However, computers that are older lack the required hardware to run Windows Hello sign-in, requiring you to use an external fingerprint scanner. So what are the best Windows 11 fingerprint readers? If you don’t have the hardware that supports Windows Hello sign-in, you can make use of 3rd party fingerprint scanners. Unfortunately, finding the right scanner could be a challenge. Some of them are incompatible with Windows Hello, while others are poorly constructed and break down after a few uses. To make it easy for you, we have curated a list of the best Windows 11 fingerprint readers that will save you time and money and is compatible with Windows Hello. Keep reading to find out more.
How does an external fingerprint reader work?
A fingerprint reader uses three ways to scan a fingerprint: optical sensor, capacitive scanner, and ultrasonic sensor.
Optical sensor: This takes a digital image of your finger by shining a bright light. It uses a CMOS image sensor, or CCD, which is a light-sensitive microchip, to create a digital image of the fingerprint. The computer then automatically selects the fingerprint after analyzing it and uses a pattern-matching program to convert it into a code. Capacitive Scanner: A capacitive scanner works by measuring your finger electrically. When your fingers rest on the scanner, the ridges of your fingerprints are pressed into the surface, making the valleys of your fingerprints stand out. The capacitive scanner measures these distances to record your fingerprint. Ultrasonic Scanner: Ultrasonic scanner uses high-frequency sound waves to map your finger instead of using light.
What are the best Windows 11 fingerprint readers?
As most Windows devices don’t have the required hardware to support biometric login, the best alternative to using them is by using an external fingerprint scanner. The Verifi P5100 also supports password managers and offers a free password manager, Roboform. Installing and using the fingerprint reader is seamless. Although this does not have the high-end features of most other fingerprint scanners, it does the job for most people and is affordable. The slide sensor manages to read your fingerprint on the first swipe every time. Just like the Verifi P5100, this also comes with the free edition of Roboform password manager and is also Windows Hello compatible. Although this is Windows Hello compatible, it also comes with FIDO 2nd factor authentication, which you can use to protect your cloud files on Chrome. SPONSORED The Kensington VeriMark Reader encrypts your fingerprint data, protecting it from being hacked and stolen. This fingerprint reader is best avoided for home use cases; it is suitable for small-scale to large-scale organizations, and hence we recommend you to use this at your workplace if biometric security is important. The files are encrypted with 256-bit AES encryption. The best thing about this fingerprint reader is that you can use both the drive and the fingerprint reader at the same time, and you can register up to 10 fingerprints. Also, the Lexar jumpdrive does not only offer 64GB of storage capacity. It comes with multiple storage sizes that you can choose from. Make sure to remove the device as it is a little bigger and protrudes.
How to set up my external fingerprint reader?
Setting up your external fingerprint reader is quite simple. Connect your fingerprint reader to your computer. Once connected, it will automatically install the drivers. Once the drivers are installed, restart your computer. Now to set up your fingerprint, follow these steps: If you want a device that can run the latest version of Windows and it has a built-in fingerprint reader then you should check our best laptops with fingerprint scanner guide for more information. That’s why we picked out the 5 best Windows 11 fingerprint scanners that range from affordable to feature-rich scanners, and we can’t wait for you to try them out.
Name *
Email *
Commenting as . Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
