Description: Windows Hello fingerprint sign-in may fail or take over a minute after starting some Windows 11 PCs. Check the October 2026 fix, build numbers, and safe troubleshooting.
Microsoft's October 13, 2026 KB5127648 update fixes a Windows Hello fingerprint sign-in failure after a cold boot on some Windows 11 PCs. Start by signing in with a working PIN or password and checking Windows Update. There is no reason to erase every fingerprint or reset Windows before checking the build.
Does your symptom match?
The official fix covers Windows 11 24H2, 25H2, and 26H2 on affected devices. A useful clue is that the reader is unavailable immediately after powering on from a fully off state, but works later or after sleep. Fast Startup can make shutdown-and-power-on different from Restart. Record the exact startup path before troubleshooting.
Confirmed fix versus measured report
Microsoft confirms that KB5127648 fixes fingerprint sign-in after a cold boot. It does not publish a complete list of affected sensors or a detailed internal cause.
In a detailed Microsoft Q&A report, a user with an MSI Prestige 16 AI+ C3MG, Goodix MOC sensor (USB VID_27C6, PID_6090) and Windows 11 25H2 measured 85–92 seconds until the reader was ready after installing KB5124010 / build 26200.9550, versus 15–27 seconds on 26200.9457. Their Biometrics log contained event 1109 and errors 0x800706D9 and 0x80098057. Removing and reinstalling the update changed the outcome in repeated tests. The user later reported 19 seconds after the October fix. Those timings are measurements from one laptop, not an estimate for all Goodix readers.
Check the corrected build safely
- At the sign-in screen, choose Sign-in options and use a working PIN or password.
- Open Settings → Windows Update → Check for updates. Install KB5127648 or a later cumulative update that includes the fix; complete the required restart.
- Press Win+R, type
winver, and check the Windows version and build. The October corrected builds are shown below. - Compare the first sign-in after a full power-off with waking from sleep. If needed, inspect Event Viewer → Applications and Services Logs → Microsoft → Windows → Biometrics → Operational and note any error codes.
| Windows 11 version | Corrected OS build |
|---|---|
| 24H2 | 26100.9711 |
| 25H2 | 26200.9711 |
| 26H2 | 26300.9711 |
If the problem remains
A reader that starts late, a missing reader, and an unrecognized finger are different symptoms. Clean and dry the finger and sensor, then check the PC maker's supported driver updates. Only re-enroll fingerprints after confirming another sign-in method works. Ask IT before changing a managed computer.
Avoid clearing the TPM, editing the registry, reinstalling Windows, or uninstalling security updates as an initial fix. Another user reported that rolling back an update also disrupted PIN sign-in. Compare the official fix and the device's actual state first.
Conclusion
Bottom line: if fingerprint sign-in fails specifically after a cold boot, check KB5127648 and the .9711 build first. The Microsoft fix is confirmed; the MSI timings are individual measurements.
