How to Fix Touch ID Not Working on iPhone or iPad
- Davis Turner
- Friday, April 8, 2022
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People tend to use Touch ID for unlocking the screen on iPhone or iPad, as it would be troublesome to enter the digital passcode or take off the mask to use the Face ID each time (unless you have upgraded to the latest iOS 15 system).
However, some people have reported unexpected failures in using Touch ID sometimes. So how can we fix the issue when we encounter the problem of Touch ID not working on iPhone or iPad? Luckily, we made this ultimate guide here to help. Let's grasp a look.
Part 1. How to Troubleshoot Touch ID Problem on iPhone/iPad
Actually, fixing the Touch ID not working problem on your iPhone/iPad devices is not a difficult task. Here are some general methods you are welcome to try out for getting the issue resolved. They are all easy to grasp.
1. Keep your finger and the fingerprint sensor clean and dry
Don't use a dirty or wet finger to unlock the screen, or you may easily run into the Touch ID not working problem. You need to keep in mind that when your finger is covered with water, gel, cream, or other substances, it makes the sensor of your iPhone/iPad home button a bit hard to scan your finger clearly. Hence, it finally results in getting the error of Touch ID unlocking failure.
2. Remove the iPhone case and screen protector
Generally, the home button of iPhone/iPad is able to detect your finger sensitively, thus detecting for unlocking the screen lock quickly. However, when you have sticked a particular waterproof case that obstructs the home button, it would fail to scan your finger to trigger the Touch ID, making it fail to work for unlocking the screen.
Therefore, under such a situation, you are suggested to remove the iPhone case or screen protector you are using for seeing if the Touch ID works again.
3. Turn off Touch ID and turn it on again
The Touch ID not working issue may also happen when the background running programs of your iPhone/iPad get corrupted, thus affecting other functionality on the device such as the Touch ID unlocking feature. Hence, you are able to try turning offline the Touch ID and enable it on again for seeing if the problem can be solved. Here is the process you should follow to re-open the Touch ID function on your iPhone/iPad:
Step 1. Navigate to "Settings" > "Touch ID & Passcode". Enter your passcode to access the settings here.
Step 2. Turn off "iPhone Unlock" here.
Step 3. Now, reboot your iPhone/iPad, and enter back in the settings here for turning the four options on again.
Step 4. Try locking up the device and unlocking it via the Touch ID. You may find it workable again!
4. Delete and re-add a fingerprint
If you keep trying to unlock the screen lock using Touch ID but it just fails all the time, why not delete the original fingerprint and reset one for trying? You are available to try re-adding a fingerprint on your iPhone/iPad following the brief guide here for fixing the Touch ID not working issue:
Step 1. Go to "Settings" > "Touch ID & Passcode". By entering your iPhone passcode, you are able to access the settings menu here.
Step 2. Now, select the existing fingerprints for submitting to delete them all.
Step 3. Then, hit the "Add a Fingerprint..." option and reset a new one.
Step 4. When the new fingerprint is set, try locking up your iPhone/iPad and unlock it using the newly-set Touch ID. In most cases, the Touch ID not working problem is automatically solved.
5. Force restart your device
When your device is not working properly, like it keeps crashing or freezing all the time, the functionality of the device, including the Touch ID, may also fail to work in normal ways. Hence, it may be helpful for you to force restart the iPhone/iPad device for getting the programs to work in the correct ways again. After the device is restarted, the Touch ID may be workable again.
6. Reset network settings
Although the performance of Touch ID doesn't depend on the network situation of your device, sometimes the network settings may corrupt the Touch ID, thus leading to its failure in performing in the correct way. Hence, resetting the network settings could help get the network back in its right condition and also fix the Touch ID not working. Here shows you how to get the network settings reset again:
Step 1. On your iPhone/iPad, navigate to "Settings" > "General".
Step 2. Then, scroll down to find the "Reset" option.
Step 3. In the "Reset" list, tap "Network Settings", then it will pop up the notification, asking you to enter the passcode of your device for getting permission to change the settings here.
Step 4. Finally, submit "Reset Network Settings" to reset the network again. When it is completed, lock up the screen for seeing if the Touch ID works now.
7. Update iOS
For maintaining the iOS performance at the best state, Apple would keep updating the iOS system for getting the bugs fixed and enhances other user experience as well as functionality. Hence, when you suffer from the Touch ID not working problem, updating the iOS system to the latest version may easily get it fixed (if you are not using the latest iOS system currently).
8. Contact Apple service
When the above methods are all not working to help your Touch ID work again, you are also available to contact the Apple support team for receiving help from their professional technical team. They would help you analyze the problem in-dearth and apply the exact method to fix the issue.
Part 2. How to Remove Touch ID Without Password
When Touch ID is not workable, users are still available to get into the locked iPhone/iPad using the preset digit passcodes. However, if you haven't used the passcode for a long time and have forgotten it, you need to begin finding a way to remove the Touch ID without the requirement of entering the password, or Apple will lock up your device after filling the wrong passwords for several times. But how?
Luckily, Passvers iPhone Unlocker provides a simple process for its dear users to unlock a locked iOS device within only simple clicks. Empowering the professional unlocking functionality, the software is able to erase the digit passcode, Touch ID, and Face ID for accessing the locked iOS devices again on desktops. Hence, when encounter with the Touch ID not working and even the password fails to work, it is recommended for you to try out Passvers iPhone Unlocker.
With the simple design, Passvers iPhone Unlocker also delivers the intuitive functionality in an easy-to-grasp way. Now, follow me and check out the brief guide to remove your iPhone/iPad screen lock without hassle when both the Touch ID and passwords fail to work.
Step 1. After installing Passvers iPhone Unlocker on the desktop, launch the software. Meanwhile, you are required to connect your iPhone/iPad to the computer for enabling Passvers iPhone Unlocker to detect it.
Step 2. Then, from the main interface, you are required to select the "Wipe Passcode" option for removing the Touch ID or digit passcode from your iOS device.
Step 3. You will be guided to download a firmware package to help remove the Touch ID and passcode you set for the iOS device. Submit the "Start" icon to get it downloaded following the instruction.
Step 4. When the firmware package is downloaded now, just start erasing the Touch ID and passcode of your iOS device by hitting the "Unlock" icon. When it completes, you are able to get an unlocked device without requiring to enter password or Touch ID now.
Part 3. Extension: Which iPhones have Touch ID?
As we know, Apple has developed the latest iOS devices without home buttons, and users are able to select unlocking them using Face ID instead. Here we list the iPhones with Touch ID to help you clearly know which of them may easily encounter the Touch ID not working problem:
- iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone SE
When you unexpectedly meet the Touch ID not working issue, don't get annoyed as you get the above easy methods to get it solved. Try them out, and also you are available to erase the Touch ID directly via Passvers iPhone Unlocker as the introduced solutions all fail to work. It won't take you a long time to process.
Remove iPhone/iPad screen passcode, screen time passcode, and Apple ID easily!