About the project
I often use my Mac closed and docked while typing on a mechanical keyboard. macOS frequently asks for authentication, and without an integrated fingerprint reader this always meant typing the password manually. To fix this, I decided to integrate a real Apple Touch ID sensor into my mechanical keyboard.
The idea came from a Snazzy Labs video showing that the Touch ID module from a Magic Keyboard can be reused. I bought a broken Magic Keyboard, extracted the Touch ID sensor, and reused its original Lightning connector so it can still charge and communicate as before.
To mount the sensor neatly, I used a 3D-printed keycap design based on a model shared on Printables. The result fits seamlessly on the keyboard and makes the Touch ID sensor easily reachable while keeping the MacBook closed. The project includes three STL files for the bottom shell, sensor housing, and top cover, as well as a short manual explaining the assembly process.