A recent Windows 11 update has caused issues with the Windows Hello facial recognition feature, leaving users to find workarounds or wait for a new update to resolve the problem with its ability to work through privacy shutters.
The Windows 11 24H2 April patch, specifically cumulative update KB5055523, has caused Windows Hello to malfunction. Microsoft’s facial recognition technology, Windows Hello, is a convenient authentication method used by a large number of people. The update didn’t outright break Windows Hello, but rather broke one of its most impressive features.
Windows Hello uses an infrared sensor on the camera to scan faces, rather than the webcam itself, making it a boon for people who value their privacy. The IR light can pass through the privacy shutter, allowing users to log in without having to expose their camera. However, the update has caused this function to malfunction, and it is no longer able to scan faces through the shutter.
As a result, users with privacy shutters on their cameras are now required to open the shutter to log in using Windows Hello. The issue has been reproduced on an HP Spectre laptop using a Logitech Brio 4k webcam after several clean installs, confirming that the issue was introduced with the latest update.
At this point, affected users need to wait for Microsoft to release a subsequent update to fix the issue. Windows Hello’s ability to work through privacy shutters was a key feature for privacy-focused individuals, and its disruption has impacted the user experience.
