A practical workaround that brings Apple’s fingerprint authentication to mechanical keyboard setups
I am a big fan of mechanical keyboards. The tactile bump from mechanical switches is much more enjoyable to me than mushy membrane keys. The problem I’ve had for so many years is that I love TouchID. It’s convenient, fast, and secure. It would always pain me when reviewing new keyboards because I would fall in love with them but at some point revert back to my Apple Magic Keyboard because of Touch ID.
What is Touch ID?
For those who have been living under a rock, Touch ID is Apple’s biometric security system. It lets you unlock devices, approve purchases, sign in to apps, and autofill passwords using your fingerprint instead of typing a passcode or password.
The feature is built into certain iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It stores fingerprint data securely on the device rather than sending it elsewhere. It’s a convenient and secure way to unlock your device and make purchases. It’s this convenience that makes switching from an Apple Magic Keyboard to a third-party keyboard an extreme pain for me. As someone who has many different passwords all stored in my password manager, using TouchID to autofill my passwords is a huge time saver, and something I don’t easily give up.
Does Touch ID exist on its own?
At this point in time, Apple has not released a Touch ID device on its own. It only exists inside the hardware of other Apple products. Touch ID has been kept tightly integrated into Apple’s hardware ecosystem largely for security and control reasons. This is why it has been difficult for me to migrate to a third-party mechanical keyboard completely.
There are solutions to this dilemma and tutorials online for creating your own Touch ID module, of course, but I’m not really a DIY-type for this sort of project. For those who don’t have the time or patience to create their own device, there is a solution called the Standalone Touch ID module.
What is the Standalone Touch ID?
One day, I was lurking around eBay searching for an Apple Magic Keyboard that I could attempt to modify. I came across a gentleman who is a religious mouse user. That guy was selling a standalone Touch ID device. I spoke with him off eBay, and it turns out he also sold these on his own website as well. After speaking with him, I decided to buy one rather than modify a Magic Keyboard on my own. I did this for two reasons. One, I didn’t want to deal with the mess of ripping apart a Magic Keyboard, and two, I wanted to try out a standalone Touch ID device so people who read this review can get an idea of what to expect if they decide to go down this route.
So what is the Standalone Touch ID device? In the most basic terms, it’s the Touch ID interface from an Apple Magic Keyboard inset into a 3D-printed mount. The design is nice for a non-mass-manufactured device. The Touch ID button is secured by two plates; the cover plate is secured with 4 screws. This makes using the Touch ID button to unlock a device possible without the worry of the button coming loose and falling out.
The USB-C port is on the back and to the right. When I first went to set it up, I found that the USB-C cable I tried to use it with did not work. It was a coiled aviator keyboard cable, so that was my mistake. Once I grabbed a standard USB-C cable, it worked perfectly. Because the Touch ID device is tied to Apple’s secure authentication system, it is less tolerant of cable quality and compatibility than a standard keyboard. It requires a stable, fully compliant data connection, not just basic power or input support.
Once you have the module connected, then your Mac will recognize it as a connected device. To pair it, you will go to System Settings > Touch ID & Password and then select “Add Fingerprint”. The process to add the fingerprint is the same as a standard Touch ID reader. You’ll be asked to lift and touch the device several times until your fingerprint is captured. At this point, it should work like a built-in Touch ID reader.
I’ve been using the Standalone Touch ID device every day since I received it. I find It registers my fingerprint just a quickly as the built-in one does and it works as expected. It works beautifully when I autofill passwords and when I need to use it with Apple Pay. You will find that it only works with Apple Silicon Macs.
The standalone Touch ID module seems like such a simple concept that I’m shocked Apple has never released it as its own device or at least built it into the Magic Trackpad. I believe it would sell in Apple stores like hotcakes. People crave convenience, and this screams it.
I know many Mac users who would buy this product, and they wouldn’t think twice about it, as ripping apart a keyboard is not in their wheelhouse. From the elderly lady I have done computer repairs for to the tech-savvy guy who runs his own business but doesn’t have the time to take apart a $149.99 Magic Keyboard and hope he doesn’t break the small parts when doing so.
Additional Thoughts
As you read this, know I wrote it using my mechanical keyboard with a smirk on my face because I no longer had to be bound to Apple’s keyboard. One thing I would have liked to see in this build is an option for different styles of cases or colors. The designer has done a wonderful job with this build, but more choices could have been a nice touch.
Something else that would be nice is to see a Magic Trackpad with Touch ID built into it so that it would be powered by the Trackpad rather than having a cable strewn across the desk. There are tutorials on how to do that online, but for me, this works just as well.
Conclusion
With all of that said I can now enjoy any mechanical keyboard I want without losing that said convenience of TouchID. For me, this is a completely worthy purchase and I would easily buy one again if I needed it.
What surprised me most is how seamless the experience feels once it is set up. After the initial pairing and cable hiccup, it fades into the background in the best way possible. It behaves exactly like a native Apple solution, which is something I did not fully expect from a modified, independently built product. While it is not as polished as something you would buy directly from Apple, it delivers where it matters most: reliability and functionality.
If you have been stuck choosing between a mechanical keyboard and the convenience of Touch ID, this bridges that gap in a very practical way. It may not be for everyone, especially those who want a completely wireless or officially supported solution, but for enthusiasts and power users, it solves a very real problem.
For more information, visit standalone-touch-id.square.site
This Tiny Touch ID Module Freed Me From Apple’s Magic Keyboard
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