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FingerKey app lets you unlock your Mac using iPhone’s TouchID fingerprint sensor

A new app called FingerKey allows Mac users to unlock their computer using Apple’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor on the iPhone 5s, 6, or 6 Plus.

That means you’ll be able to login to your Mac using your iPhone’s fingerprint sensor rather than typing in a password each time. The app takes advantage of Apple opening up the Touch ID sensor to third-party apps for logins after previously being reserved for unlocking the device itself and authenticating App Store and iTunes purchases.

The FingerKey app includes the ability to unlock multiple computers from a distance, 256-bit AES encryption, and a Notification Center Today widget for quick access.

The developer says that support for logging into Windows and Linux computers is coming soon as is a Pattern Unlock feature for logging in via touchscreen gestures.

We recently wrote about a similar app, which also used a Bluetooth connection, that allowed users to unlock their Mac using by knocking on their iPhone’s screen.

FingerKey is available on the App Store for $1.99 and the developer shared the video below of the app in action:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVS1f9iYqHs]

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Comments

  1. Scott Buscemi - 9 years ago

    Another example where the solution won’t be mainstream/worthwhile until it can be integrated at the OS level. Rather than typing in a password, with this app users are expected to unlock their iPhone, find the app, then unlock their computer from the app. This isn’t something that can really be simplified by a third-party app.

    • Exactly.

      I’ve always longed for a way to use Touch ID for a whole manner of passwords for various things on my Mac.

      My Mac is the place I spend the most time entering passwords, rather than my phone.

    • airmanchairman - 9 years ago

      From the description above, there appears to be lock-screen access via an app widget:

      The FingerKey app includes the ability to unlock multiple computers from a distance, 256-bit AES encryption, and a Notification Center Today widget for quick access.

  2. Thomas Wilcox - 9 years ago

    Couldn’t get it to work, gets stuck on “looking for computer”

  3. Spencer Rich - 9 years ago

    This seems overly complicated compared to Knock. If I’m not mistaken, it seems like you would need to actively be open in the app to access the features. With Knock, the app runs in the background and uses BLE where you can simply knock on your phone twice to unlock your Mac, hence the name. I’ve found it to be a great niche solution to typing in my long password. I love the concept of using TouchID though,

  4. Ethan Morgan (@duepeak) - 9 years ago

    You should check out Knock, I like it for my phone/Mac!

  5. Andrew Messenger - 9 years ago

    stick with Knock. i just tried this and it’s way too cumbersome and inconsistent.

  6. Lee Andrew - 9 years ago

    Hello, I am the developer behind FingerKey.

    Apparenly there’s a connection issue when running FingerKey on iPhone 6 and 6 plus.

    I have just stated that on that app’s description.

    I am working hard to fix that as soon as possible.

    If you have already purchased it, please be patient, an update is on the way to correct this.

    Best regards.

    • Thomas Wilcox - 9 years ago

      Hi, since installing the app on my mac I’ve been having a lot of problems with waking up from sleep for example bluetooth mouse and keyboard not working straight away.

      Also the lock screen is wonky, not alligned to the middle, once I unlock that I’m taken to the OS X lock screen which isn’t wonky. How can I completley uninstall the app and undo the changes its made?

      • Lee Andrew - 9 years ago

        Hello Thomas,

        FingerLock makes no changes to OS X whatsoever. It does not modify OS X lock screen or anything else.

        If you are refering to the spinning radar logo, I’ll you have to do in order to get rid of it is actually quit FingerLock, which can be done by clicking it’s icon near the clock on the tray bar (upper left corner) and then click Quit.

        In order to uninstall the app, just move it from the applications folder to the trash.

        Thanks.

      • Lee Andrew - 9 years ago

        *all you have to do in order
        *clicking its

  7. Luke Rhodes - 9 years ago

    Could be much easier…

    Using continuity, when the user login is required on their mac, the iPhone’s home screen would show the app bottom left.

    Swiping the continuity app icon up on the home screen would require the phone to be unlocked…with touch id (or whatever solution), so then all the app would need to do is send the authentication across when opened via this method.

    • Lee Andrew - 9 years ago

      Thank you very much for the suggestion Luke!

      As replied by email, I’ll looking into that to make the experience more straightforward.

      Regards.

    • Michael Bond - 9 years ago

      This is a great idea! Sounds much close to a native solution.

  8. Doug Kreitz - 9 years ago

    The App claims to support iPhone 5s, 6 and 6plus….oops, wait… There is an issue with 6and 6plus, so 2/3 of the supported platforms are currently broken. Did you even test it before you wrote the article?

  9. rtdunham - 9 years ago

    Could Geo fencing be set up so that when my phone’s present the computer unlocks?

    • Charles-Antoine Marcotte - 9 years ago

      In your case, keycard would be more suitable… go check it out in the mac app store! I bought this app a while ago.. however, it’s far from being perfect

  10. Laughing_Boy48 - 9 years ago

    Maybe Apple will eventually integrate Touch ID hardware on all Mac notebooks and iMacs.

  11. Downloaded and installed last night, i found it very simple to use, no issues, work as described, it is a bit tedious to do, but still a shorter method than typing in my 12 digit password for sure…

    Would suggest that the radar symbol is either done away with or moved though, it really annoys me…!!! I understand where it is fits with the icon for the user, but it is still really annoying… ;)

  12. Shanijaf (@shanijaf) - 9 years ago

    Very cool just bought it

  13. ........ (@CLIENTEIGHT) - 9 years ago

    where do you download the desktop client?

  14. Danny McConnell - 9 years ago

    Just loss £1.39 sucks!

  15. Eduardo (@ednolber) - 9 years ago

    Works well and allowing it to be used via widget makes it less cumbersome than opening the app. The only thing I would suggest is to allow the phone to perform the unlock without opening the app on the phone, maybe just execute the process in the background?

  16. Robinho Simões - 9 years ago

    Crap. Way too complicated. I have to unlock my iPhone, open the app, slide to the left, touch the login button and then use Touch ID. It should work from the Today Widget or the Lock Screen, like Knock does, but I don’t know if Apple allow developers to use Touch ID this way. Anyway, it doesn’t work with my iPhone 6 Plus.

  17. Jonathan (@Jay_b3) - 8 years ago

    This is too legit

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.