---
id: pyobjc-framework-localauthentication
version: "12.2.2"
license: MIT
license_treatment: permissive
maintenance: active
---

# pyobjc-framework-LocalAuthentication — Wrappers for the framework LocalAuthentication on macOS

License: permissive · Maintenance: active · Downloads: 663.8K/mo

## What it is and what it does

This package wraps Apple's LocalAuthentication framework, exposing macOS biometric and device authentication APIs to Python. It allows developers to integrate Touch ID, Face ID, and other local authentication mechanisms into Python applications running on macOS. The bindings are thin wrappers around the Objective-C framework with no bundled documentation—users must consult Apple's framework documentation and PyObjC's general translation guides.

The package depends on three other PyObjC framework packages (pyobjc-core, pyobjc-framework-Cocoa, pyobjc-framework-Security) and is distributed as precompiled wheels for macOS universal2 binaries across Python 3.10 through 3.15. It is actively maintained and carries no known security vulnerabilities.

Use it for:

- Add Touch ID or Face ID authentication to a macOS desktop application to unlock features or authorize actions.
- Implement device-level biometric verification in a Python service running on macOS hardware.
- Build a cross-platform authentication layer that uses LocalAuthentication on macOS and falls back to other methods elsewhere.
- Integrate biometric security into a macOS-native Python tool that requires user verification.
- Prototype or test biometric authentication workflows in Python before porting to Objective-C or Swift.

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Provides Python bindings to macOS's LocalAuthentication framework, enabling biometric and device authentication (Touch ID, Face ID) in Python applications.

Yes, if you are building a macOS application in Python and need biometric or device authentication. The package is actively maintained, carries no vulnerabilities, and provides direct access to a native macOS capability. Install friction is moderate due to platform specificity and three framework dependencies, but this is unavoidable for macOS-native authentication. Not applicable on non-macOS platforms.

## Install

pip install pyobjc-framework-localauthentication
uv add pyobjc-framework-localauthentication
poetry add pyobjc-framework-localauthentication

## Installing pyobjc-framework-LocalAuthentication

Before you install: Medium install friction: platform-specific wheels for macOS only (universal2 binaries across Python 3.10–3.15). Three runtime dependencies on other PyObjC framework packages. Active maintenance with a release 3 days old.

License in practice: MIT license is permissive; no restrictions on use, modification, or distribution in commercial or proprietary projects.

Quickstart:

pip install pyobjc-framework-localauthentication

from LocalAuthentication import LAContext
context = LAContext()
error = None
can_evaluate = context.canEvaluatePolicy_error_(0, error)

macOS only; requires Python 3.10 or later; LocalAuthentication framework available on modern macOS versions.

Verify before relying:

- Specific macOS version requirements for LocalAuthentication framework availability.
- Whether biometric authentication works on all supported macOS hardware (M1/M2/Intel).
- Real-world error handling patterns and fallback behavior when biometric auth is unavailable.

## Package facts

- License: MIT (permissive)
- Python support: supports_current
- Install friction: medium
- Maintenance: active
- Downloads: 663.8K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

macos biometric authentication, touch id face id python, local authentication framework, macos device authentication, pyobjc localauthentication, python macos security, biometric auth macos, macos-only, biometric-auth, pyobjc-binding

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