Touch ID was one of the major innovations in the iPhone 5s and, along with the 64-bit processor architecture, set the trend for manufacturers around the world. Since then, there have already been three generations of iPhone with a fingerprint sensor. Naturally, many of them managed to go through fire and water, as well as repairs in unofficial service centers. We explain why the fingerprint scanner may stop working after.
First you need to figure out how Touch ID works and why repairing it is an almost hopeless task.
The Home button on the new iPhones is a high-tech sandwich. It is protected from mechanical damage by a scratch-resistant sapphire glass. It is surrounded by a special metal ring that reacts to touch and triggers a CMOS sensor located under the glass, which acts as a lens. The unique fingertip pattern is scanned at a resolution of 500 pixels per inch.
Then a 64-bit processor comes into play, which compares the scan with those mathematical images of prints that are stored in the Secure Enclave designated for this. This is a special coprocessor integrated into the Apple A7 and subsequent generations of systems-on-a-chip. During manufacture, it receives its own identifier (UID), which is not available to any component of the system and even to Apple itself - the processor does not read fingerprints, but simply transfers information packets to an encrypted memory area, which uses the Secure Enclave. The Touch ID sensor communicates with the processor via the serial peripheral interface bus - it is precisely this bus that disables the biometric sensor.
Simply put, partial damage to the cable between Touch ID and the phone's board does not allow the iPhone to authenticate the fingerprint, after which the smartphone deactivates the biometric sensor. In this case, you cannot replace individual components to restore functionality, because there will be no matching identifiers between the third-party sensor and the Secure Enclave. It is also impossible to completely restore a damaged train - it consists of ten multilayer tracks, the thickness of each does not exceed a tenth of a millimeter. But the mechanical elements of the Home button, which are responsible for registering pressing, can be replaced quite realistically. But from now on, you will have to unlock the device exclusively with a password. Finding a broken Touch ID in the settings is easy - the menu for adding new fingerprints will be displayed in gray.
The only way to get a working fingerprint sensor is to use the "donor organs" of another smartphone. We'll have to put in a new motherboard and replace the Home button. However, the cost of such an operation is comparable to buying a new iPhone, which will need to be gutted.
After the release of iOS 9, many iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus users whose devices went through the home button repair suffered from the appearance of "error 53". It signals that the fingerprint module did not pass the security check and the smartphone became a “brick”. The error appeared during the update, but there was simply no solution - only the return of the original components to the device. In iOS 9.2.1, Apple brought back the ability to update devices. However, this thread on the tech support forum has received over 200,000 views, indicating the extent of the problem.
With the release of the iPhone 5s, Apple developers have introduced a new Touch Id feature - a device that reads fingerprints. With it, users of apple gadgets can easily make purchases in the App Store, unlock their phones, etc. Very often on the forums you can find topics about the failed Touch Id.
In this article, we will try to figure out why Touch ID does not work on iPhone 5s/6/6s and how to fix it?
To begin with, it should be noted that if the device has become buggy after a recent update - most likely, you will have to roll back the system and return to the previous version of iOS.
If this method did not help you, you should resort to the following options for fixing Touch ID.
Touch ID stopped working on iPhone 6/6s/5/5s
Touch Id mechanical repair - last resort
What to do if Touch Id does not respond to any actions? In this case, if Touch ID is out of order as a result of a software failure, a hard reboot of the system should help. To do this, hold down the Home and Power keys and hold until the device reboots.
If this problem was programmatic in nature, a reboot will solve the problem. If the phone was physically affected, you will have to contact the service center, where a qualified master will be able to diagnose and, if necessary, fix the problem.
Touch ID does not work on iPhone 6 - do-it-yourself repair
If there are small malfunctions in the Touch Id device from time to time, Apple developers advise you to reconfigure, in other words, make a new fingerprint and get rid of the old one.
It is advised to do this periodically so that the fingerprint data in the device is fresh, because. human skin on the hands is constantly exposed to various factors, and therefore the print may change slightly.
In order to make a new fingerprint, you need to go to "Settings", then select "Touch Id and password". Remove old prints. After that, click "Add fingerprint" and perform the necessary actions in accordance with the instructions.
Touch ID stopped working in App Store on iPhone 5s/6/6s/5
Basically, the cause of this problem is also slightly modified fingerprints, as a result of which the system cannot recognize them, but sometimes there are cases when the problem lies in incorrectly installed software.
The forums also complain about a crash when the App Store does not see the Touch Id. How to fix it?
- We go into the Settings of the gadget and look for "Touch Id and password";
- We find the section "Using Touch Id" and disable "App Store, iTunes Store";
- Reboot the iOS device;
- We return to the Touch Id settings and turn on "App Store, iTunes Store".
After these steps, there should be no problem.
iPhone 6 problems. Touch ID does not work in winter, in the cold
There are many complaints about the poor performance of Touch Id during the cold season. It is very simple to explain the cause of this problem - as a result of the cold, our fingerprint is slightly modified, which is why the system cannot recognize it.
In solving this problem, you can often update the print or create a "cold" print. Scan your fingerprint while out in the cold. However, it is believed that these methods help only partly, however, if there is an urgent need for this function in the cold, it is worth a try.
Due to exposure to water and dirt, Touch Id does not work on iPhone 6/6s/5s/5
After installing iOS firmware on iPhone 5S, there may be a problem when Touch ID does not work on iPhone 5s. Our review will help Apple gadget owners understand what to do in such cases.
The problem arises due to the imperfect sensitivity of the fingerprint scanner, but with each updated firmware, Apple promises to improve the functionality of Touch ID, its response to touch. The loss of sensitivity of the Touch ID biometric scanner does not occur immediately, but over time, and given the fact that this is a completely new technology, you can turn a blind eye to the flaws in its work.
The first advice for such symptoms is to perform a rescan. This will help improve the response of Touch ID and, probably, the user will be able to postpone a visit to the service center for a long time.
- In the smartphone settings menu (basic), go to "Touch ID and password".
- Select a fingerprint from the Touch ID menu (pulsing in gray) and scan it again. If necessary, do this procedure with all fingerprints previously registered in the iPhone's memory.
What to do if Touch ID doesn't work at all
If during the secondary scanning of the prints that you registered earlier, the problem could not be resolved, and the scanner does not respond to touch at all, use our second tip - remove all your prints (the "delete" button), and then register them again.
Removing fingerprints. Step-by-step instruction
- Open iPhone 5S Basic Settings → Touch ID & Passcode and enter the passcode.
- Select the sub-item of the opened menu "Touch ID and password".
- Enter the passcode (secret code) you set earlier.
- Selecting the fingerprints that you have previously registered one by one, delete them by pressing the "Delete Finger print" button.
Re-registration of fingerprints. Instruction
After removal, the problem when the fingerprint does not work on the iPhone 5s is eliminated, because the gadget will function perfectly even without activating this innovative feature, but the trouble is that the owner of the iPhone likes its capabilities, he is already used to using it. So, let's register the "fingers" again. Apple took care of users and created the simplest scheme for adding fingerprints to the gadget's memory. Re-registration in many cases helped to resolve the issue of failure of the Touch ID function.
- Go to the iPhone 5S settings menu → “Touch ID and password”. At this point, you won't have any fingerprints registered since you just deleted them all.
- As before, select the "Add a Fingerprint ..." / "Add a fingerprint" function.
- To fix the problem that the fingerprint does not work on the iPhone 5s, bring the finger whose fingerprint you want to add and press the "Home" / "Home" button several times. You must remember to touch several times until the print on the screen is completely filled with red.
Raise your finger and touch the Home button as many times as needed for a full scan. At the same time, users' opinions on the frequency of touches are divided: some believe that the smaller the step of touches, the higher the accuracy of fingerprint recognition. Others, on the contrary, believe that the movement of the finger on the scanner plays a more important role for further work.
After registering again, unlock your iPhone. If everything worked out, you will not need to read further advice. However, if Touch ID iPhone 5s still does not work on your smartphone, try to resolve the error in the following way.
Recovery via backup
Restoring your smartphone completely through a backup can help with the iPhone 5S fingerprint scanner not working error.
- Connect your smartphone to a PC with iTunes installed.
- On the left side or in the upper sector on the right, select your gadget
- Go to the "Browse" menu and select the "Restore iPhone" command.
- Then you will see iTunes asking you to back up your iPhone, you should choose "Back Up" in case you haven't backed up before. If you previously made a backup in iCloud or iTunes, then you do not need to create another one. Then you need to click on the “Restore and Update” command (it will appear in a pop-up window).
- The iTunes app will immediately begin installing the iOS firmware on your smartphone
- Once the installation is complete, you can resume your backup on your phone from iCloud or iTunes.
This method should in most cases fix the issue of iPhone 5s fingerprint not working, even though re-registering them didn't fix the problem. In fairness, we note that over time, Touch ID often does not work on the iPhone 6 either.
The Touch ID function has been specially designed for Apple smartphones to unlock the gadget, make purchases, and easily log into social networks and mail accounts by scanning a fingerprint. One button for many functions is certainly convenient, but what if Touch ID does not work on the iPhone 6? This happens during periods of severe frost, the print is poorly recognized. But this is a minor defect that can be easily fixed. In the same article, we will consider more serious causes of a malfunction of the touch ID.
Malfunction symptoms:
- The device does not recognize your fingerprint
- Reset previously configured fingerprints
- Gadget hangs during scanning
- The scanner does not respond to touch
- Unable to access other apps
Why doesn't Touch ID work on iPhone 6?
The main reasons are as follows:
- mechanical impacts in the form of shocks, falls from a height, as a result of which the scanner cable is damaged,
- you tried to unlock your phone with a wet finger,
- there are cuts, abrasions and other marks on your finger,
- iOS software crash
What to do if Touch ID iPhone 6 does not work well?
In the case when the cause is of a software nature, there is a chance to fix the breakdown yourself. This requires a few simple steps:
- open the touch password settings,
- enter the password to unlock your Apple gadget,
- reset all fingerprints
- scan your finger again,
- confirm the settings and try unlocking with the sensor again.
If the problem persists, restart your smartphone by holding the Home and Power buttons. Also, update the software to the latest version. As a last resort, reset the device to factory settings. When these methods do not help, it remains to come to the Re:store service center for help.
Restoring iPhone 6s Functionality If Touch ID Doesn't Work
The complexity of the repair lies in the fact that you cannot simply replace the button or the sensor cable. In this case, you need a complete replacement of the motherboard. Because, a specific sensor chip is tied to a specific processor. If the cable is torn, it still needs to be repaired. In other cases, recovery will not be successful. Do not despair. Our masters, having many years of experience behind them, will bring your pet back to life. With the help of modern tools and equipment, engineers carefully dismantle the device, remove the damaged element and delicately install a new one. Our service center has a large stock of spare parts, so you can choose between an original spare part and its high-quality copy. Upon completion of the repair, the smartphone must be checked for legal capacity. The cost, terms and quality of components are strictly agreed with the owner. If Touch ID stopped working on iPhone 6, don't delay your visit, call us right now!
Timing: from 20 minutes
Equipment: soldering station, hot air gun, tongs.
materials: original parts, quality copies.
Biometric sensor touch ID first appeared in Apple devices in . A year later, he migrated to,. From a pleasant addition for owners of a flagship smartphone, a fingerprint scanner has turned into a real tool for protecting access not only to the mobile device itself, but also to individual applications, and has also become an integral element of the payment system. Unfortunately, Touch ID still doesn't always work as intended and as users would like. Let's try it to correct.
All the best offers for iPhones (there are even 20 thousand cheaper than the market). Something is changed and even given away for free.
In May last year, Roman Yuryev already covered this topic and told in detail how to set up Touch ID in such a way that then for a long time to forget about malfunctions in the sensor and entering the password manually. Unfortunately, over time, the algorithm of the fingerprint scanner still starts to work with some "quirks", which subsequently only become more frequent. For example, after switching to the iPhone 6, I was completely delighted with the updated Touch ID - it worked perfectly and clearly for more than a month, and then it suddenly started to fail, and this happened more and more every day.
The main thing is not to give up, or in this case fingers. The problem is solvable, moreover, with improvised means and will not require much of your time. This method was first described about a year ago, but for some reason passed by most of the thematic resources, although the method is really working, as I have seen from my own experience.
So, for starters, it's best to remove all prints and set them up again, as described in last year's. After that, restart your smartphone, after completing all applications first. Maybe these steps are superfluous, but let them be for the purity of the experiment. Now let's go to Settings -> Touch ID & Passcode-> Enter the password, if necessary, and get into the very menu where your fingerprints are stored.
Now - attention - no more manipulations and transitions are needed, just touch the scanner the way you do it to unlock your device. Pay attention when you hold a finger known to the system on the sensor, one of the prints in the list on the screen highlighted. This is the fingerprint of this finger, and you just performed an additional scan of it, the results of which iOS saved somewhere in the systems on the chip.
In such a simple way it happens Touch ID training, the biometric sensor receives additional pictures of your finger and can use them to unlock. Take five to seven minutes to properly scan each of the saved fingers, applying them to the button while in this menu. Each time one of the prints is highlighted, it means that the procedure was successful. Additional scans of your finger will appear in the device’s memory, and Touch ID will work much better, the actuation process will be noticeably faster.
Once again, each finger is different, many times - the result will be noticeable immediately and will continue with everyday use of Touch ID.