Frequently Asked Question

Most Windows devices in the district, such as Viewsonic ViewBoards and Lenovo laptops, are now equipped with fingerprint readers, which may be used to quickly access your desktop without having to take the time to type in your username and password. A fingerprint reader also offers security enhancements: a password may be stolen but a fingerprint may not. The steps below will show you how to enable this feature.

For Laptops Only

Lenovo (and most other modern laptops) have fingerprint readers built-in. They are typically located on the right side of the touchpad and can vary in design and appearance--however they function in mostly the same manner.

For ViewBoards Only

Before you start, choose the preferred location for your fingerprint reader. The options are the USB port in the front and bottom-right location of your screen, or one of the many USB ports slightly behind the screen on the right side of the device.

Because fingerprint readers are easily removed from ViewBoards, we recommend installing them behind the screen so that students are less tempted to take them.

For All Devices

Step 01) Click the Windows [Start] button in either the bottom-left corner (Windows 10) or bottom-center (Windows 11) of your screen, then select [Settings] which has a gear-icon.

Step 02) In the [Settings] menu, select the [Accounts] option.

Step 03) Select [Sign-in options] from the left column, select [Windows Hello Fingerprint], then click the [Set up] button.

Step 04) The "Windows Hello setup" process begins. This will activate the fingerprint reader so that the system may build a profile for your finger or thumb (you may use whichever you prefer).

When the "Welcome to Windows Hello" window appears, click the [Get started] button.

When the "Swipe your finger on the fingerprint sensor" window appears, begin by tapping your thumb or finger against the sensor.

It takes the system numerous fingerprint readings with slight variations in both the angle and position of your fingertip/thumbtip to build a reliable profile. The greater the variation in these readings, the faster your profile will be built, and the more accurate it will be. (Note that it can sometimes take more than 25 readings to build a satisfactory profile.)

(index finger profile-building techniques)

(thumb profile-building techniques)

As the building of the profile for your fingerprint/thumbprint progresses, the graphic on the screen will fill in.

Step 05) When the profile-building process is complete, the system will prompt you to type in the password for your account (this is to verify that the fingerprint profile that was just created actually belongs to you and not someone else who might be using the computer under your account).

Step 06) Windows will prompt you to create a PIN that is at least six digits long and this will serve as a secondary login method if/when there are multiple failed attempts using the fingerprint reader. (And yes--your regular username + password will also work if this happens, which means that the PIN is mostly unnecessary and extraneous.)

It is recommended that you use your birthday in the MMDDYY format. For example, someone born on July 12th, 1976 would enter the PIN 071276. You will rarely (if ever) use your PIN, and this format is easy to recall.

If you would like to make your PIN something different then that is fine. You may also click the [Include letters and symbols] checkbox to make your PIN more complex, which will also make it harder for someone to steal or guess. This shouldn't be necessary, however, and will mostly make it more difficult for you to recall your PIN if your computer ever prompts you to enter it.

If your fingerprint/thumbprint profile is well-formed, and you're pressing firmly and accurately on the reader, your computer should never ask you for your PIN.

NOTE: If after creating your PIN and clicking the [OK] button you see a new window that says "Use Windows Hello with your account. Your organization requires you to set up your work or school account with Windows Hello Face, Fingerprint, or PIN." then skip to the Additional Setup Steps..? section at the bottom of this document for further instructions.

[Optional] Step 07) The setup process will be complete after you have created a PIN and you are now ready to start logging in to your computer with your fingerprint/thumbprint instead of typing in your username/password. If you would like, you may click the [Add a finger] button to create a second profile for a different finger.

Testing Your Fingerprint

If you have worked through all of the steps in this article then you will be able to logon to your computer (and also unlock a lock-screen) with the touch of a finger and/or thumb. You may test this feature by either logging out completely or manually locking the screen. To do this, click the Windows [Start] button, click your name with the person icon, and then click either [Lock] or [Sign out]. When you see the sign-in screen, firmly tap your finger/thumb against the reader and your desktop should immediately appear.

Addressing Erratic Fingerprint Readings

Your fingerprint reader should work consistently whenever it receives a quick-but-also-firm fingerpress. However, occasionally during the setup process fingerprint/thumbprint readings do not have enough variety to produce an accurate profile, and as a result the computer has a harder time verifying your identity when it receives a finger press. When this happens, go to "Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello)" area from the last step (located in the Settings -> Accounts -> Sign-in options area), click the [Remove] button, and then return to the beginning of this article to build a new and more complete fingerprint/thumbprint profile.

If for some reason the fingerprint reader still isn't working with 95% or greater consistency then please submit a Helpdesk ticket.

Fingerprint Profiles on Multiple Computers

It's worth mentioning that fingerprint/thumbprint profiles are stored on the local computer and not on the Cascade network--this means you will be required to complete this process for every Windows computer that you use at work if you want your fingerprint/thumbprint to be recognized. 

Cascade teachers are those most likely needing to set up fingerprint reading on more than one device since they almost always use two computers during the day (a laptop and a ViewBoard).

Additional Setup Steps..?

If the following window appears after entering your PIN, your computer is trying to link up with Microsoft's cloud services, which it shouldn't be doing.

To move past this section, press the [OK] button, which will present a new window that either 1) asks for you to verify your identity through two-factor authentication, or 2) asks your to to set up two-factor authentication with your phone number. Simply click the [Cancel] button.

This will produce a final "Something went wrong" screen, which indicates that the security identity that was created by this fingerprint profiling process did not link up with your cloud-enabled Microsoft account. Simply click the [Skip for now] button and your fingerprint reader will be ready for use.

(And if you have time, please also send a quick note to Technology staff via email to let us know that these extra steps appeared for you. Again, this shouldn't be happening.)