and Device Manager, etc. My headset mic works, but not the mic that I want to use despite it working on other pcs/phones. Any other fix for this?
thank you so much
thank you very much. very much appreciated
if it still doesn’t work use wo_mic_driver_setup.exe and install all drivers for win 7-8-10 even if u only have win 10 only. restart pc and it should be working
Hi,the privacy settings was the problem….Thank You so much…
I have a problem with connecting 3.5mm jack. It says its not plugged in. Can u help me please.
I did everything, but it still not working.
Microphone what isnt plugged in is plugged in. It cant detect it
Hello, I have been working to get my mic to work on my windows 10 laptop, I think I got it. I have some doctors that want to use Skype and others that use only Zoom for telemedicine visits, how do I set up my Windows 10 pc laptop to allow Zoom to access my mic? Thanks for any instructions.
In my case it was the privacy setting. Thank you!
i’ve tried all of these plus more and still nothing. last week a solution worked and my microphone was fine. now its not working again. seems to me if its a window update causing the problem they should send a new update fixing the bug
Hey, I’m at the same predictment. I’ve scoured the internet, but nothing works.
What did you do that made it work? Even if for a brief moment?
so helpful. thanks
That is Windows for you! ^.^
All I have ever used on my computer is the built in mic. It was working perfectly fine, went to video chat and it suddenly no longer works. The computer says its working. It’s not. It will not pick up any sound, and I have done every type of troubleshooting I can find, including uninstalling and re-installing. STILL not working!
I’ve fixed this by finding speech/cortana/privacy settings and allowing apps to use the microphone.
Then you still need to switch between mics and set a different mic to default recording device, and then suddenly ALL mics work again.
So if you’re like me, and disabled most of the privacy settings in the last update, then you need to find the audio/mic settings deep-deep in the windows-settings about speech/cortana/privacy. Otherwise no single mic will work. (and there will be NO information about why they don’t work, f.e. because in some privacy setting, ALL mics can be disabled. Even the problem solver doesn’t recognise this.
This ^ thank you so much. I wasted 3 hours finding a solution. I really hate microsoft move on this one.
Indeed! This is the solution. I wasted 4 hours on this crazy problem.
Legendary to do this in simple if you know your mic is working perfectly fine.
Search ‘Settings’ in the search box
The navigate Privacy > Microphone, then select ‘Allow apps to access your microphone’ to ‘YES’.
(For your privacy you can still select Microsoft apps below that you don’t want to be spying on you).
This is all due to one stupid update. Thanks Microsoft 😉
This hasn’t worked for me. Help??
Thanks jono! All microphones stopped working after a windows update and this solved it!
The only solution I found, thank you! Also, my mic was already set to “Yes” but after closing the window all was ok–after months of no microphone working with Windows 10.
^^^^^this comment right here, been working on this for 3 hours and this is the comment that fixed it for me THANK YOU
Did this, I fixed my mic.
Holy crap, after 4 hours of troubleshooting & searching for answers, I FINALLY FOUND IT. THANK YOU JONO!!!
Thank you jono. It worked for me as well.
Worked for me
OMG, was about to throw my pc out the window! thank you so much!
Dude thank you! Stupid hard to find settings.
just had this problem on a buddy’s windows 10, restarted the “windows audio” service in the “services” and Booom audio working again. we tried both usb mic/headset and also an analog 3.5mm headset into motherboard audio port and neither worked until stopping and then starting the windows audio service
Thank you. Helped me alot. I was going to throw my laptop…
make sure u have allow applications to use microphones on
My mic volume slider is just stuck forever at the left side. yes, it’s unmuted. yes, it’s not a hardware problem as it works just fine on other OS. Thanks in advance!
[…] gave advice on troubleshooting your microphone setup, which can be useful for audio sync users, especially those who have new […]