Hi

My AI friend whispered this into my shelllike....

The fingerprint sensor failure on Windows 11 25H2 build 26200.9106 with Dell Control Vault 3+ driver 6.4.48.61 is a known issue tied to the August 2026 cumulative update (KB5121003) and related firmware/driver incompatibilities. Here’s how to fix it: dell+1

Immediate fix sequence

1. Remove existing Windows Hello fingerprint data

   • Go to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options.

   • Under Fingerprint recognition (Windows Hello), click Remove to delete all enrolled fingerprints.itechguides+1

2. Uninstall the biometric device in Device Manager

   • Open Device Manager (right-click Start > Device Manager).

   • Expand Biometric devices.

   • Right-click Dell Control Vault 3+ with fingerprint (or similar entry) and select Uninstall device.

   • Do not check “Attempt to delete the driver software” unless you have the correct driver package ready to reinstall. learn.microsoft+2

3. Restart the PC

   • Windows will attempt to reinstall the biometric driver on boot.itechguides+1

4. Re-enroll your fingerprint

   • After reboot, return to Settings > Accounts > Sign-in options and set up a new PIN if needed, then enroll your fingerprint again.reddit+1

If the sensor still doesn’t work

Check Device Manager status

• In Device Manager, verify the device appears under Biometric devices without a warning icon.

• If missing, check View > Show hidden devices and also inspect Universal Serial Bus controllers and Other devices for unknown hardware.itechguides+1

Restart Windows Biometric Service

Open an elevated Terminal or Command Prompt and run:

This reloads the service responsible for Windows Hello biometrics.cloudspress+2

Install or roll back the driver

• Preferred: Download the latest Dell Control Vault 3+ driver from Dell’s support site for your exact model and Windows 11 version.windowsforum+1

• Alternative: If the issue started after a recent update, try rolling back the driver:

  • In Device Manager, right-click the fingerprint device > Properties > Driver tab > Roll Back Driver (if available).itechguides

Check for optional and firmware updates

• Go to Settings > Windows Update > Advanced options > Optional updates > Driver updates.

• Install any biometric, chipset, security controller, or firmware updates offered.itechguides+2

BIOS/UEFI and hardware diagnostics

• Restart and press F12 during boot to access Dell diagnostics; run the embedded fingerprint sensor test.reddit

• Ensure the fingerprint reader is enabled in BIOS/UEFI settings (some Dell models allow disabling biometric devices).itechguides

Known context

This issue aligns with broader reports of embedded fingerprint sensors failing intermittently after the 24H2/25H2 updates due to firmware bugs and driver mismatches. The August 2026 Security Update (KB5121003, build 26200.9168+) has been specifically cited in similar failures.

@anne_droid​ 

1. Removing this option freezes the settings panel
2. Uninstalling the driver leads and reinstalling leads to fingerprint not available in Windows Hello (screenshot 1), even after several reboots. I then uninstalled the ControlVault Device and rebooted to reinstall this, which helped to not show the error message
3. Enrolling still does not work, it just shows a blank white window when trying to Add a finger
4. I tried Dell Command Update and also downloaded the latest drivers for my Latitude 5450 and Pro 13 Plus, no change
5. Optional updates are not available.

I was stuck in the white screen trying to register a finger, after the 'Welcome to Windows Hello' screen and clicking on 'Get started'. Had several uninstalls, reboots, restarts of wbiosrvc, nothing helped. 

But: Uninstalling including “Attempt to delete the driver software” and scan for hardware changes finally did the trick on my device. 

So we will need to force uninstall the drivers on all affected devices.

Basically I just have to wait until some guys at Dell detect the problem and fix it with new drivers.