Make your own Touch ID Button

TouchID-Keyboard-Components.md

Tools Needed

• iFixit iOpener Set
• T4 Screwdriver
• T3 Screwdriver

Steps

1. Soften adhesive using iOpener

2. After about 60~90 seconds, use Opening Picks (or a slot screwdriver that's thin enough to fit) to pry open the back cover from upper right corner

3. Apply more forces to completely remove the back cover

4. Disconnect the battery

5. Remove the screws (T4) that keeping the black plate attached to the frame and remove the black plate

6. Disconnect all 3 connectors from the logic board and take out the logic board from the Keyboard frame

7. Remove the Lightning connector (T3)

8. Remove the power switch from upper left corner (T3)

9. Carefully remove the sticker(?) from the connector and disconnect Touch ID sensor from the connector

10. Unscrew the mounting screws around the Touch ID sensor (T3), and remove the Touch ID sensor

11. Carefully remove the flex cable used to connect Touch ID sensor

Now you have all the parts to put together a standalone Touch ID device for your Apple silicon Mac.

After connecting the Lightning connector and Touch ID sensor back to the logic board, you can pair the Touch ID sensor with your Mac under System Preferences.

If the pairing step doesn't appear when you go to Touch ID settings -> add a new fingerprint, make sure the Touch ID sensor is correctly connected and try power cycle the Touch ID device.

@KhaosT Do you know if this works with both versions of the TouchID magic keyboard? The one with and without the number pad?

I assume so, but I would like to know if anyone can confirm that.

The logic board for the one with number pad is a lot longer than the one without. Depending on your use case, that might not be desirable. But yeah, both can be taken out and use standalone.

As I don't own the iFixit iOpener Set, I heated the keyboard on my Prusa MK4 heatbed (75 degrees Celcius). It worked very well. I did some prying, some heating, more prying, more heating, and so on (I'm not 100% sure it was needed, but didn't hurt). I used a metal nail polisher as a lever. You need to put some force when tearing the back plate off.

It's difficult to open the keyboard without leaving any marks, but I guess the keyboard without Touch ID and the controller isn't worth much anyway.

lol i used a hair dryer and a kitchen knife. totally destroyed the keyboard but it was worth it!

Done! 3d files: https://www.printables.com/model/399770-touch-id-keycap-for-mechanical-keyboard More photos:

it wont let me upload new photos :(
this is what the io and insides look like:

I followed the tutorial, and the button is working in general. But I have an issue. Once or twice a day, after a break from using my MacBook, the extracted Touch ID button seems to stop working. The Magic Keyboard is seen in the System Preferences. The issue goes away after reconnecting the Lighting cable, but I have to input the password manually at least once in such a case. Does anyone have the same problem?

I'm so dumb, I teared appart the battery cable when removing the backplate, does anyone knows where can I buy one ? or find a way to replace it 😭

The battery is model number A1645

You can find them online: https://www.google.com/search?q=a1645+battery

@spkane - you don't need the battery for this to work. I removed it and only use it powered over the lightning port. macOS will just report it being at 0% all the time.

@spkane - you don't need the battery for this to work. I removed it and only use it powered over the lightning port. macOS will just report it being at 0% all the time.

Thanks. I know that. Indeed, you only need it if you want it to remain wireless.

I was just answering the older post about where you can get a replacement if you want one. The batteries are online, both originals and cheaper knockoffs.

Would anyone happen to have a model that encapsulates the battery as well?

These are some options that include the battery.

https://www.printables.com/model/885599-clickable-touch-id-box-tkl-board-wireless-version
https://www.printables.com/model/307249-mac-keyboard-touchid-button-case-with-battery

Another note for others, some/many of the 3d printed boxes expect you to have some of the screws and the spring plate, so you may want to avoid throwing things away until you have reassembled everything as you want it.

I love Apple Extended Keyboard II, and I use it everyday with my Mac. So naturally I wanted to improve it with a Touch ID — and I finally did, using this tutorial, some other videos and some creativity. After retrieving the components, I mounted them at the bottom of my AEKII

(it required some trimming of plastic molds but nothing major)

I had to cover the battery with some extra layer of thick paper to prevent it being poked by the soldered ends from the PCB:

I used one of the port openings on the side for installing the Touch ID sensor

In a typical Apple fashion, I did the Lighting port at the bottom — I figured I don't need to charge it too often, so it will do.

I paired it with my Mac, and it works, which is kind of amazing! :)

Thank you everyone for a ton of input here, it definitely helped me not to screw up things.

The picture from the bottom

@alexmakus Wow, do you have a full pic of your gorgeous m0118?

@alexmakus Wow, do you have a full pic of your gorgeous m0118?

this is the end-result, although I'm considering moving the Touch ID sensor inside.

Is it possible to use a third-party battery? I want to integrate the touch sensor into a wireless split keyboard and I don't have enough place for the mac keyboard battery...
Is it possible to solder another battery or it should be exactly the same battery with apple's connector?

Would anyone happen to have a model that encapsulates the battery as well?

These are some options that include the battery.

https://www.printables.com/model/885599-clickable-touch-id-box-tkl-board-wireless-version https://www.printables.com/model/307249-mac-keyboard-touchid-button-case-with-battery

Is there a reason why no cases have a power switch? All of the cases with batteries are always on, or am I wrong??

Is there a reason why no cases have a power switch? All of the cases with batteries are always on, or am I wrong??

@ArminCoin This is really good question. I am wondering about it too. Of course it is not a problem. It's always on and you can charge it via lightning cable. But it would be nice to have power off button. Just in case 🤷🏻‍♂️ If you dont want to use it - disable the device :)

I am also curious about the battery. I've seen a videos where they just extracted a cable connector without battery. But after reading this thread i'm almost sure that we can also use it battery and because of that - it's possbile to use this touch id without cable connection?

Am i right?

@alexmakus
@humza2000
@matthewryan

I’m not entirely sure what this question means — “ it's possbile to use this touch id without cable connection?” Do you mean, if it’s possible to connect it with a Lightning cable but not to have a battery connected?

@alexmakus Sure. I can explain.

Use touch id without cable connection -> "use touch id WITH battery, without connecting the USB/lightning cable".

I hope this explains what i wanted to say 😄

But before you wrote i found the answer. So basically if i understand correctly.

**It's possible to use touch ID with battery ** and connect it via bluetooth.

And the reason why some of us do not put the battery to their new 3d printed cases is that case would be bigger instead of having just a touch id, motherboard inside the case.

Ah, I understand. Yes it is possible, it’s a Bluetooth keyboard after all :) however, and that’s where the “power switch” part comes in. If there’s no easy way to turn the keyboard off/on, if you need to pair it with a new computer, the easiest way to do so is to connect it with a Lightning cable. That’s when the pairing happens and Touch ID will be recognized.

@alexmakus

it’s a Bluetooth keyboard after all
Yup. But first two video i've seen showed version without battery and i was wondering... why? 🤷🏻‍♂️

however, and that’s where the “power switch” part comes in

True.

I've bought a used Magic Keyborad with touch id. And i will try to do separate touch id module.
Unfortunately i don't have 3d printer to test and prepare enclouser with power switch 🥺