Free Why Doesn't Apple Make A Standalone Touch Id? 2025
I finally upgraded to a mechanical keyboard. But because Apple's so protective of their Touch ID hardware, there aren't any mechanical keyboards with that feature built in.
But there is a way to hack it. It's incredibly wasteful, and takes a bit more patience than I think most people have, but you basically take an Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, rip out the Touch ID, and install it in a 3D printed box, along with the keyboard's logic board.
I'm far from the first person to do this—the first time I saw it done was this Snazzy Labs video. But I thought I'd share my own experience.
If you don't know what Touch ID is, it's basically Apple's version of a fingerprint sensor. But it's integrated really well into macOS, for login, unlocking password managers, and Apple Pay.
I published a video covering the full process on my 2nd channel, Level 2 Jeff:
Tearing apart the Magic Keyboard is much more daunting than it should be. Apple puts layers and layers of adhesives, from the back cover (which needs to be heated up a bit before it will start coming apart—somewhat destructively), to the battery (good luck getting it out without bending it at all), and even the tiny flexible PCB ribbon cables—one of which I was almost certain I'd rip (thankfully it didn't rip).
But Apple and repairability are not usually on good terms, so that's to be expected.
If you want the full story, watch the video above. But following along with the guide on the Printables page for the 3D printed Touch ID sensor case I made, here are a few things I think I should highlight for anyone else attempting the procedure:
The last part of the assembly in the 3D print was the most annoying, as you're putting M1.2-size nuts over M1.2-size screws, in a tight space. I could've used a couple more hands, but eventually I balanced the nut on the end of the screw, got my finger in position on top of it, then got the threads started with a screwdriver from below.
Touch ID is a great feature that you grow to rely on over time. It feels like a bit of a let down if you decide to use a non-Apple keyboard, and you can't use Touch ID at all.
Source: HackerNews
