Revision to iPhone Touch ID Not Working
| [title|iPhone Touch ID Not Working] | |
| - | [summary]Consult this page if your iPhone indicates Touch ID is not available, will not read your fingerprint or fails to function.[/summary] |
| + | [summary]Consult this page if your iPhone indicates Touch ID is not available, will not read your fingerprint, or fails to function.[/summary] |
| - | Apple introduced Touch ID with the iPhone 5S, enabling better security |
| + | Apple introduced Touch ID with the iPhone 5S, enabling better security and more convenience when unlocking your phone. But with it comes the extra complications of potential failure. Even though Apple has made this repair more difficult to perform with software locks, you're not out of luck. Have a look at the solutions below to get yourself sorted. |
| == First Steps == | |
| * Restart your phone. This may clear any software hiccups. | |
| * Be sure you're using a gentle touch. To get Touch ID to activate you only need to rest your finger on the sensor, not press the button. | |
| - | * Give the home button an external cleaning. Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, or gently buff out any oils with a dry cloth. Lingering debris can interfere with the |
| + | * Give the home button an external cleaning. Wipe with a damp microfiber cloth, or gently buff out any oils with a dry cloth. Lingering debris can interfere with the sensor's ability to see your fingerprint. |
| * Remove your case or screen protector which may be obstructing the sensor’s ability to get a clean reading of your fingerprint. | |
| * Enter your passcode. The phone will default to passcode entry if you you have recently restarted or left the device locked for more than 48 hours. Touch ID will be unavailable until you do so. | |
| == ***Physical Damage to the Button*** == | |
| - | Just like anything else, physical |
| + | Just like anything else, physical breakage or liquid contact can cause the home button to stop functioning. This is more prevalent on the touch sensitive style buttons present in the iPhone 7 or newer, but can occur regardless of model. |
| - | * Check for signs of cracks in the button itself. Similar to a touch screen, capacitive |
| - | * Since the home button is not a continuous part of the display, it is prone to liquid entry. Damage of this type may be harder to see, but you may note rust |
| + | * Check for signs of cracks in the button itself. Similar to a touch screen, capacitive-type buttons can lose functionality if the glass is damaged. Change your viewing angle to spot small hairline cracks. |
| + | * Since the home button is not a continuous part of the display, it is prone to liquid entry. Damage of this type may be harder to see, but you may note rust or signs of corrosion with close inspection of the button’s back side. |
| * If this is the case, and Touch ID is important to you, having your screen replaced by Apple is presently the only solution. The Touch ID sensor cannot be replaced independent of the display and Apple's pairing software is necessary to allow Touch ID to function. | |
| [image|2759785] | |
| - | * The cable which carries the Touch ID signal from the display to the logic board is commonly torn. It is the outermost cable |
| + | * The cable which carries the Touch ID signal from the display to the logic board is commonly torn. It is the outermost cable coming off the display and so the first to suffer damage if tools used in opening slip, or are inserted too far. Use a known good display to test if this is the issue. If this restores function, replacing the display is recommended. |
| * Check for tears in the flex cables attached to the home button itself. They appear most often in corners and can be difficult to spot with the naked eye. If your cable is torn, and Touch ID is a necessity to you, seek repair from Apple. Repairing the home button cable to restore Touch ID is feasible, but requires running tiny jumper wires. Even many seasoned microsolderers avoid these repairs. | |
| * [[iPhone Frozen Screen|iPhone Frozen Screen|new_window=true]] | |
| * [[iPhone Touch Screen Not Working|iPhone Touch Screen Not Working|new_window=true]] | |
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