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iPhone 6 Plus touch id not working

My touch id hasnt been working lately, i updated to ios 8.1 and it still worked, just about 3 days ago it recognizes my finger print about 1 out of 8 times, also when i try to add another finger print it says that it is undetectable, ive tried with multiple fingers and other people and it still says it cant, nothing else seems to be wrong with the phone just this

iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8.1, 128GB

Posted on Nov 9, 2014 9:32 AM

Question marked as Best reply

Posted on Nov 11, 2014 11:25 AM

Hi, ATorresN.


Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.


Here is an article that I would recommend taking a look at for this issue.


Get help with Touch ID

  1. Make sure that you're using the latest version of iOS.
  2. Make sure that your fingers and the Home button are clean and dry.*
  3. Cover the Home button completely. Don't tap too quickly, don't press down hard, and don't move your finger while Touch ID is scanning. Make sure that your finger touches the metal ring around the Home button.
  4. If you're using a case or screen protector, make sure it doesn't cover the Home button or the surrounding ring. If it does, remove the case or screen protector and try again.
  5. Tap Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and make sure that iPhone Unlock or iTunes & App Store is on. Also make sure that you've enrolled one or more fingerprints.
  6. Try enrolling a different finger.
  7. If you can't enroll any of your fingers, take your device to an Apple Retail Store, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or contact AppleCare for help.

* Moisture, lotions, sweat, oils, cuts, or dry skin might affect fingerprint recognition. Certain activities can also temporarily affect fingerprint recognition, including exercising, showering, swimming, cooking, or other conditions or changes that affect your fingerprint.


Use Touch ID on iPhone and iPad

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


Cheers,


Jason H.

74 replies
Question marked as Best reply

Nov 11, 2014 11:25 AM in response to Community User

Hi, ATorresN.


Thank you for visiting Apple Support Communities.


Here is an article that I would recommend taking a look at for this issue.


Get help with Touch ID

  1. Make sure that you're using the latest version of iOS.
  2. Make sure that your fingers and the Home button are clean and dry.*
  3. Cover the Home button completely. Don't tap too quickly, don't press down hard, and don't move your finger while Touch ID is scanning. Make sure that your finger touches the metal ring around the Home button.
  4. If you're using a case or screen protector, make sure it doesn't cover the Home button or the surrounding ring. If it does, remove the case or screen protector and try again.
  5. Tap Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and make sure that iPhone Unlock or iTunes & App Store is on. Also make sure that you've enrolled one or more fingerprints.
  6. Try enrolling a different finger.
  7. If you can't enroll any of your fingers, take your device to an Apple Retail Store, Apple Authorized Service Provider, or contact AppleCare for help.

* Moisture, lotions, sweat, oils, cuts, or dry skin might affect fingerprint recognition. Certain activities can also temporarily affect fingerprint recognition, including exercising, showering, swimming, cooking, or other conditions or changes that affect your fingerprint.


Use Touch ID on iPhone and iPad

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


Cheers,


Jason H.

Dec 5, 2014 7:51 AM in response to jason269

Ditto for me. I've been successfully using the touch ID feature since I first received my iPhone 6 back in September. However, I've also noticed that within the past few weeks it has not been recognizing my fingerprints. You provided some great directions on how to use it, But I didn't all the sudden change the way I was putting my finger on the home button, nor have I been using it with wet fingers or lotions. I've deleted my previously working fingerprints, and have created new ones numerous times. Unfortunately, still no luck. I've seen numerous complaints online from others with the same issue. It seems to me that there is a potential glitch here in the operating system; not how the user is using it. I would just like to know if any glitch has yet been identified, or it can be looked into based on the number of users with the same issue. Thanks!

Dec 28, 2014 4:00 AM in response to Toby Laser

I have the same problem. I have a brand new iPhone 6 Plus. I upgraded from an iPhone 5 specifically to get TouchID and a larger size. Well, it IS bigger, but TouchID does not work. I can scan any finger and it will work for an hour or two. Gradually the recognition gets worse until by the next day the print is no longer recognized.


Please do not reply with Apple's canned suggestions that blame the user. The fact that I can enter a new fingerprint and it will work for awhile indicates that the lens is not dirty, my hands are not deformed, etc.


I've already gotten a replacement, but since my symptoms are the same as the ones experienced by the people bitten by the 8.0.2 bug it seems like there is still some kind of edge-case problem with 8.1.2. There are enough of us reporting in various places, that the problem should be escalated to engineering and some kind of a stopgap should be offered. How about a downgrade to before 8.0.2 for people who just want TouchID, one of the primary advertised features, on their very expensive phone to work?

Dec 29, 2014 2:17 PM in response to gretchenfromma

Went back to the Apple store yesterday, 12/28 and asked for a phone with some version of IOS prior to 8.1.2, The technician told me that the TouchID issue has been "acknowledged" by Apple and it will be fixed in the next iOS release that will be out "soon". I don't know where Apple has acknowledged it, since I still see nothing about it in the tech press, but that's what she said.

Jan 1, 2015 1:23 AM in response to gretchenfromma

I stumbled on a workaround for the no touch id whatsoever problem yesterday. My touch id was completely gone again so I went to the setup screen to make sure. If you touch the sensor in setup, the finger you have set up in touch id will highlight if it is recognized. Nothing. So I was sitting there thinking, with my finger still resting on the sensor. About 30 seconds to a minute later all of a sudden the set up finger in the touch id highlighted. After that it highlighted immediately every time I touched the sensor and touch id was again working on the phone.


Unfortunately this only seems to work on the setup screen, not the lock screen, and it only revives touch id for a little while. Still it is less time-consuming than reentering a finger in setup.

Jan 25, 2015 12:56 AM in response to supaboi222

I am having a similar issue but worse, had my iPhone6 since November and was all working amazingly but then this weekend the touch ID just stopped working.


I woke up one morning and it's completely gone, doesn't recognise for unlock, can't add a new finger and even a double touch doesn't move the screen down anymore.


Seems like it must be hardware but any advice on SW fix welcome! I did a hard reset, cleaned up the physical button...etc but nothing i've tried so far makes a difference.


Who knew having to put pin/passwords in manually would become so annoying after getting used to touch id! 😁

Jan 27, 2015 5:23 AM in response to Jukesy

HI, Jukesy. The exact same thing happened to me--it wont recognize any of my fingerprints. I tried setting up new fingerprints and it wouldnt recognize any. The double tap doesnt work for me as well. I called Apple's hotline and they said I should have the software restored and updated, which i did. Still, it doesnt work.


I have a hunch that mine is a hardware issue as well even if mine is just less than a month old from now. If I may ask, have you found a resolution to your touch id issue? If so, what did you do? Thank you!

Jan 28, 2015 1:25 AM in response to Community User

I also called apple and they got me to delete all fingerprints and restart phone...etc


No change so they said backup and restore..... after deleting data and messing with iCloud to make space for a backup i finally ran one.


Then the next day before i managed to do the restore it suddenly started working for the double touch and i've added my fingers back in and it seems to be back to it's old self.


Maybe i got lucky? or maybe a back up helps somehow or removing all fingers then restarting...etc


I'll monitor and post if the gremlins come back.

Feb 4, 2015 11:08 PM in response to Community User

i have a same issue with Jukesy. 2 days ago when i woke up, my fingerprints were deleted and i cannot add one. the add fingerprint option is grayed out. i tried restoring to factory settings but even before putting back the back up data, it still won't let me add a fingerprint. i updated to ios 8.1.3 over the weekend.. double tap is also not working. i hate to consider hardware problem because the home button is still working fine and why would my fingerprint be deleted if it is not software related. any other tricks that you may have encountered to revive your touch id?

iPhone 6 Plus touch id not working

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