Touch ID is the official name for the fingerprint reader found on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, as well as the iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro tablets. Apple claims that the newer version of Touch ID is installed in the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models, and on the forums, users claim that Touch ID often does not work, both the "old" and the new.
Touch ID is, of course, a useful solution, not only from a marketing point of view, but also from a purely practical one.
Users can use it to unlock their iPhones and iPads, log into accounts in various online services, and even pay for purchases using Apple Pay.
But only if Touch ID works fine. But, unfortunately, like any other electronics, this one is also sometimes capricious. Therefore, let's figure it out.
To begin with, we note that if problems with Touch ID on your Apple device began after a recent update of its operating system to iOS 9 and / or even newer versions of it, then, most likely, you may need a downgrade (i.e., a rollback of the system to the previous version), or, if the problems are not so critical, then it is better to wait for the next update.
With other problems of the fingerprint scanner in iPhones from 5s and newer, as well as in iPad mini 3, mini 4, Pro and Air 2, you can try to figure it out, so to speak, on your own and even at home. Fortunately, there are not very many such problems, and the ways to eliminate them are already known. So if:
Touch ID not working - crash
If Touch ID fails, then a simple reconfiguration is recommended to deal with this nuisance. In other words, you need to retrain your iPhone (or iPad) to recognize your fingerprint. Since the appearance of scanners, Apple has regularly updated their software so that smartphones and tablets of users remember the "fingers" of their owners longer and better.
It seems like a radical optimization was carried out back in iOS 8, but, as practice shows, if you do not refresh the print, then over time (from a month or longer), Touch ID will fail anyway, but it happens. The reasons can be very different, but, as a rule, they are purely cosmetic in nature: slight "wear" of the print itself, dry skin of the finger, etc.
Therefore, if Touch ID suddenly malfunctioned, then first update the fingerprint in the memory of your smartphone or tablet. But first, you should carefully wipe the surface of the scanner and wash your hands. Next, go to “ Settings ", Then - in" Touch ID and password ". We delete old prints by swiping across the screen from right to left. After that we tap " Add fingerprint »And re-carry out the standard procedure for entering a fingerprint according to the instructions.
Touch ID does not work in the App Store
This is also a notable problem. Most often, the reason that the scanner stops working with the App Store is also a cosmetic factor, but often the problem occurs due to software malfunctions. Some users complain that since iOS 8.3, the Touch ID is simply not displayed in the App Store.
In such and similar cases, we do the following:
- click " Settings » -> « Touch ID and password «;
- In chapter " Using Touch ID "Disable" App Store, iTunes Store «;
- reboot iPhone (or iPad);
- back to "Settings" -> "Touch ID & Password" and turn on " App Store, iTunes Store «.
After that, the Touch ID bug in the App Store should resolve itself. We also remind you that if you haven't made any purchases in the App Store for 24 hours, the system will ask for a password at the entrance.
Touch ID doesn't work at all
Of course, the likelihood that the fingerprint scanner is out of order also exists. Although users complain about such breakdowns relatively rarely. If, after updating the fingerprint, Touch ID did not work properly, then you can try "hard reset" by creating a backup beforehand. If the problem is programmatic, then a hard reboot should fix it. Otherwise, you will have to visit the service center, since it is unlikely that you can do without qualified diagnostics.
Touch ID does not work in winter or in cold weather
Statistics show that in low temperatures, the fingerprint scanner in the iPhone and iPad is more likely to fail. The problem, again, in most cases has a simple explanation. The fact is that in cold weather, the papillary pattern of the fingers changes. It is difficult to notice these changes with the naked eye, but Touch ID notices them and starts to malfunction. As you probably already guessed, a nuisance is also treated by updating the fingerprint. But you can do even easier and enter a special "winter" print into the device's memory, i.e. scan your finger pattern immediately from the cold. True, they say that both methods only partially solve the problem, but it's still worth trying.
Touch ID does not work when dirty or wet
Well, there's really nothing to explain here. It is clear that moisture or dirt (whether it is on the skin of the finger or on the surface of the scanner) is very effective in preventing any fingerprint from being scanned. Therefore, if it contains excess substances of a wet and / or dirty look, it is better to wipe the scanner with a dry, clean cloth. And you need to wash your finger (you can even wash it with your hands). However, you should not overdo it with water, because if you keep your hands in water for a long time, then the fingertips will wrinkle and the papillary pattern will change for a while. Apple claims that in the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, Touch ID works better with wet skin, but still the manufacturer does not recommend using the scanner with wet hands.
Touch ID is an excellent technology developed by Apple to improve the security of user data on Apple devices. Apple has integrated a fingerprint scanner into the Home button on iPhone and iPad, which allows you to identify the real user of the device without having to enter a password. At the same time, identification is used not only to unlock the device, but also when entering various applications, paying for purchases in online stores and in a host of other situations.
But no technology is perfect, including Touch ID. Users may encounter an error when they try to use the fingerprint scanner again “Failure. I can't complete the Touch ID setup. Come back and try again "... In English, this error reads as follows: "Failed. Unable to complete Touch ID setup "... Faced with such a problem, it will take some effort to fix it, and in this article we will look at the main ways to do it.
Updating fingerprints in Touch ID
Quite often, the "Can't complete Touch ID setup" error occurs after updating your device. Apple regularly releases new versions of firmware for iPhone and iPad, but their installation does not always go without errors and problems. If after downloading and installing a new version of the software, you have a problem with Touch ID, try the following:
After completing all of the above steps, the “Can't complete Touch ID setup” error should no longer be a concern.
What to do if updating fingerprints doesn't help
If you followed the instructions described above, but did not manage to get rid of the problem in question, there are some more tips on how to fix the error:
If none of the above methods helped to fix the situation, you can try to wait until Apple releases a new firmware version and install it, it is possible that this will fix the problem. Another way is this.
It is worth noting that if you contact the official Apple service center with this problem, you can hear the answer that this is a hardware malfunction. If the phone is under warranty, Apple will repair the device free of charge (replace the Home button) or exchange it for a new one. That is why it is not recommended to try to disassemble the device on your own and try to "fix the loop of the Home button", which is advised to do when the error "Cannot complete the Touch ID setup" by various "craftsmen" occurs.
Can't complete or can't complete Touch ID setup after iOS update? This guide has collected the most common Touch ID problems and solutions to help you.
If problems with Touch ID started immediately after updating to a new version of iOS, you may need to roll back it. As long as you have a chance or stay with the problem, until the next update is released. We've seen bugs appear in some iOS updates, and subsequent ones fix it.
While it may seem like a problem with Touch ID, there is a reason why your iPhone asks for a password more often after updating. If you haven't used your password for six days, and haven't entered Touch ID to unlock your phone in eight hours, you'll need to enter your password. This is Apple's rule and it is set for your safety.
How to fix the problem of unable to activate Touch ID on iPhone?
Regardless of whether you initially set your Touch ID settings incorrectly, or if you think it becomes unreliable over time, there are all sorts of reasons why Touch ID on an iPhone or iPad may not be able to recognize your fingerprint as it used to, or as it should. ... Sometimes, in such cases, it is best to start over.
Unlock your iPhone or iPad and re-configure Touch ID to fix most errors. Before doing this, make sure the Touch ID sensor is free of dirt or sweat, and dry your hands.
Step 1. Settings → Scroll down and tap Touch ID & Password.
Step 2. Next, enter your password and turn off the iPhone Unlock and iTunes & App Store features.
Step 3. Press the Home button to return to the home screen and then restart your iPhone by pressing the Shutdown button.
Step 4. Settings → Scroll down and tap Touch ID & Password. Enter your password.
Step 5. Turn on iPhone Unlock and iTunes & App Store features.
If you are unable to complete the Touch iD setup using the above method, enable the Swipe to Open feature. To do this, follow the steps below:
Step 1. Go to Settings → General.
Step 2. Click Accessibility.
Step 3. Select "Home". 
Step 4. Turn on "Swipe to open".
Then restart your phone and check if the “Can't complete Touch ID setup” crash is fixed.
Re-calibrating the Touch ID sensor
The easiest way to fix Touch ID errors is to recreate your fingerprint on iPhone. Over the past year, iOS updates have done a great job fixing most of the Touch ID bugs including "Can't set up Touch ID" and there are general performance improvements on iOS 8 and above.
This can help if your fingerprints have changed slightly over the past few months due to wear and tear, dry skin, etc. To do this, you need to follow these simple steps:
Step 1. Launch the Settings app and open Touch ID & Passcode, enter your passcode when prompted.
Step 2. Select the fingerprint you are having problems with, then click the "Delete fingerprint" button.
Step 3. Press the "Add Fingerprint ..." button to start rescanning the removed finger. 
Step 4. Apply your finger to the Touch ID sensor in different ways - from right to left, from top to bottom and to the sides, until the fingerprint icon is completely colored.
Step 5. When asked to set up a grip, scan the edges of that finger until the fingerprint icon is completely colored.
Note: Scan the front, back and sides of this finger in the way you think you will use it to unlock if you are not the most comfortable grip.
Step 6. Click the "Continue" button when the process is complete to save your fingerprint. 
Lock the device and make sure the fingerprint is working; Congratulations if everything worked out! If not, reboot the device following the instructions below and check if the problem is resolved.
Force device restart
The next option is a forced reboot. Hold down the Power and Home buttons at the same time for about 10 seconds and release when you see the Apple logo. These instructions are for owners of iPhone 6 and previous models.
For iPhone 7 and 7 Plus owners, you need to hold down the Power and Volume Down buttons, and for new iPhone X phones. First, press the volume up, then the volume down and hold the Power button for 10 seconds. The rest of the process is the same.
After rebooting, your fingerprint should work fine.
If, after following these steps to recalibrate Touch ID, you still cannot unlock your iOS device with your fingerprint, something other than iOS errors may be present. Take these troubleshooting steps:
Wipe the Touch ID sensor with a microfiber cloth to remove fingerprints and dirt.
Use another finger; the finger you are trying to use may not have a pronounced fingerprint.
Note: According to reviews, many iPhone owners are faced with the "Can't complete Touch iD setup" issue. Apple official support says this is a hardware issue and should either replace the Home button (or screen + Home button) or the entire phone.
Conclusion
If the Touch ID issue continues to haunt your device, you should either wait for the next iOS update or contact Apple for help. Also, if your iPhone is still under warranty, contact an Apple Service Provider.
Hello everyone! As has been repeatedly noted on the blog, all articles are those problems or questions that either I myself or my acquaintances have encountered. Actually for this, the site was created - to share personal experience and help others with the "apple" technique. And so, my already quite old, but still working iPhone 5S "threw" me another idea for instructions - its Touch ID suddenly stopped working.
And, as it seemed to me at the first moment, it happened finally and irrevocably. No, but what else can you expect? The device is far from new. Chips, scratches, scuffs, falls - all this was and is. Natural wear and tear of the device - there is no escape :) Therefore, when the Touch ID "fell off", I was not very surprised. Surprise came only later, in the process of solving this problem ... however, let's talk about everything in order.
So, a short background:
- I upgraded to iOS 10.3.1
- After some time, I began to notice that the sensor for unlocking does not always work. But, as usual, he did not attach any importance to this - maybe his hands were dirty or something else.
- But after I could not enter the client bank using my fingerprint, in my head "solitaire" was formed - Touch ID does not work.
Looking ahead, I will note that everything was resolved safely. But what actions had to be taken for this - now you will find out, let's go!
It is worth noting that if your iPhone has a non-native Home button (for example, replaced after repair), then Touch ID will not function on it. Never. The fingerprint sensor is hard-wired to the motherboard. One board - one Home button. Also, some sellers immediately sell iPhones with a broken scanner -.
But our problem is different - the iPhone stopped recognizing the fingerprint, although nothing happened to it (except for the iOS update). I thought it was a simple "glitch" of the system and this is what I did:
And here, it would seem, everything should end. But no - the miracle didn't happen and Touch ID still didn't work. After that, it became clear that the problem was iron. And it consists of a loop of the Home button:
- It can be damaged (moisture, careless assembly or disassembly of the device).
- It may simply not be inserted (not fully installed).
And it seems that this is not my case. I did not wet the iPhone, and since the last disassembly the scanner worked fine ... But all the same, the device had to be disassembled and this is what happened:
- I took apart my iPhone.
- Disconnected the loop of the Home button.
- I looked at it and, as expected, saw nothing - it is in perfect condition.
- Put it back.
- Touch ID is working.
Honestly, the result I got surprised me a little :)
I don't know why a simple reconnection of the loop helped, but the fact remains - after this operation, the button began to process my fingerprints normally.
Although I have one idea why this could have happened - recently, my iPhone fell several times, and quite hard. I already thought that it would even come to replacing the screen, but in the end everything worked out. And maybe it was the falls that caused all these problems.
The most common issue a typical iPhone and iPad user encounters while using or adjusting the scanner is the “Failed. I can't complete the Touch ID setup. Come back and try again. " When most of the screen is occupied by an annoying reminder that "Touch ID is not working", it prevents you from fully using your mobile device with full capabilities. When the touch ID on the Athos does not work, most people are waiting for the OS update, but no one is going to wait so long, which is why you should figure out what to do if adjustment is impossible.
The latest models are equipped with a Home key, which have a fingerprint scanner. Since people actively use it, there is nothing surprising in the frequent breakdown of this mechanism. Failure can occur after an accidental fall, damage to the case, and more. There are rare cases when a mobile phone is faulty at the production stage or a refurbished smartphone arrives at the store, and after the update they are identified. If not much time has passed, and the smartphone fails, it is recommended to return it to the store immediately.
Climatic conditions can also affect functionality. A sudden change in temperature or the advantage of cold, moisture-laden air affects the functionality of a smartphone. Some users do not know how to set up a fingerprint scanner, which is why they register their physiological data on the street with temperatures below zero. In this case, the root of the failure lies not in the smartphone itself, but in changing the papillary pattern of the picture.
It is impossible to fix various changes on your own, however, the touch ID detects various changes, after which failures begin. Messages like "A fingerprint sensor error has occurred." The update fixes a defect, only such manipulations do not always work properly.
Users who do not have enough money for repairs at the official service center are sent to local "craftsmen". Many of them change the situation for the worse - "Home" stops responding to pressing, and they themselves do not know what to do in a given situation. After replacement, a bunch of other malfunctions appear. The problem lies in the mechanism itself - Apple's designers created it in such a way that it could not be fixed. Only its replacement, like the motherboard and other spare parts, is capable of completely repairing a mobile phone.
In case of self-repair, most likely, the sensor will be blocked due to an invasion of the protected area of the system. It will be possible to fix this only at the official service center.
Renewal of touch ID
This method eliminates the malfunction where the OS update does not work in any way with any attempts to solve the problem. Following the instructions, it is possible to fix:
- Enter the Settings and select "Scanner and passcode", then write the password.
- Turn off features such as iTunes Store & Apple Store, iPhone Unlock, and if you're actively using Apple Pay.
- Return to the main screen, then hold down the "Home" and "On / Off" keys at the same time, hold them down until the Apple logo appears on the display. After these manipulations, the device will automatically reboot, it will take no more than a minute.
- Do the first step again.
- Re-enable those partitions that you disabled in the second paragraph.
- Refreshing the pattern is important, as the old ones will automatically be erased.
When the operation is over, the device will function as before, and the notification of the problem will no longer appear from time to time.
The second way to solve the problem
If Touch ID stops working and it does not recognize your fingers, then you should use other methods that are not as effective as the previous one:
- Delete the old information in the settings section and install them again.
- Restart your device as described in the first method while the battery is charging. For some users, it worked, and everything started as before, despite the originality of such a solution.
- Reset the basic settings on the device, if it is possible to save the necessary files and contacts. To reset, go to the main Settings menu, then "General", "Reset all settings". When all points are completed correctly, restart the gadget.
Chemicals
In some cases, together with the fingerprint scanner, the Home key itself stops responding. As soon as fat layers from the hands, crumbs, sugary drinks and other impurities get into it, the key functions more on pressing. To fix the problem, it is better to use WD-40 aerosol, which does an excellent job. At the same time, it is worthwhile to carefully handle not only this liquid, but also the screen.
If too much liquid gets on the mobile phone, other malfunctions will appear on the device. Once the chemical has been applied, the key must be flicked multiple times for it to penetrate underneath. Then the cleaning agent will get rid of the dirt and not only the key, but also the touch ID will come back to life.
Third Party Programs
When the root of the problem lies not in the functioning of the phone, not in pollution, all that remains is to use the applications. The additional menu does not turn on, which is why further use clogs the RAM. This option will not change the state of the iPhone, but you can use the phone as before. This method is inconvenient, although it is better than a dysfunctional part. The “Home” image is transferred to the main screen, after which it is used like a mechanical key.
Go to the main settings of the iPhone and go to the "General" category. Go to the section "Accessibility" and there click on the item AssistiveTouch. As soon as the manipulations are performed, the display will show 4 options for the development of events. Select the picture of the Home key and only after that, the display will display a program that will display and simulate pressing the button. While not a sophisticated method, it will allow you to use your iPhone 5 before going to the service center. The main thing is not to carry the device to the above "craftsmen" who do not know how to set the fingerprint on Apple products correctly.
Installing a new mechanism
The engineers took care of such a replacement of the mechanism, so everything is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. When the home button does not work, in some situations it is easier to buy a new smartphone. An ordinary user will not be able to open a mobile phone without damaging some parts, even many specialists are not ready to take such a risk, which is why only highly qualified craftsmen with the necessary tools are required. Replacement is only needed if the button does not work on the iPhone after all the operations. You should only contact an official service center, otherwise there is a high probability that the fingerprint on the Iphone 5s and on other series will have other breakdowns.
Replacement mechanism for professionals
Before any manipulation, you will need tools to open the Iphone 6 without unnecessary deformation. First, come in handy:
- Tweezers.
- Small shoulder blade.
- Screwdriver plus.
- Minus screwdriver.
- Sucker.
First, unscrew a few screws located next to the power connector. Next, hold the screen with the suction cup and do not forget to help with the spatula. When disconnecting, your hands should not tremble, since the touch-cable will break at any time from careless handling. The paddle will allow you to disconnect the connector and lift the display. Disconnect the protection from the cable and, after unscrewing a few screws, disconnect the desired part. After the procedure, there are no errors like "Touch ID does not work on the iPhone."
Contacting the service center
When the gadget has a warranty, then by visiting the service center, the defect will be corrected absolutely free of charge: either the button will be completely replaced, or the gadget will be replaced with a new one, because when Touch ID does not work well, it is easier to contact the experts. They know how to put a fingerprint on the phone without any difficulties. Therefore, if you are not confident in your own abilities and are not sure whether you will be able to get rid of the failure, it is better to immediately take your smartphone there.
Video instruction
