Getting Touch ID to work with a case

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Getting Touch ID to work with a case

I have a new iPad Air 5th gen with Touch ID. I work in an environment where a case for my iPad is a must-have. Even though the cases have an opening for the button, I have not found a case where the Touch ID actually works with the case on the iPad. I can feel the button with my finger (I AM actually touching it), but the ID does not work.

I'm so disappointed in the move away from face recognition, as it is impractical for me to strip down my iPad every time I need to use the Touch ID. It actually makes my iPad more prone to damage that I'm trying to prevent by using a case.

Any suggestions to make the Touch ID more responsive? I set it up for two different fingers.

Any chance of retrofitting this tablet with face recog? It's sorta like a brick to me without it.

I have tried quite a few cases, from high end to low end, with different size cutouts for the Touch ID.

Suggestions on how to proceed?

Thank you.

Jen

iPad Air (5th generation)

Posted on Mar 21, 2023 9:19 AM

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Answer 1

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JenWith Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 21, 2023 1:40 PM in response to LotusPilot

OMG - I just found an easy and elegant solution by reading in another forum - which is to simply REDO THE fingerprints with the case on the iPad.

So I recorded fingerprints 3 and 4 with the case on, and so far, they work perfectly!

I can't believe how sometimes a solution is right there in front of me, and I fail to see the obvious.

This might be a good user tip to make more widely known: If you are going to use a case for your iPad that has Touch ID, set up fingerprints with the case on, rather than recording the finger print on a naked iPad and then adding the case.

I can see that this problem occurs because of how users are typically excited when a new device arrives and they set everything up, while maybe treating the iPad with kid gloves because they haven't obtained a case yet. Then once the case comes, everything works the same - except, it seems, the Touch ID! But what a simple solution.

Thanks again LotusPilot, for being willing to explain how the sensor, etc. works. Your insights helped the discussion stay alive in my head and come at it in another forum from just a slightly different angle. Collaborative problem solving at its best!

So far, I am 7/7 for opening with TouchID with the case on!

Thanks,

Jen

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Answer 2

JenWith Author

Level 1

4 points

Mar 21, 2023 1:02 PM in response to LotusPilot

Thank you for your reply. Unfortunately, the sensor does not seem to work in practical applications where a case is required. I have tried many cases and am unable to get Touch ID to work. All alternative cases I have tried (probably around a dozen so far) - including with attention to fuller cutouts in the button area - make the Touch ID feature inoperable.

I appreciate your taking the time to explain. I hope I will eventually find a case that deals better with such a sensitive sensor, or I'll have to move to a different brand tablet.

Perhaps the Apple designers forget about people who cannot use the beautiful and breakable sleek iPad without a lot of protection. Function must take into account real-life settings, even though I definitely appreciate the original form!

I never experience a similar problem with Face D.

With your input, I will let go of the idea of getting FaceID on this tablet. However, I hope that designers will consider the challenge of Touch ID for users moving forward.

Perhaps someone can recommend the elusive iPad Air case that works well with TouchID.

Thank you again,

Jen

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Answer 3

Mar 21, 2023 9:32 AM in response to JenWith

The TouchID sensor has an outer “ring” (that you are perhaps unlikely to notice) - although for the iPad Air that incorporates the TouchID sensor within the Top (Sleep/Wake) button, consider the shape of the “ring” only in its loosest possible sense…

For TouchID to work, your finger must touch both the surface of the sensor - and the surrounding ring. Given your description, the case is perhaps preventing contact with the sensor ring. You’ll need to dispense with the case, or choose an alternative that doesn’t interfere with full access to the sensor.

FaceID is only available for iPad’s Pro that lack the physical Home Button. FaceID uses the iPad Pro front-facing TrueDepth camera array - that includes an IR Dot Projector and illuminator. This camera system cannot be retrofitted to other models of iPad - in fact, no iPad hardware can be retrofitted or modified.

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Getting Touch ID to work with a case

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