fingerprint authentication Archives

Winsage

June 17, 2025

Microsoft has broken Windows Hello facial recognition — it no longer works in the dark

Windows Hello now requires a color camera in addition to infrared sensors for user sign-ins, which reduces its effectiveness in low-light conditions. This change was made to address a spoofing vulnerability and was implemented after an initial announcement in April. The updated system struggles in dark environments, raising concerns for users with darker skin tones, as low-light conditions can hinder facial recognition. Users can disable the color webcam to revert to using only IR sensors, but this disables video capabilities. Alternatives for sign-in include PIN, password, or fingerprint authentication.

Winsage

February 6, 2025

How to Add Fingerprint Authentication to Your Windows 11 Computer

To set up fingerprint recognition on Windows 11, follow these steps: 1. Open the Windows 11 Settings app by pressing the Windows Key and typing “settings.” 2. Navigate to the Accounts menu from the sidebar. 3. Click on Sign-in options. 4. Select Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello) and click “Set up.” Enter your PIN or create one if you haven't already, then follow the prompts to register your fingerprint. If your fingerprint fails to work, you can revert to your PIN. Troubleshooting steps include restarting your computer, resetting your fingerprint data, adding an alternative fingerprint, or updating the fingerprint sensor drivers. Windows 11 also allows the use of facial recognition as an alternative to fingerprint authentication through Windows Hello. Benefits of using fingerprint sign-in include faster login, enhanced security due to the difficulty of replicating biometric data, and facilitating a transition to passwordless authentication systems.