Recently in the news feed and in social networks there are often discussions and opinions regarding new feature fingerprint recognition called Touch ID in iPhone 5s. Basically, all discussions come down to security issues and future prospects for this method of protecting and accessing the device. For some reason, what seems to me to be a more pressing question is raised much less frequently: is it convenient to use Touch ID in everyday life?

It is clear that initially the fingerprint is entered into memory, followed by a touch, then pressing the “Home” button, and as a result, the device is unlocked. All this is very fun and interesting, but does the process really look so beautiful, simple and easy?

I think it would be quite appropriate here to give a few opinions or, if you like, observations from famous people in the world of “Apple-related” journalism, based on their personal experience.

For example, here's what John Gruber (of daringfireball.net) has to say about it:

Although, this may be technically correct, Dustin Curtis (creator of the interactive magazine svbtle.com, and part-time blogger) that in fact everything is not quite like that:

When the phone is locked, unlocking with Touch ID feels a little clunky; you must touch the sensor on the Home button with your finger, press the button and manage to release it without removing your finger from the sensor, and you must manage to do all this before Siri is activated. It works, but it feels strange.

In general, I will say this - unlocking is truly “instant”, but only if the lock screen is in the active state at that moment. It was funny to watch new owners trying to unlock the device by simply swiping or touching the sensor with their finger. It would seem that a completely simple and logical action - unlocking the iPhone - actually consists of two non-obvious ones: “waking up” by pressing the “Home” button and reading the fingerprint with the sensor. That is, an iPhone in an inactive state simply will not respond to a finger; reading occurs immediately after activating the device by pressing Home as usual.

And John Gruber is at it again:

Touch ID doesn't rely on button presses in any way, and there shouldn't be any lag... Try this: Place your finger on the Home button while your iPhone is locked. Activate your iPhone with the Power button, not the Home button. Unlocking is instant.

What can I say: apparently, I’m somehow wrong, not one of those people who usually unlock the iPhone with both hands...

What password can be called the most reliable and at the same time constantly accessible to the owner of the equipment? Fingerprint. The new Touch ID uses a fingerprint sensor as a means of identification. This method allows you to quickly connect to another Apple device and at the same time be confident in the security of the stored data.

Of course, the question immediately arises: Touch ID - what is it? The device itself, the technology or, in general, the phone model? Apple Touch ID is a technology that involves the use of a sensor that recognizes the user's unique fingerprint pattern. The unlocking process is simple: just place your finger on the Home button. Installed sensor reads the received data from absolutely any angle and in any way the iPad is positioned.

The iPad mini 3 unlock button is made of sapphire glass, which is enclosed in a ring of stainless steel. Each part: the ring detects touch, and the glass part transmits fingerprint data to the sensor. The reading program carries out comparative analysis and signals compliance. It is noteworthy that the Touch ID sensor performs the entire operation within a fraction of a second.

Advantages of the technology:

• Speed ​​of response and minimum number of required operations.
• Security of confidential information (thanks to the specific architecture of the A7 processor).
• Information security user (the password and fingerprint used cannot be copied or transferred in any way, and is also not available to the OS and applications).
• Authorization in applications (Touch ID technology is already integrated to simplify the process of confirming actions or signatures).
• Using a fingerprint, you can confirm the purchase and iTunes - using Touch ID technology will eliminate the need to enter payment data and passwords.

How to enable and configure Touch ID?

Unfortunately, it is not yet possible to put a single checkmark to implement the functions of the technology. Then a logical question arises: how to enable Touch ID?

Initial setup

First of all, you should deal with the initial setup. She :

1. Before starting the process, thoroughly wipe the button and fingers.
2. Enter a four-digit password that you have created, which the program will use without recognizing the fingerprint (the request is also possible after a reboot, two days after the last unlocking of the device, or to access functions).
3. Holding the device as if you normally press “Home”, place your finger on the button (a light touch is enough) and hold until there is a slight vibration or until the system signals that you can remove your finger.
4. After the initial recognition is completed, the system asks you to change the position of the pad - this is necessary to complete the scanning. Now you need to attach the edges of the fingertip.

If the device is activated, then the initial setup can be done through the main menu: by going to “Settings”, select “Touch ID and password”, then “Fingerprints”. The system itself will offer to go through the described registration process and about fingerprints.

Activation methods

If you can't set up Touch ID, you can use the sensor for purchases and password entry. To unlock an iPhone using technology, just wake it up from sleep mode by pressing the “Power” or “Home” buttons, and then place your finger on the “Home” button. To use the sensor as an account ID, you need to go to the settings section, then select “Touch ID and password” and activate “iTunes Store, App Store" When downloading content, the system will inform you that you need a fingerprint on your iPad or other device.

Authorization using a scanner is activated separately, in the settings. Below are the relevant steps to activate Touch ID on iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 Plus with iOS 8 and updated iPhone 6 free application 1Password:

1. Open “Settings” (tab located on the bottom panel of the program).
2. Select the “Security” section.
3. Scroll to the tab with the name of the technology.
4. Switch the toggle switch to the “On” position.

Now the entrance to the program is available after pressing the fingertip against the sensor for a second!

Non-working function: defective or improper operation?

Undoubtedly, but what should you do if Touch ID stops working or does not work initially? There may be several reasons for this:

• Household reasons (incomplete coverage of the button with a fingertip, contamination of the sensor, and even others). It should be noted that most of the complaints about Touch ID not working well fall precisely under this and the next category.
• Just a glitch in the recognition program. In this case, it is better to register a different fingerprint.
• There is, unfortunately, such an option as marriage. An indicator of such a situation is the lack of effect from rebooting the device and a scanning error. Moreover, it doesn’t matter whether the defect was made at the production stage or by a rogue seller who assembled one iPhone out of two without taking into account the binding of the Touch ID sensor to “its” processor, the phone will still have to be taken to a service center.

With customization of the functionality, the functions in each application are more than covered by convenience, speed of operation and optimization of purchasing processes. Although the possibility of a marriage that could bring trouble cannot be ruled out.

Touch ID unique technology fingerprint reading. It is equipped with such versions of Apple mobile gadgets as iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. According to the manufacturer, this technology is more advanced in models of the sixth line. However, many users often complain on forums that Touch ID is a rather poorly functioning element in both the first and second versions.

Touch ID is definitely a good idea. And not only in terms of marketing, but also for practical use. Using Touch ID, the owner of an iPhone can unlock his device, log into the “accounts” of some programs on the network, and make payments using Apple Pay. But this is only if the technology functions smoothly, which is not always the case. Like any electronic mechanism, Touch ID sometimes has problems. How to deal with them? Let's figure it out.

Firstly, if problems were discovered after a recent firmware update to OS version 9 (or more recent versions of iOS), a downgrade may be required. This term refers to rolling back a system to a previous version. But if the problems are not so significant, the best solution will wait for the next update.

All other problems are often caused by misunderstandings that do not imply anything serious. Therefore, the user can solve most of them independently, without going to a repair shop. Moreover, there are not many such problems, and the methods for solving them have long been known. In this article we will look at each problem and how to solve it in detail.

It often happens that the fingerprint on the iPhone 6 or iPhone 5S does not work. If a system malfunctions, experts recommend making a simple reconfiguration. In other words, you need to retrain the gadget to recognize a fingerprint. When the first scanners appeared, Apple was concerned with annual software updates for them. This is done so that the devices remember the fingers of their owners as best as possible.

Significant optimization in this area was carried out in the eighth version of the operating system. But as the practical experience of many users has shown, if the fingerprint is not regularly refreshed, after about a month Touch ID will begin to malfunction. The reasons for this are usually the most banal, but they are basically cosmetic in nature (the fingerprint has worn out, dry skin on the finger, and similar misunderstandings).

Considering the above, if Touch ID glitches on the iPhone 5S you need to update the fingerprint in the gadget’s memory. But before the procedure, you need to thoroughly wipe the surface of the display and wash your hands. Then you should go to the iPhone settings, and after that - to the Touch ID password section. In this case, the earlier fingerprint must be removed by swiping, moving across the display from the right side to the left. After this action, you need to click on the add a fingerprint button and again carry out the usual operation of entering a fingerprint, in accordance with the instructions.

Touch ID doesn't work in the App Store

This, like the previous problem described, occurs quite often. And this usually happens due to the fact that the scanner does not interact with the App Store. As before, the reason most often lies in cosmetic factors. But sometimes the problem occurs due to software problems in the iPhone 5S. Many users note that gadgets based on OS version 8, or more precisely, the Touch ID technology in them, do not work in this store.

To solve this problem, you need to follow these steps:

• Click on the settings section, and then on the Touch ID and password item.
• Go to the technology usage section and disable the App Store.
• Reboot the device system.
• Return to original settings, enable App Store.

After all the steps have been completed, the Touch ID bug in the store should be automatically removed. Let us also remind you that if the user has not made purchases in a store during the day, when entering the store again, the system will prompt you to enter a password.

The fingerprint scanner doesn't work at all

It happens that the scanner itself fails, that is, it simply breaks. Although this happens extremely rarely.

A breakdown can be signaled by complete inoperability of the technology after the update. In this case, you can try “Hard Reset” by performing a backup procedure first.

But if the issue is a malfunction of the iPhone 5S software, a hard reboot usually solves the problem 100%. Otherwise, the user will have to seek repairs, since it is impossible to do without competent diagnostics of the device.

Touch ID stops working in cold temperatures

According to statistics, glitches in the operation of technology in winter or in cold conditions occur much more often. As always, the explanation for this phenomenon is simple. It's all about changes in the papillary pattern of the fingers, which changes when weather conditions change. Of course, it is not possible to detect such changes by eye. But smart Touch ID immediately detects them and reports failures.

As you might have already guessed, this whole issue is also treated through updating the fingerprint. But here everything can be made even easier. All you have to do is complete and save your “winter” fingerprint in the device’s memory. To do this, you need to do the procedure as soon as you come from the street, and your fingers are still cold. Although, this is not a guarantee of a successful solution to the problem. According to reviews from iPhone owners, the above methods do not always cope with the situation.

If the scanner does not work in dirty or damp conditions

There is no need to go into long explanations here. Obviously, moisture and dirt prevent the system from scanning a fingerprint. We are talking about the presence of dirt or moisture not only on the finger itself, but also on the surface of the scanner. Therefore, before the operation, you need to wash and dry your hands well and carefully wipe the scanner with a dry cloth.

But one thing to remember important point: There is no need to keep your hands in water for a long time when washing, as this will cause the skin to swell and the papillary pattern to change greatly.

However, Apple guarantees fans of its products that in the new sixth line of gadgets labeled S, Touch ID works more effectively with wet surfaces. But at the same time, the developers still do not recommend using the scanner when your hands are wet.

Breakdowns after repair: reasons

Speaking in simple words, during the process of repairing the device, the cable between Touch ID and the telephone board may be damaged. This leads to the fact that the system is no longer able to determine the authenticity of the fingerprint. And after that, the gadget deactivates the biometric sensor. In such a situation, replacing individual elements in order to improve the operation of the technology is impossible. The IDs between the Secure Enclave and a third party sensor simply will not match.

If the cable is completely damaged, then restoring it is an impossible task. The fact is that it includes ten tracks consisting of several layers. And the thickness of each track is a tenth of a millimeter.

The situation is different with the elements of the Home button that regulate the process of registering a click. Replacement is a simple matter. However, from now on, unlocking the device will be available exclusively through a password. It's easy to identify a broken Touch ID through settings. To do this, you need to carefully consider the menu for adding new fingerprints. It must be gray if there are any malfunctions.

The only method of obtaining a properly functioning sensor with fingerprint technology at its core is to use elements of another device. This means you will need to install a new board and home button. However, this repair will be very expensive for the user. In such a situation, it is advisable to purchase a new iPhone. Of course, if Touch ID technology is very important for the user.

Evgeny Prikhodko
Good afternoon. This is the problem: iPhone 6 128Gb. After updating the system to iOS 10, Touch ID stopped working.

Evgeny Prikhodko
Good afternoon. This is the problem: iPhone 6 128Gb. After updating the system to iOS 10, Touch ID stopped working. When you try to go to any of the top 3 points, an error occurs. What to do?

Evgeniy, greetings.

This time with the release of iOS 10, things really went very poorly for Apple. As a result, thousands of devices have appeared for which something does not work: some have a calculator, others have lost Widgets, others have problems with Control Center. You have touched Touch ID.

Solution 1.
1. Open Settings -> Touch ID & Password. Enter your master password and disable iTunes and App Store.
2. Restart your iPhone by holding down the Power + Home key until the Apple logo appears.
3. Reopen Settings -> Touch ID & Password. Enter the master password. Remove any existing fingerprints and restart your iPhone.

Go to Settings -> Touch ID & Password. Create new fingerprints.

Solution 2
The problem was especially acute in iOS 10 firmware. iOS update 10.0.2 solved an annoying bug. To make sure you have the latest iOS version 10, open Settings -> General -> Software Update and complete the installation. Solution 3
I can advise you to perform a full recovery of the device via iTunes, after downloading the firmware.
Here is the link for your device: iPhone 6.

Connect your device to iTunes and hold Shift (Windows) or Alt/Option (Mac) and select Restore. Then specify the downloaded firmware. (You will need to turn off Find My iPhone.)

Necessarily! Create a backup before any operations.

From time to time there are complaints about the operation of the fingerprint scanner on the iPhone or iPad. There is always a small chance that the problem lies in the failure of this component of the device, but it is possible that you can solve the incorrect operation of Touch ID on your own. For example, if you recalibrate the scanner, clean it, and also check your fingers for damage. We have collected several useful tips for those whose Home buttons do not work as well as they would like.

Make sure Touch ID is turned on and configured correctly

To do this, you need to go to Settings, then to the “Touch ID and Password” section, and make sure that the use of the scanner is enabled for unlocking the device, as well as purchases in the iTunes Store and App Store. In addition, the required fingerprints must be added - from one to five.

Recalibrate the scanner

Perhaps something went wrong the first time and your fingerprint was not recognized well enough. The solution to problems with Touch ID may be to add fingerprints again. For ease of use of the scanner, it is worth taking at least three slots out of the five available, for example, adding two thumbs and one index finger on the main hand. Be sure to properly label the added fingerprints to reduce the time and effort required for recalibration in the future.

Check that your fingers are dry and undamaged

Do not forget that wet, frozen or damaged fingers can interfere with the operation of the fingerprint scanner. Perhaps you recklessly grabbed something hot, spent a long time in the bathroom, or played unsuccessfully with the cat? All this could affect the quality of fingerprint recognition, and not at all problems with Touch ID.

Clean Home Button

At first glance, the Home button may seem clean, but a barely noticeable ring of dirt accumulates around the junction with the front panel of the smartphone. Over time usable area the scanner becomes slightly smaller, which makes the scanner more difficult to operate and leads to errors in operation. It’s worth making a habit of cleaning the Home button weekly, which will have a positive effect on Touch ID performance.

Do you have an iPhone 6 Plus?

If none of the above helps, you probably have an early release iPhone 6 Plus. It’s difficult to say why, but it’s this smartphone that receives the most complaints from users regarding Touch ID. In the editorial office, we have an iPhone 6 and an iPhone 6 Plus, so we see the difference in the operation of fingerprint scanners from personal experience. While misfires in a compact model are extremely rare and most often due to my fault (I let go of my finger too quickly or placed it inaccurately), sometimes I can unlock the iPhone 6 Plus only after manually entering the password. Possibly supplying fingerprint scanners for different models Different companies were involved in the iPhone, otherwise it is unclear how to explain the large number of complaints about the operation of Touch ID in a smartphone with a larger diagonal.