In an individual authenticating method for portable communication equipment which comprises a fingerprint sensor, an operating portion for inputting a personal identification number and controller for authenticating on the basis of fingerprint information and/or the personal identification number thus achieved whether a person to be authenticated is the identical person, the authentication of the person to be authenticated is performed by using fingerprint authentication when the importance level is lower or by using both of fingerprint authentication and personal identification number authentication when the importance level is higher. For example, plural authentication levels are set for the fingerprint authentication in accordance with the importance level of each of the plural functions provided to the portable communication equipment.