Q: Touch ID being Erratic

Have been having this problem for months:

Using touch id, the iphone will crash as many as 3-4 out of 20 attempts, sometimes 2-4 times in a row.

Already tried multiple fingerprints, reduced motion turned on and off, a replacement device, multiple restores etc.

If the problem is being caused by a specific app, apple needs to test this ****.

Went to Glasgow yesterday and immediately just got a new phone with no hassles whatsoever. I took my MBP with me so I restored it on the train home. I registered my usual thumb at that time and so far it has worked 100%.

It's still early days but its certainly an improvement.....I'll post further updates later on.

I've been a long term BlackBerry user but decided to try the new iphone during my recent Vodafone "upgrade", going to the iphone 5S, which I got from the White City London Vodafone store mid-December.

To date I bitterly regret it. I've now had four 5s phones, three from Vodafone and one from Apple and the finger recognition hasn't worked reliably on any of them. They all do exactly the same - after setting it up it works pretty much flawlessly for a day or so but then degrades. I've tried all the tricks, including resetting, redoing the finger scan, scanning the same finger (my thumb) several times and nothing settles it - once reset it works for a day or two but then degrades.

I'm now due to get my fifth replacement on Monday. I'd really like to go back to a BlackBerry but Vodafone won't let me, which is really annoying because as far as I can see the 5s isn't of merchantable quality as they simply don't work as advertised - and the finger recognition was the main selling point for me. Not a good intro to Apple.

What I find unbelievable is that from my conversations with Apple personnel none of them have heard of the problem before, which must be a lie. From what I read on the internet it seems like perhaps 25% of the 5s phones issued have this problem (whatever the problem is), which, if the case, clearly means Apple must be well aware and are trying to keep a lid on the fact that their new flagship phone doesn't work and shouldn't have been issued - yet anyway.

So, Apple marketing says, I quote:

"with iPhone 5s, getting into your phone is faster and easier with Touch ID—a new fingerprint identity sensor.

Touch ID is a seamless way to use your fingerprint as a passcode. With just a touch of the Home button of the iPhone 5s, the Touch ID sensor quickly reads your fingerprint and automatically unlocks your phone."

and...

"touch ID continues to learn and improve recognition of your fingerprint"

What a joke! When the system doesn't work - which is 90% of the time - it takes seven actions to unlock the phone. 

I finally got fed up. I tweeted. I hope others do so as well. Apple support people were helpful, but I don't think they're getting any information to help people. Apple should just admit that there's a problem and let us know that they're working on it. It's like being stuck on a runway in an airport.

I agree with you Robert on TID not being ready for prime time, and Apple NOT acknowledging it.  I hope it's not a sign of things to come with Apple but without Jobs they may suffer the fate of most really big companies.

Steve

I, too, agree that Apple needs to admit having this problem with the Touch ID sensor and give us hope that they are working on a solution.  I have all Apple devices, and more that one of a lot of them, and the reason has been because Apple had the rep that if it is made by them "it just works" and up until now that has been the case.  I am sure there are a number of people out there that bought the 5S for other reasons but all of us, plus countless others who just don't know how to go about complaining about, it paid the extra money because the TID was on this model.  I can sit back and wait till they get it right IF they will admit to the problem and say they are working on it.  I sent one phone back to Apple and the senior rep that I was working with about this said it was a hardware problem.  The next time I talked to her, after a new phone made no difference, I asked if a new software update was due soon and would that help with the problem.  She told me that she knew no more than me.  I think they need to give their reps more info about what is going on or are they being told to lie for the company?.  Is this company on it's way down?  They have major competition in the marketplace and many people tell me they wouldn't buy Apple because it is overpriced for what you get.  Anyone who questions me about this phone I tell them not to buy it till Apple fixes it!  I have a replacement warranty at the store I bought my phone and they have a replacement there for me but it is a lot of work to do backups and restores over and over again if the phone hardware is not the problem!

I can understand being fed up as I was about there myself. If you are up to trying one more thing, check out my video about static electricity and TouchID at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvvpppanoHk. (Sorry for being verbose, I didn't have much time at that time to cut the video down to size.)

While I and a few others have successfully resolved our issues with TID using my methods, the "sample size" of people that have used it is admittedly small. If this is something that will work for a broad sample of users, I need more people report back about it so that it can become more widely known.

I hope all of you are sending your disappointment to Apple via their feed back.

Surely if enough do they must start taking notice??

I've now received my fifth iphone 5s and set it up, including finger recognition using my thumb, as before.

I've just tested it 30 times, switching the phone off and back on using my thumb and it worked every time 100% - I even moved the position and angle of my thumb and it still worked if rotated.

Fingers crossed (forgive the pun!) it continues to work this way, but I've been here before with all four previous phones so have little faith nor confidence. I will know in two days, as that seems the limit before they rapidly degrade.

Its now been 2 days and I am sorry to say (for all you guys) its working really well, sweaty and dry fingers make no difference, it works. I only registered my rigth thumb once in no particular way but its OK.

Thought I'd post something positive :-)

I hope my new one continues to work as advertised because I'm truly fed up with having to arrange to change it. And when it starts to fail and continually say "try again" I feel like throwing the thing at the wall. 

Is it possible Apple is updating the hardware or software on the newer exchanged iPhones and therefore only replacing those that are a problem rather than make an anouncment a so get thousands returned?

'isn't of mercantie quality'...get a grip. The phone is amazing except for one little issue affecting SOME people. And I would hazard a guess that >>>>SOMEBODY<<<< from Apple might be reading this, in as much as this is the Apple website.

I'd hate to see you on a Windoze product, if you're THIS critical of the iPhone.

Cheers,

Cameron

I don't think its "amazing". I'd much prefer to go back to a Blackberry as I'm really fed up with all the agro and wasted time. I'm also now paying a lot more per month for the privilege of having a phone that doesn't work as promised and I'm not impressed. Personally I think the iphone is over-hyped.