Touch id glitches. Troubleshooting Touch ID sensor issues

Touch ID is one of the most useful features of iPhones and other smartphones that have this advantage. It not only protects your phone and its data from prying eyes, but also serves as a key for purchases in the App Store and the Apple Pay payment system. The scanner also protects third-party applications, for example Sberbank Online. However, like any technical innovation, it does not function flawlessly on all devices. In this article, we will figure out what to do if Touch ID on iPhone is not working.

What is Touch ID

First, let's look at what the mentioned fingerprint scanner is. Touch ID, called one of the important functions of the iPhone, first appeared on the iPhone 5s; later models without exception are equipped with this option. The scanner is built into the main working Home button. His device, which is only 170 microns thick (that’s twice as thin as a human hair!) can quickly analyze the subepithelial layer of the skin of a person’s finger touching the button using a fingerprint image with a resolution of 500 ppi. It is not surprising that such a thin system can often be capricious, which is why the fingerprint on the iPhone 5s does not work.

One of the features of Touch ID is that it can be “trained,” customized, and also stored in memory up to 5 fingerprints (either one person or several), each of which will be the key to your device and individual applications in it.

Setting up Touch ID correctly

Sometimes the iPhone 5s fingerprint scanner does not work well due to incorrect initial setup. Therefore, before you start using your new “smart” device, you should set up Touch ID, following Apple’s recommendations:

Before setting up the sensor, enter the password for the device (4-6 digits, depending on the OS version). It is he who will help you unlock the device if the scanner suddenly malfunctions.
Make sure the Home button and your hands are clean and dry.
Go to settings under the "gear" icon, select "Touch ID and password". Enter the code from step 1.
Click on "Add fingerprint". After that, tap (don't press hard, just lightly) the Home button. It is important to hold the device naturally and position your finger in the way that is most comfortable for you.
Once you touch the button, hold your finger until it vibrates slightly or until the text appears on the screen: “Lift your finger and place it on the Home key several times.”
After this command appears, apply your finger, slightly changing its location.
Next, the device will offer to enter a grip that is convenient for you into its memory. Here you should hold the phone in your hand in a way that will be convenient for you to position it in your hand when unlocking the device. At this point, you no longer apply the center of the fingertip to “Home”, but its edges.
Once you have stored one fingerprint in memory, you can repeat the procedure for others. For greater reliability of the scanner, the iPhone’s memory should contain up to three of your fingerprints.

"Train" Touch ID

If you are faced with the fact that the fingerprint on the iPhone 5s does not work well, then try “training” your Touch ID. To do this, you need to go to “Settings”, “Tooch ID and password”, enter the required code. Then touch the scanner with the pad of your finger stored in its memory. At this time, the name of her fingerprint on the screen will turn gray.

Start "training" your scanner - keep touching "Home" with your finger in different positions. These manipulations will help increase the speed of both scanning and fingerprint recognition. To achieve better results, repeat the mentioned algorithm of actions several times.

Fingerprint scanner not working: universal ways to fix the problem

If you are faced with the fact that the fingerprint has stopped working on the iPhone 5s, then we will offer you the most likely causes of the problem and ways to resolve them:

First of all, check that the scanner is turned on and configured in accordance with the algorithm from the second subheading. In the "Settings" section "Touch ID and password" the sliders opposite unlocking, App Store, iTunes Store, Apple Pay must be active, and in the "Fingerprints" tab at least one finger must be stored in memory.
Try entering one or more other fingerprints. Please note that each of them can be assigned its own name.
The reason that the fingerprint does not work on the iPhone 5s may be the condition of your hands. If you just came from the cold, have been in the water for a long time, have applied a greasy cream, or there are minor damages on the pads of your fingers (microcracks, scratches), then this may be the reason that the iPhone could not correctly recognize your fingerprint.
Clean the Home key with a dry paper or cloth. A ring of dirt that is invisible to the eye sometimes accumulates around its circumference, which reduces the working diameter of the key and complicates the operation of the scanner.

Now let's move on to more specific cases of faults.

Touch ID doesn't work in cold weather

If the fingerprint scanner on your iPhone 5s does not work in the cold, then the following life hack is for your attention:

To carry out further manipulations, find yourself again in icy conditions and go to the “Touch ID and password” tab located in “Settings”.
Click on "Add a new fingerprint". Your hands should already be cold.
According to the scheme indicated in the second subheading, add your frozen fingerprint to the device memory.
If even this manipulation did not help, then there is only one thing left to do - unlock the phone using a digital password.

Problems after update

The overwhelming majority of users complain that the fingerprint on the iPhone 5s does not work after they have updated iOS to the latest version. The most effective "lazy" way here is to wait for the next "update" in which this bug will be fixed. But if you need a properly functioning scanner on the Home button, then try to troubleshoot the problem using these methods:

Close all running programs and perform a Soft Reset (simultaneously pressing the Home and Power keys for 10 seconds). It would be a good idea to clean the scanner itself and your fingertips with a napkin. Go to the “Settings” section “Touch ID and password” and delete all existing fingerprints (swipe left or click on their name, then “Delete fingerprint”). Next, select "Add a new fingerprint" and refer to the detailed algorithm described above in the settings.
If the previous method did not help, then you will have to completely flash the device. Before the operation, be sure to save backup copies of the information on your iPhone in a safe place. iTunes must be downloaded and authorized via your iPhone's Apple ID on your PC or laptop. Disable Find My iPhone. Next, connect the phone via a USB cable to its “big brother”. If the PC OS is Windows, then during this manipulation hold down the Shift button on the keyboard, if the Mac is holding down the Alt/Option key. Next, select "Restore" by specifying the downloaded firmware.

Touch ID failure

The fingerprint on the iPhone 5s may not work as a result of a malfunction of the scanner - you will see this message on the screen after several futile attempts to unlock the device using Touch ID. The reasons for this can be different: slight wear and tear on the device itself, conditions that make it difficult to scan a fingertip, etc. This problem, according to many users, can be prevented by monthly updating of the fingerprints recorded in the memory. The latter must be completely deleted and new ones must be added through “Add fingerprint”.

The method for solving the problem is traditional: clean the Home button and fingertips, remove old “fingers” from memory and add new ones using the standard procedure.

Problems with the App Store

Another problem that can be solved is the malfunction of the scanner when using it in the App Store. In this store, Touch ID is actually the key to downloading new apps. In this case, you can “fix” the fingerprint scanner like this:

Go to the "Touch ID and Password" section in "Settings".
Opposite "App Store, iTunes Store" make the slider inactive.
Reboot your device.
Return to step 1, activate the slider responsible for “App Store, iTunes Store”.

Touch ID scanner is broken

Failure of the Touch ID system itself is rare, but still possible. In this case, the only solution to the problem is to replace the iPhone 5s fingerprint scanner. To eliminate the possibility of error, delete all fingerprints and restart your iPhone. Add your fingerprint to Touch ID & Password again. If unsuccessful, repeat the procedure a couple more times. If after this the scanner remains blind and deaf to your fingerprints, then only qualified diagnostics and, possibly, repairs at an Apple service center will help it.

As you have seen, the fingerprint scanner on the iPhone 5s does not work or functions poorly for a variety of reasons. You can easily and quickly solve most problems on your own - a visit to specialists is only required if the scanner breaks down - to replace it. For proper and long-term operation, it is also important to configure Touch ID correctly.

From time to time there are complaints about the operation of the fingerprint scanner on the iPhone or iPad. There is always a small chance that the problem lies in the breakdown of this component of the device, but it is possible that you can solve the incorrect operation of Touch ID on your own. For example, if you recalibrate the scanner, clean it, and also check your fingers for damage. We've put together some helpful tips for those whose Home buttons aren't working as well as they should.

Make sure Touch ID is turned on and configured correctly

To do this, you need to go to Settings, then to the “Touch ID and Password” section, and make sure that the use of the scanner is enabled for unlocking the device, as well as purchases in the iTunes Store and App Store. In addition, the required fingerprints must be added - from one to five.

Recalibrate the scanner

Perhaps something went wrong the first time and your fingerprint was not recognized well enough. The solution to problems with Touch ID may be to add fingerprints again. For ease of use of the scanner, it is worth taking at least three slots out of the five available, for example, adding two thumbs and one index finger on the main hand. Be sure to properly label the added fingerprints to reduce the time and effort required for recalibration in the future.

Check that your fingers are dry and undamaged

Do not forget that wet, frozen or damaged fingers can interfere with the operation of the fingerprint scanner. Perhaps you recklessly grabbed something hot, spent a long time in the bathroom, or played unsuccessfully with the cat? All this could affect the quality of fingerprint recognition, and not at all problems with Touch ID.

Clean Home Button

At first glance, the Home button may seem clean, but a barely noticeable ring of dirt accumulates around the junction with the front panel of the smartphone. Over time, the useful area of the scanner becomes slightly smaller, which makes the scanner more difficult to operate and leads to operational errors. It’s worth making a habit of cleaning the Home button weekly, which will have a positive effect on Touch ID performance.

Do you have an iPhone 6 Plus?

If none of the above helps, you probably have an early release iPhone 6 Plus. It’s difficult to say why, but it’s this smartphone that receives the most complaints from users regarding Touch ID. In the editorial office, we have an iPhone 6 and an iPhone 6 Plus, so we see the difference in the operation of fingerprint scanners from personal experience. While misfires in a compact model are extremely rare and most often due to my fault (I let go of my finger too quickly or placed it inaccurately), sometimes I can unlock the iPhone 6 Plus only after manually entering the password. It is possible that different companies supplied fingerprint scanners for different iPhone models, otherwise it is unclear how to explain the large number of complaints about the operation of Touch ID in a smartphone with a larger diagonal.

With the release of the iPhone 5s, Apple developers introduced a new Touch Id feature - a device that reads fingerprints. With its help, users of Apple gadgets can easily make purchases in the App Store, unlock their phones, etc. Very often on forums you can find topics about a failed Touch Id.

In this article we will try to figure out why Touch ID does not work on iPhone 5s/6/6s and how to fix it?

To begin with, it should be noted that if the device began to fail after a recent update, you will most likely have to do a system rollback and return to the previous version of iOS.

If this method does not help you, you should resort to the options outlined below for fixing Touch ID.

Touch ID stopped working on iPhone 6/6s/5/5s

Mechanical repair of Touch Id is a last resort

What to do if Touch Id does not respond to any actions? In this case, if the Touch ID has failed as a result of a software failure, a hard reboot of the system should help. To do this, hold down the Home and Power keys and hold until the device reboots.

If this problem was software in nature, a reboot will solve the problem. If there was a physical impact on the phone, you will have to contact a service center, where a qualified technician will be able to diagnose and, if necessary, fix the problem.

Touch ID doesn't work on iPhone 6 - repair it yourself

If minor malfunctions in the Touch Id device periodically occur, Apple developers advise reconfiguring, in other words, making a new fingerprint and getting rid of the old fingerprint.

It is recommended to do this periodically so that the fingerprint data in the device is fresh, because Human skin on the hands is constantly exposed to various factors, and therefore the print may change slightly.

In order to make a new fingerprint, you need to go to “Settings”, then select “Touch Id and password”. Remove old prints. After that, click “Add fingerprint” and perform the necessary actions in accordance with the instructions.

Touch ID stopped working in the App Store on iPhone 5s/6/6s/5

Basically, the cause of this problem is also slightly modified fingerprints, as a result of which the system cannot recognize them, but sometimes there are cases when the problem lies in incorrectly installed software.

There are also complaints on the forums about a glitch when the App Store does not see Touch Id. How to fix this?

Go to the gadget Settings and look for “Touch Id and password”;
Find the section “Using Touch Id” and disable “App Store, iTunes Store”;
Reboot the iOS device;
We return to the Touch Id settings and enable “App Store, iTunes Store”.

After these steps there should be no problem.

Problems with iPhone 6. Touch ID does not work in winter, in cold weather

There are many complaints about the poor performance of Touch Id during the cold season. It is very simple to explain the reason for this problem - as a result of the cold, our fingerprint is slightly modified, which is why the system cannot recognize it.

Frequently updating your fingerprint or creating a “cold” fingerprint will help you solve this problem. Scan your fingerprint while out in the cold. However, it is believed that these methods help only partly, however, if there is an urgent need for this function in the cold, it is worth a try.

Touch Id does not work on iPhone 6/6s/5s/5 due to exposure to water and dirt

The first Apple smartphone with a Touch ID fingerprint scanner was the iPhone 5s, which entered the market back in 2013. Since then, the Apple corporation has managed to develop and begin to implement the second generation of the fingerprint module, which is characterized by increased recognition speed and increased reliability. However, problems may arise with any generation of Touch ID, so the editors website I decided to tell you about five ways to fix a poorly working fingerprint scanner in iPhone and iPad.

Activate Touch ID in iOS Settings

Before you start looking for the reason for the fingerprint scanner not working in the iPhone and iPad, you should make sure that it is enabled in the settings of the iOS operating system. To do this, you need to launch the “Settings” application, and then go to the “Touch ID and passcode” section and activate the toggle switches opposite all the parameters associated with this module. If they are already turned on, then they can be turned off and turned on again in order to eliminate the possibility of some kind of bug.

Clean the module from dirt and dust

Since Touch ID scans your finger, you should always keep it clean. Of course, you shouldn’t overdo it when cleaning it, but dirt and dust can cause poor performance of the entire module and lead to incorrect fingerprint recognition. You can clean Touch ID from dust and dirt using a special solution for cleaning electronics. It should be sprayed onto a microfiber cloth and thoroughly clean the entire module for a few minutes, and then test its operation.

Update your iOS operating system to the latest version

Despite the fact that the iPhone and iPad are among the most reliable mobile devices in the world, some failures and glitches may occur in the operation of the iOS operating system. As a result, the Touch ID module may not work entirely correctly on certain firmware versions. This problem is solved by updating the device to the latest version of iOS, which probably does not have software problems with Touch ID.

Finger position when scanning

In some cases, unlocking iPhone and iPad using Touch ID may not occur for the simple reason that the fingerprint scanner cannot scan. To help him do this, you should place your fingertips all over the fingerprint scanner. Additionally, Touch ID takes a while to scan, so don't remove your finger from the scanner too quickly.

Adding more fingerprints

All iPhones and iPads can add up to five fingerprints, which can be used to unlock the device. Apple does not impose any restrictions on this, so the same finger can be scanned several times, thereby increasing the chances of successfully unlocking the device with its help.

If all the described methods for solving Touch ID problems did not help, then you should think about visiting a service center. It often happens that the fingerprint modules in the iPhone and iPad fail and the only way to solve the problem is to visit the ASC. Please note that repair or replacement of Touch ID can only be done at authorized service centers that are able to “link” a new fingerprint scanner to the old hardware.

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