Josh Noob
Level 1 (4 points)
iCloud

Q: Can I use touch ID for App Store without using a passcode?

It seems that the ony way I can use the touch ID for App Store and iTunes is if I have a passcode to get into my phone. I don't want a passcode, it get in and out of my phone too often to have to unlock it all the time and I hate manually typing in my password for App I buy. Why can't it do both, isn't the touch ID just as secure for purchases even if you don't have to unlock the phone to get to it??

iPhone 5s, iOS 7.1.1

Posted on May 9, 2014 2:14 PM

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Josh Noob

Q: Can I use touch ID for App Store without using a passcode?

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  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw May 9, 2014 2:17 PM in response to Josh Noob
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    May 9, 2014 2:17 PM in response to Josh Noob

    You must have a passcode set up, though you don't have to use it as long as the Touch ID works. It won't work, however, if you have the Restrictions set to require the password immediately. See:

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5883

     

    Regards.

  • by Drew Thoeni,

    Drew Thoeni Drew Thoeni May 9, 2014 2:20 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 9, 2014 2:20 PM in response to varjak paw

    Also if you have turned off your iPhone, you must enter the passcode for the next purchase then you can use TouchID.

     

    Drew Thoeni

  • by Josh Noob,

    Josh Noob Josh Noob May 9, 2014 2:27 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    May 9, 2014 2:27 PM in response to varjak paw

    So what you're saying is that if I don't have a passcode to get into my phone I CANNOT use touch id for itunes and appstore? This makes no sense and to me defeats the purpose of touch ID. What is the difference between entering a password to make purchases and using touch ID?

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw May 9, 2014 2:31 PM in response to Josh Noob
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    May 9, 2014 2:31 PM in response to Josh Noob

    Yes, that's what I'm saying. iOS 7 requires you to set up a passcode so that you have a way into your phone if the fingerprint scan doesn't work. Please read the article to which I pointed you.

     

    Regards.

  • by Josh Noob,

    Josh Noob Josh Noob May 9, 2014 2:34 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    May 9, 2014 2:34 PM in response to varjak paw

    I don't want to scan my finger or enter a passcode to get into my phone, I just don't want to type my password into itunes or appstore everytime I make a purchase, I just can't grasp why I need a passcode if I have touch id setup for my purchases. Isn't that the point of touch id is no one but me can make purchases??? why not make a passcode for if someone is trying to add a new fingerprint, seems pretty easy to keep passcode to restricted areas while allowing free access in and out of the phone. This is kind of a dur ta dur issue.

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw May 9, 2014 2:36 PM in response to Josh Noob
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    May 9, 2014 2:36 PM in response to Josh Noob

    Did you read the article? If you did, what part is not clear? If you didn't, I'm not going to discuss this further until you do.

  • by Josh Noob,

    Josh Noob Josh Noob May 9, 2014 2:42 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    May 9, 2014 2:42 PM in response to varjak paw

    Yes I read the article it does not discuss anywhere why you must have a passcode to get into phone in order to use touch id for appstore and itunes. Are you reading my comments?? Get your 5s out right now, as soon as you turn passcode off it automatically turns off touch ID for purchases. WHY DOES IT DO THIS?

  • by Drew Thoeni,

    Drew Thoeni Drew Thoeni May 9, 2014 2:49 PM in response to Josh Noob
    Level 1 (0 points)
    May 9, 2014 2:49 PM in response to Josh Noob

    I think Apple is trying to create a managable and secure environment. No one outside of Apple will know exactly why Apple is making these design decisions but it's a safe bet these designs support future expansion of TouchID to allow third-party apps to access their own credentials. So, if you think about TouchID (which is stored in a secure area of the processor) as the key to a store of credentials, then the iPhone passcode is a credential that the TouchID allows access to. If, say, your bank wanted to store a credential, then your single, very secure TouchID could also allow that app to only get to that credential.

     

    Again, this is speculation, but think about how TouchID is designed and where this all may go and it could explain some of the design decisions Apple is making now.

     

    Drew Thoeni

  • by Josh Noob,

    Josh Noob Josh Noob May 9, 2014 2:53 PM in response to Drew Thoeni
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    May 9, 2014 2:53 PM in response to Drew Thoeni

    I just set it so that it doesn't require a passcode for 4 hours, so I should only have to unlock it in the morning. Seem kind of silly that you can set it up that way but heaven forbid you just have it turned off completely.

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw May 9, 2014 3:02 PM in response to Josh Noob
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    May 9, 2014 3:02 PM in response to Josh Noob

    From the article:

     

    You can set up Touch ID in iOS Setup Assistant or by tapping Settings > Touch ID & Passcode. To set up Touch ID, you must first set a passcode. Touch ID is designed to minimize the input of your passcode, but you need a passcode for additional security validation, such as enrolling new fingerprints.

     

    So yes, that's how it's designed. You must have a passcode, though as long as you understand the caveats:

     

    In addition, you will need to enter your passcode to unlock your iPhone in these conditions:

     

    After restarting your iPhone 5s

    When more than 48 hours have elapsed from the last time you unlocked your iPhone 5s

    To enter the Touch ID & Passcode setting

     

    and

    You can't use Touch ID for purchases if Require Password in Settings > General > Restrictions is set to Immediately.

     

    you should be able to use Touch ID without needing your passcode. If none of those circumstances is true and you're still being asked for your passcode to make a purchase from the iTunes Store, it would seem that something is amiss with your iPhone.

     

    Regards,

  • by FoxFifth,

    FoxFifth FoxFifth May 9, 2014 3:01 PM in response to Josh Noob
    Level 7 (27,551 points)
    iPhone
    May 9, 2014 3:01 PM in response to Josh Noob

    You can make a suggestion to Apple: http://www.apple.com/feedback/

  • by aces99,

    aces99 aces99 May 12, 2014 6:43 PM in response to Josh Noob
    Level 1 (4 points)
    May 12, 2014 6:43 PM in response to Josh Noob

    Josh, once you have turned on Touch ID and set your Passcode you don't need to put in your Passcode to unlock your phone each time after that unless you shut\power down your phone. Just use Touch ID after that to unlock your phone & at the App Store. You ONLY need to put in a Passcode if the Touch ID doesn't work.

  • by justhearit,

    justhearit justhearit Jun 7, 2014 4:22 PM in response to Josh Noob
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jun 7, 2014 4:22 PM in response to Josh Noob

    Unlocking the phone is one thing and buying and downloading an app is a completely different thing. You should be able to use Touch ID for one and not have a pass to unlock turned on. The fact that it doesn't work is complete ********

  • by Josh Noob,

    Josh Noob Josh Noob Jun 7, 2014 4:35 PM in response to justhearit
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Jun 7, 2014 4:35 PM in response to justhearit

    While I agree, the work around I now use is that you can set a 4 hour delay so that you only have to enter the passcode if it has been 4 hours of inactivity, for me that is just when I wake up.

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