Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10  

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
    Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10

    Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10

    How to Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10
    Published by Category: User Accounts
    07 Dec 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10


    Windows Hello biometrics lets you sign in to your devices, apps, online services, and networks using your face, iris, or fingerprint.

    For more information about Windows Hello biometrics, see:


    By default, local users and domain users can sign in to Windows 10 and elevate UAC permissions using biometrics unless disabled via policy.

    This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable the use of biometrics for all users in Windows 10.

    You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable the use of biometrics.



    Contents

    • Option One: Enable or Disable Use of Windows Hello Biometrics in Local Group Policy Editor
    • Option Two: Enable or Disable Use of Windows Hello Biometrics using a REG file



    EXAMPLE: Windows Hello biometrics enabled and disabled in Settings
    Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10-windows_hello_biometrics_enabled.jpg Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10-windows_hello_biometrics_disabled.jpg






    OPTION ONE

    Enable or Disable Use of Windows Hello Biometrics in Local Group Policy Editor


    The Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

    All editions can use Option Two below.


    1 Open the Local Group Policy Editor.

    2 In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

    Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Biometrics

    Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10-windows_hello_biometrics_gpedit-1.png

    3 In the right pane of Biometrics in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Allow the use of biometrics policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)

    4 Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    5 To Enable Use of Windows Hello Biometrics

    A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Enabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Not Configured is the default setting.



    6 To Disable Use of Windows Hello Biometrics

    A) Select (dot) Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)

    Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10-windows_hello_biometrics_gpedit-2.png


    7 When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor.






    OPTION TWO

    Enable or Disable Use of Windows Hello Biometrics using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Biometrics

    Enabled DWORD

    0 = Disable
    (delete) = Enable


    1 Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.


    2 To Enable Use of Windows Hello Biometrics

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Enable_Windows_Hello_Biometrics.reg

    Download


    3 To Disable Use of Windows Hello Biometrics

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.

    Disable_Windows_Hello_Biometrics.reg

    Download


    4 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, OK (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
       #1

    Hi there,
    Hope its ok to revive the post but pretty lost here so il try.
    I tried everything in your tutorial and still nothing shows at the setting/account/login section. The only option I have available is Dynamic Lock. It seems like I am missing the HELLO all together along with any login functionality
    I have an upgraded version of win10 from win 7. Lenovo T520 Thinkpad
    Thank you much for any help.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    BBop said:
    Hi there,
    Hope its ok to revive the post but pretty lost here so il try.
    I tried everything in your tutorial and still nothing shows at the setting/account/login section. The only option I have available is Dynamic Lock. It seems like I am missing the HELLO all together along with any login functionality
    I have an upgraded version of win10 from win 7. Lenovo T520 Thinkpad
    Thank you much for any help.
    Hello BBop, and welcome to Ten Forums.

    Just to verify, are you able to scroll up and down any in the right pane to see if these settings may be available?

    Do you have any Windows Hello devices (ex: IR camera, fingerprint reader, etc...) connected with updated drivers to use Windows Hello?

    If that's not the issue, then please go ahead and post a screenshot showing this to see if anything may stand out as a cause.

    How to Upload and Post Screenshots and Files at Ten Forums
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
       #3

    Hi Brink,
    Thank you so much for the quick reply. I must say I am pretty perplexed right now. Tried changing the registry, settings for enabling the fingerprint reader, updating windows, and many restarts... In the attemp to install the driver from lenovo I encounter an error saying I must enable the fingerprint (which I have and is enavled) -- All through different guides in the tenforum. Please see attaced picture.
    Ps. I have other issues as well such as permissions and other apps not working at all (such as Paint and the store *so far) ***Update -- seems like none of the native win10 apps work really. They all load and then shutoff. Maybe I should just go with the inevitable and reinstall windows?
    Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10-signin.png
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    BBop said:
    Hi Brink,
    Thank you so much for the quick reply. I must say I am pretty perplexed right now. Tried changing the registry, settings for enabling the fingerprint reader, updating windows, and many restarts... In the attemp to install the driver from lenovo I encounter an error saying I must enable the fingerprint (which I have and is enavled) -- All through different guides in the tenforum. Please see attaced picture.
    Ps. I have other issues as well such as permissions and other apps not working at all (such as Paint and the store *so far) ***Update -- seems like none of the native win10 apps work really. They all load and then shutoff. Maybe I should just go with the inevitable and reinstall windows?
    It may be some issue with it being an upgrade from W7.

    If you don't mind starting fresh, you could try resetting Windows 10 using the method below.

    Reset Windows 10
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
       #5

    Hi Brink.
    Just wanted to say THANKS ! Did a Reset for the Win10 and I must say that was a whole different ball game.
    Unlike the upgrade, I did not have to install any separate drivers and all the hardware components were properly identified. Updates to the specific hardware for the T520 was also given as an option. All options through the "Hello" feature were available including the fingerprint reader. My mouse (MX Master S2) was identified and dedicated software was automatically recommended and installed. All the native apps seem to work great! All in all, a great looking machine had been revived to its full potential. (maxed out RAM, SSD and quad core i7)
    The reset process was very easy and smooth. Highly recommended to anyone in my situation.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    BBop said:
    Hi Brink.
    Just wanted to say THANKS ! Did a Reset for the Win10 and I must say that was a whole different ball game.
    Unlike the upgrade, I did not have to install any separate drivers and all the hardware components were properly identified. Updates to the specific hardware for the T520 was also given as an option. All options through the "Hello" feature were available including the fingerprint reader. My mouse (MX Master S2) was identified and dedicated software was automatically recommended and installed. All the native apps seem to work great! All in all, a great looking machine had been revived to its full potential. (maxed out RAM, SSD and quad core i7)
    The reset process was very easy and smooth. Highly recommended to anyone in my situation.
    Great news.
      My Computers


  7. apb
    Posts : 94
    win 7 64bit
       #7

    I'm a little confused about the registry value.

    In my case, I do have the hardware for fingerprint, but I have not yet turned on the feature in the login options.

    I note that the registry key is not present on my machine. Is that because I have not yet turned on the feature in the OS?

    BTW, the reason I want to turn off the fingerprint feature is because the fingerprint device has wake timers according to pwrconfig, and I am having issues with sleep. I previously modified the registry to allow sleep to turn off the network, but now other things are waking the machine, in particular this:

    PERFBOOST:[DRIVER] Legacy Kernel CallerPower Manager

    which I believe might be related to the fingerprint hardware. (Yes, not really for this thread, but background on why I am interested in turning it off.)

    Thanks.

    --peter
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 68,668
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    apb said:
    I'm a little confused about the registry value.

    In my case, I do have the hardware for fingerprint, but I have not yet turned on the feature in the login options.

    I note that the registry key is not present on my machine. Is that because I have not yet turned on the feature in the OS?

    BTW, the reason I want to turn off the fingerprint feature is because the fingerprint device has wake timers according to pwrconfig, and I am having issues with sleep. I previously modified the registry to allow sleep to turn off the network, but now other things are waking the machine, in particular this:

    PERFBOOST:[DRIVER] Legacy Kernel CallerPower Manager

    which I believe might be related to the fingerprint hardware. (Yes, not really for this thread, but background on why I am interested in turning it off.)

    Thanks.

    --peter
    Hello Peter,

    Correct. The registry values in option 2 will only be there when the group policy has been configured in option 1 or manually added in option 2.

    When the registry values are not there, it'll be the same as the group policy being not configured.
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       #9

    Hello @Brink,

    Am I right in saying that this is ONLY available in the Enterprise Edition?

    If so, do you think it is a good idea to put a Bolded Warning of Information message at the top of the Tutorial so it stands out?

    Kind Regards, Paul.
      My Computer


 

Tutorial Categories

Enable or Disable Windows Hello Biometrics in Windows 10 Tutorial Index Network & Sharing Instalation and Upgrade Browsers and Email General Tips Gaming Customization Apps and Features Virtualization BSOD System Security User Accounts Hardware and Drivers Updates and Activation Backup and Restore Performance and Maintenance Mixed Reality Phone


  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:00.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums