With the recent launch of the new , colourful iMac kitchen stove , Apple has also given the Magic Keyboard a few tweak . Most obvious are the fresh people of color trim that match their several iMac liveries , but there is also the inclusion body of a new button that propose wireless Touch ID for the first clock time on a separate Mac keyboard .
Be deliberate when considering a purchase though , as not all the Magic Keyboards that accompany the new 24 in iMac are the same – only some offer the new Touch ID engineering , while others arrive with a Lock key instead . We ’ll explain the difference between the two below .
Where is Touch ID on the Magic Keyboard?
You ’ll find the Lock or Touch ID key , depending on which 24 in iMac you buy , in the upper right corner of the main layout .
On the previous interpretation of the Magic Keyboard , this would have been home to the eject key fruit , but now it ’s either Lock or Touch ID , with eject now a thing of the past , just like the forcible drives it used to check .
As well as the Lock and Touch ID keys , the new keyboard also features a dedicated cay for Emoji ( replacing the Fn key in the bottom leave niche of minor versions or in the grid of clit above the arrow key on larger ones ) , while the F5 and F6 push now , severally , turn on the microphone and turn on Idle musical mode .
What is the Lock key for?
As the name suggests , this is the samara that you could dispatch to quickly lock your iMac . This may be utile if you ’re in the bureau and need to leave your desk for any reason and do n’t want your iMac approachable in your absence . Of course , accidentally pink the key while type could become very frustrating , so Apple has made it that the Lock key requires a little more pressure to touch off than a normal key , so hopefully this will annul any sudden break .
What is the Touch ID key for?
Just like you ’d find on an iPhone or iPad with a Home button , or some of the newer MacBook Pros and the M1 poweredMacBook Air 2020 , the Touch ID button on the Modern Magic Keyboards that comes with the24 in iMac 2021models allows you to use your fingerprint to unlock or interlock your iMac , make purchase with Apple Pay , and to log into third - political party apps where it is supported .
A sensor in the centre of the key reads your fingerprint , mean that once you ’ve set up the feature article , you ’ll be able to in short touch the button whenever you want to lumber into your Mac , take the need to call back word . For more details , take a looking at at our scout onhow to use Touch ID on a Mac .
Which iMacs have a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID?
lamentably , while the advertising may make it seem like Touch ID will be a feature film if you buy one of the new multi - colour iMacs , that ’s not true . The baseline translation , which costs £ 1,249/$1,249 / AU$1,899 , only comes with the Magic Keyboard that has a Lock Francis Scott Key .
If you want the Touch ID feature , you could either choose a higher tier 24 in iMac , which start at £ 1,449 / US$1,499 / AU$2,199 . Or you could choose the Touch ID - fit out Magic Keyboard when you purchase the iMac . We explain how to do this here : How to buy Magic Keyboard with Touch ID , but basically you call for to follow these stone’s throw :
Can I buy the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID separately?
As of August 2021 Apple is now selling the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID separately .
More here : How to corrupt the Magic Keyboard with Touch ID .
Can I use Touch ID on my iPhone to unlock my Mac?
Apple still does n’t let you use your Touch ID or Face ID enable iPhone to unlock a Mac , but you may find third - company apps that can help . Readhow to unlock a Mac with an iPhonefor more details .
There ’s also the hope that before too long we may see Face ID get in on the Mac , which would obviate the motivation for Touch ID . Some hoped the novel 24 in iMac would introduce the feature , but instead Apple went with Touch ID . To see when we consider it may arrive , readwhen will Face ID come to Mac ?
