Apple’s Touch ID is a great way to unlock your MacBook quickly and securely. You can quickly unlock it with your fingerprint, make purchases, or easily approve password-protected documents. However, many users think that Touch ID can only be used for unlocking. In fact, there are many different, lesser-known settings for Touch ID that you can use to increase your privacy and security.
In this article, we'll cover the tricks and security settings to use Touch ID to its full potential.
Customize Auto-Lock Time with Touch ID
One of the lesser-known ways to keep your MacBook safe with Touch ID is to customize the auto-lock time. By default, macOS is set to lock the screen after your device has been idle for a certain amount of time. But you can make your MacBook more secure by customizing this time.
How to Set?
- Go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy > General tab.
- Enable the Require password after wakeup option and customize it to request the password immediately or after a short while.
- Selecting "Immediately" will force your MacBook to unlock with Touch ID whenever the screen wakes, which helps protect your device from unauthorized access.
Keeping the auto-lock time short adds an extra layer of security, especially for those working in office environments and crowded areas.
Check AutoFill Passwords Using Touch ID
Many MacBook users actively use the autofill password feature in Safari. However, you can make this process more secure by integrating Touch ID. With fingerprint authentication, only you can access the passwords saved on your device.
Tips for Password Management:
- Go to System Preferences > Passwords . Here you can view and edit all your saved passwords.
- Enable Fingerprint Lock to enable password authentication with Touch ID. This prevents others from accessing your saved passwords.
Integrating a password manager with Touch ID is a simple yet effective way to protect your online accounts.
Secure Notes and Documents with Touch ID
Touch ID can be used not only to unlock or make purchases, but also to protect confidential notes and documents. This little-known feature lets you keep your sensitive information safe with Touch ID.
How to Use?
- Open the Notes app and select a sensitive note.
- Right-click the note and select Lock Note . Use your Touch ID to lock the note.
Notes protected with Touch ID can be unlocked with just your fingerprint. This keeps your personal information and sensitive notes safe from being accessed by others.
Adding and Authorizing Users with Touch ID
If multiple people use a MacBook, the ability to add and authorize users that Touch ID offers is quite useful. However, most users don't go into this detail. Each user can access the MacBook using their own fingerprint and not have to enter their password in the process.
How to Add?
- Go to System Preferences > Users & Groups tab.
- After creating a new user, go into Touch ID settings and add a fingerprint for this user.
- Each user can access the MacBook with their own fingerprint and customize their settings for security.
This feature ensures that when sharing a device with family members or colleagues, everyone has their own layer of security.
Authorize Third-Party Apps with Touch ID
Apple also allows third-party apps to authenticate using Touch ID. This is a great way to increase your security by using Touch ID across apps. For example, password managers like 1Password or LastPass allow you to unlock apps with fingerprint authentication.
Touch ID Authorization Settings:
- Go to the Application Settings section.
- Enable the Touch ID authentication option.
- Thanks to this feature, only you can open the application or access sensitive information in it with your fingerprint.
To safely carry all your technological equipment and put an end to complexity, be sure to check out our SnapPack product!
Quick Checklist for Touch ID Security Settings
To use Touch ID more efficiently and securely, follow these tips:
- Lock Password AutoFill: Protect your passwords with Touch ID so only you can access them.
- Locked Notes: Lock your sensitive notes with Touch ID and make sure only you can access them.
- Add Users: If you share your MacBook, add a layer of security by adding separate Touch ID for each user.
- Authorize Third-Party Apps: Enable Touch ID authentication in password managers and other sensitive apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
In this section, we will address frequently asked questions about Touch ID and the most effective ways to use this feature. You can find short and clear answers to the questions you are curious about regarding fingerprint verification. Continue reading to learn the security advantages offered by Touch ID in the best way.
- Can I protect all my passwords with Touch ID?
Yes, Touch ID can maintain autofill for passwords saved in Safari. You can also use Touch ID integration with third-party password managers.
- Does adding Touch ID to multiple users affect security?
No, each user accesses the system with their own fingerprint and accesses the data in their own profile. They cannot access the data of other users.
- If I need to reset Touch ID, will all my settings be deleted?
When you reset Touch ID, only the registered fingerprints are deleted. Your other settings and passwords stay safe.
You can review our content to increase your productivity and get rid of unnecessary software !
