Unable to activate Touch ID on iPad

Question

Unable to activate Touch ID on iPad

TLDR: After updating to iPadOS 18.4 (and later 18.5), my iPad Air M1 (5th gen) experienced Touch ID and power button failure. Many other iPad Air users have reported similar issues. While a Genius Bar visit suggested a hardware issue (requiring an expensive repair), the problem seems software-related as the power button works when triggered by Siri shutdown. Troubleshooting steps (factory resets, fingerprint deletion) failed. Asks for help and hopes to raise awareness of this potential software bug with Apple.

___________________________

Greetings,

I've been using an iPad Air M1 (5th gen) since 2023, and before (iPadOS 16-18.3), Touch ID had been working like a charm. However, a few months before this year (2025), after updating to the latest software (iPadOS 18.4 if not mistaken), Touch ID stopped working, and the system said "Unable to activate Touch ID on this iPad" (as shown in the picture below). I've searched online, and it appears that a number of other iPad Air users also experience this issue. (see links below)

iPad system message:

Other users:

https://www.reddit.com/r/ipad/comments/1gtzm0c/unable_to_activate_touch_id_on_this_ipad/

Unable to activate Touch ID on My IPad A… - Apple Community

I'm fine not using Touch ID, but the issue somehow extends to the power button. The power button wouldn't work currently as well, so I couldn't use it to force restart, take screenshots or just simply turn the thing on/off. One time, it even continuously activated Siri, which is devastatingly annoying. The reason I'm pretty sure that it isn't a hardware problem is that if I tell Siri to turn off my iPad, and then when I press and hold the power button, it actually works and the iPad turns back on. So, this is probably a software glitch, especially given that this has only happened since iPadOS 18.4 and that I've never hit the power button on hard surfaces or dropped it, and it is rather, if not very, clean.

I've actually made an appointment at the Genius Bar before since my iPad battery was draining insanely fast (100% to 40% even when the iPad is completely turned off), and that Touch ID was not working. The specialist told me, after running some tests on my iPad, that it still had 92% battery capacity, so the reason for battery drain is because Touch ID malfunction caused the iPad to divert a lot of battery to it, so the only way is to replace the whole thing for 3/4 of the price of a new iPad, since it was "modular". It obviously wasn't worth the price, and I didn't want to replace my iPad just yet, so I waited for a few weeks, and the problem actually stopped, and Touch ID started working again. Sadly, though, after a week, it stopped working again and up till now, my iPad is updated to the latest software at the time I'm typing this (iPadOS 18.5), and it still won't function.

Nothing really works online. I restarted the iPad, shut it down, restarted iPad using iTunes, updated the software, deleted the fingerprints registered, cleaned the button, I even wiped the whole iPad and factory reset it, but still in vain.

Any help or advice, or simply to raise out this issue to Apple hoping to fix this would be much appreciated.

iPad Air, iPadOS 18

Posted on Jun 14, 2025 1:09 AM

Reply

Answer 1

Jun 14, 2025 3:28 AM in response to GratitudeApple

First, perhaps understand the Apple Support Community is a user-to-user technical forum. Contributors here are all end-users, just like you. Other than the site Moderators, Apple neither monitor nor participate here. As such, if you hope to reach or your notes to been or acted upon by Apple via these forums, you will be disappointed.

Apple invite submission of comments and bug reports via its Product Feedback portal. For iPad and iPadOS:

Feedback - iPad - Apple

If submitting a Bug Report, ensure that you include full details of your iPad model and installed version of iPadOS within the body-text of your report. Don't rely upon the pick-list selected during the submission process - as this rarely includes the current versions.

Moving on, you have evidently had your iPad diagnostically assessed by an Apple Technician. If your iPad has suffered a post-warranty hardware failure, you have few options:

1) Entertain a non-warranty repair - and while expensive, will be cheaper than a new iPad.

2) Live with reduced functionality - and any other issues that you may subsequently discover.

3) Replace the iPad entirely with a new iPad of your choice.

For practical purposes, in lieu of repairing and returning your own iPad, Apple usually exchange the iPad for a renewed/refurbished iPad of the same model and specification. The cost of the exchange is the same as would otherwise be charged for repair.

As for out-of-warranty repair costs, Apple offers a fixed-price price repair. You can verify eligibility and cost for your region/country here:

iPad Repair & Service - Apple Support

If you have an active AppleCare+ plan, the cost of repair is reduced to a small excess/deductible fee.

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Answer 2

Jun 27, 2025 2:35 AM in response to DeveshDaksh

Unfortunately not 😭I suggest submitting your feedback to apple, so that they can address this issue quickly, via this link provided by LotusPilot earlier before: Feedback - iPad - Apple

I believe that iPadOS 18.6 is already in beta, and hopefully they will finally do sth. about this annoying issue..

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Answer 3

Jun 27, 2025 1:08 AM in response to DeveshDaksh

DeveshDaksh wrote:

Same issue after updating. Frustrating!

Got any solutions?

Start here:

Set up Touch ID on iPad - Apple Support

Note that you may need to individually remove each existing registered fingerprint before setting-up TouchID again from scratch.

If your iPad is not operating as expected, try a forced-restart - as this will often clear an isolated software issue:

Force restart iPad (models with Face ID or with Touch ID in the top button)

If your iPad doesn’t have the Home button, do the following:

Press and quickly release the volume button nearest to the top button.
Press and quickly release the volume button farthest from the top button.
Press and hold the top button.
When the Apple logo appears, release the top button.

If the problem persists after performing the restart, it may be necessary to reset your iPad settings. While this reset will not cause any loss of data, as a precaution, it is always wise to ensure that you have a current iCloud or iTunes backup before performing the reset:

How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

When you are happy to proceed, you can perform the reset from iPad settings:

Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPad > Reset > Reset All Settings

If the problem still doesn’t clear, the next step is to reset the iPad to factory settings:

Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod to factory settings - Apple Support

Otherwise, you would be best advised to seek assistance directly from Apple Support. You can contact the Support Team using the Support link at top-right or bottom-left of this page. Alternatively and perhaps easier, you can initiate and manage your support cases using the excellent Apple Support App. If not already installed on your iPad, the App can be downloaded from the App Store:

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-support/id1130498044

You might also visit the Genius Bar at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorised Service Provider (AASP) - where the technicians will be able to test and assess your iPad - and you can explore your available options:

Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

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