Why doesn't fingerprint work on iPhone? How to fix Touch ID setup fails to complete

Some users encounter problems when setting up Touch ID. In this case, the system prompts you to go back and try again. This feature allows you to increase the security of your smartphone by using fingerprint. After this, it becomes much more difficult to get to personal data, but a configuration failure puts an end to this. Usually everything goes away after the system update is released, but it is worth noting that this is not always the case. How to get rid of the problem will be discussed in the article.

Touch ID setup doesn't work or can't be completed

This section will provide ways to resolve program failures that the user can apply independently. In most cases, this is enough for the smartphone to start functioning normally.

Recreating the fingerprint

This is what the user should do first. This method mainly helps if a feature stops working after an update. In this case, it does not work in any of the applications.

First you need to go to Settings- Touch ID and passcode-enter your password.

Next you will need to transfer all active items to off mode. After this you will need to go to the main screen. Now you need to press the power button and the home button and hold them until the device reboots. After this, you will need to go back to the settings and enable the same items that were previously disabled. This is where you should add a new fingerprint.

Launch the application “Open with your finger”

If the previous method did not help, then you should try the following steps. You need to run the settings again, then go to the main section.

After that, go to universal access, and then go to item Home.

Then you need to restart the device again and try set up Touch ID.

Recalibrating the sensor

A failure may also occur due to an old and non-working fingerprint. It will be best create new. To do this, you need to go to settings and continue, as in the first point.

Next you should go to the fingerprint you are using and remove it from the system.

Then again you need add a fingerprint, to do this you need to press the corresponding button.

Next, you will need to apply your finger in different ways until the imprint at the center is filled.

This is best done diligently and carefully, applying your finger on different sides and from different directions. It may be a good idea to apply it not from the most comfortable position, when the smartphone is lying on the table and the user is scanning his finger. It is better to do this while holding it in your hand, because this is how it will be unlocked later.

Forced restart

For owners of iPhones six or less, to perform this procedure you will need to hold power and home button within ten seconds. For sevens this will be power and volume down. For iPhone X You will have to first press volume up, then volume down, and then you will have to hold down the power button.

Reflashing the device

If none of the previous methods helped, you can flash the device. To begin with, you need to disable search function device if lost, otherwise nothing can be done. Next, you will need to find out the model of your smartphone and download the firmware for this model. You can view it on the back cover of the device.

Then you need connect iPhone to computer using the original cable. Must be installed on your computer latest version iTunes, otherwise errors may occur during the process.

After connecting, the program itself can determine that the device requires restoration. In this case, all you have to do is click OK and select the file. If this does not happen, then you need go toitunes, hold down shift and click on the iPhone. Next, select device recovery and specify the path to the downloaded file. Then all that remains is to wait for the process to complete.

Cleaning the Home Key

The reason may also be a clogged sensor on the button. In this case, stand it carefully wipe with a cloth, and if it doesn’t help, then you can use a small amount of alcohol, and then try to scan your finger again or complete the setup.

Using AssistiveTouch

If the Home button malfunctions, you can enable this function to control your phone. First you have to go to settings, then to the main section, then to AssistiveTouch, then enable the desired option. After this, an additional menu will appear on the smartphone, which can be used to configure and access functions.

Replacing the Home button

A common reason why this function does not work is button failureHome. At the same time, it does not work or does not work well when performing its other functions. In this case, you should contact the service for diagnostics and replacement.

Contacting technical support

If none of the tips help, the user can always contact the support line. There specialists will help determine the cause of the failure and advise possible ways solutions.

A couple more tips that might help. To begin with, the user can try reset all settings, and then re-set the desired parameters. To do this, you need to go to settings, basic, then reset and reset all settings.

You can force a reboot while the phone is charging; this method helps many. You can also carefully wipe the screen or use another finger to scan. You can still wait for the next update to come out. If everything is fine with the device itself, then in most cases this solves the problem.

Touch ID is a device for recognizing fingerprints of iPhone and iPad users. Thanks to reading, you can unlock your phone or instantly log in to applications such as Amazon, LastPass. The function is also used in the AppStore to make payments.

After installing the new iOS 10, some users experienced problems with the scanner. There are several types of malfunction:

  1. The phone freezes at the fingerprint recognition stage;
  2. Sensor not working while charging iPhone;
  3. Sudden reset of previously configured fingerprints.

Also, the reason why Touch ID does not work on an iPhone may be that the phone has been dropped or hit, resulting in damage to the sensor. Let's take a closer look at how to quickly solve the problem and return the fingerprint scanner to normal.

Resetting the Scanner

If your iPhone freezes while scanning your fingerprint, you should reconfigure the sensor. All data about saved “fingers” is located in the phone settings (the “Touch ID and password” window).

Remove any existing fingerprints, turn off the "IPhone Unlock" and "iTunes Store" sliders. App Store" and then restart your phone. After turning on your device, go to settings again and add new multi-fingerprints. This re-configuration allows you to reset the erroneous configuration and resume operation of the scanner at the software level.


No Touch ID response while charging

There are cases when Touch ID does not work while charging the iPhone. In this case, you should completely discharge the phone, then connect it to power and charge it to 100%. During charging, it is advisable to turn on Airplane mode and not use the device. Then do a soft reset (without data loss). After these steps, the biometric scanner will work normally. Do not use a fake iPhone charger; after connecting it to the device, functional failures may occur.

Remember! You should not update your phone's firmware or restore it through iTunes if one of its hardware components does not work (Touch ID, camera, etc.). During the update process, the desktop program automatically checks the functionality of all components of the smartphone. If contact with one of the components is not established, error code 53 will appear (the update progress will be canceled, and because of this the iPhone will no longer turn on).

Improving sensor performance in cold weather

In the cold, fingerprints are less recognized and the phone's biometrics often fail. To improve Touch ID performance when low temperatures, enter a new cold fingerprint into the existing scanner database. This helps the iPhone remember the current state of the finger and better recognize it in the future.

Replacing the Touch ID cable

If the cause of a non-working scanner is a hardware failure, previously saved data will not be displayed in the smartphone settings (Touch ID window). There will also be no option to add a new fingerprint. The only solution is to check the scanner cable.

Disassemble the phone and remove the Home button from the display module. Check the connection of the cable, if it just came off, just reconnect it and reassemble the phone. However, it will most likely be torn. The figure below shows clear example a break in the Home button cable (the location of the breakdown is indicated by a red curved line).


There is no way to replace the cable, because the Home button cannot be disassembled. In this way, Apple protects devices from biometric sensor substitution. The Home button should be replaced (when purchasing the part, a corresponding cable is included in the package).

Any instructions for self-repair You can find your iPhone on our website, or call a specialist for to any place convenient for you.

Touch ID is an excellent technology developed by Apple, which allows you to increase the security of user data on the company's devices. Apple has built 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. In this case, identification is used not only to unlock the device, but also when logging into 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 the next time they try to use the fingerprint scanner “Crash. Touch ID setup cannot be completed. Go back and try again". On English this error sounds like this: "Failed." Unable to complete Touch ID setup". When faced with a problem like this, it will take some effort to fix it, and in this article we will look at the main ways to do this.

Update fingerprints in Touch ID

Quite often, the “Touch ID setup cannot be completed” error occurs after updating your device. Apple regularly releases new firmware versions for iPhone and iPad, but their installation does not always go without errors and problems. If you are having trouble with Touch ID after downloading and installing new software, try the following:

After completing all the steps described above, the “Unable to complete Touch ID setup” error should no longer bother you.

What to do if updating your fingerprints doesn't help?

If you followed the instructions described above, but did not succeed in getting rid of the problem in question, there are a few more tips on how to fix the error:

If none of the above methods helped fix the situation, you can try to wait until Apple releases new version firmware and install it, it is possible that this will fix the problem. Another way is this.

It is worth noting that if you contact an official Apple service center with this problem, you will receive 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 yourself and try to “fix the Home button cable”, which is what various “craftsmen” recommend doing when the error “Cannot complete Touch ID setup” occurs.

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 identifier, 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.