system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5 why devices don't accept fingerprints after restarting or updating

if I restart my phone it says "pin is required for restart" and on my computer says "use password for fingerprint". why is it any different for when I'm normally logging in?
gpt
It is for your protection.

You can be (legally/forcibly) compelled to give your fingerprint.

You cannot (in most states) be compelled to give a piece of information held only in your head.

If you want to protect your privacy, say at a border crossing, you could restart all your electronics.  Even if you are detained and forced to provide biometrics, your devices remain secure.

This is part of the reason that the USA and other governments want encryption “backdoors” to be built into phones.  With strong encryption, guess limits and lengthy PIN, it can be challenging even for states to break into properly secured consumer electronics.