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Let's all admit it, the fingerprint sensor on the 5s sucks.

Don't know what the problem is that you and your friends have but my 5s has had about zero problems with the fingerprint reader in the couple of months I've had it. I think it works great. My only problem is that Apple hasn't opened up the API so other apps can use it.
 
Had my iphone 5s since Jan 1, and have had not issues with the fingerprint scanner at all. Maybe every once in a while it was unlock, but I say 99% it works like a charm. Maybe you need to get a replacement.
 
I'm in the "Just Love It" camp and will be getting a new iPad when it becomes available on that platform.
 
Let's all admit it, the fingerprint sensor on the 5s sucks. I have to re-register my fingerprint every couple of days. Everyone I know that has a 5s says the same thing. My wife has stopped using it all together. Meanwhile, the fingerprint reader on my thinkpad which is like 3yrs old still can read my fingerprint every time.

Why does this fingerprint reader on the 5s suck so bad?

I've actually not had any issues with it. It is a little sluggish if I'm using the lifeproof case, but that is to be expected when you add layers over the button.
The only other time I have an issue is after swimming or something when my fingers are pruned, and that's not the sensors fault.
 
I had issues when after 3 swipes I had to unlock the iphone by passcode. It kept doing it often but not everytime. I even tried to redo fingerprint and same thing. I called AppleCare and they made appt't to Genius Bar. They looked at the iphone diagnostics there, and said there were issues. They gave me a new replacement iPhone after 10 minutes in-store.
 
Let's all admit it, the fingerprint sensor on the 5s sucks. I have to re-register my fingerprint every couple of days. Everyone I know that has a 5s says the same thing. My wife has stopped using it all together. Meanwhile, the fingerprint reader on my thinkpad which is like 3yrs old still can read my fingerprint every time.

Why does this fingerprint reader on the 5s suck so bad?


I have nothing to "admit" i love it.
 
The majority of the time my sensor does not work.

Try registering the same finger multiple times. I have one of my thumbs registered three times and the other one registered twice. It seems to work just fine for me. I never use my other fingers for unlocking so it's not an issue to use them all on my thumbs.
 
Changed to the Spigen case today and the sensor failed more often than not. Removed it and went back to the Apple leather and it works fine. Conspiracy! :)
 
I'll admit that it works great. People can't even tell that my phone is locked, its that quick. It truly takes the burden out of locking your phone. I have 4 fingers registered too, both thumbs and my index fingers. Sometimes when the phone is just laying there I will use my index finger its easier than picking it up or using my thumb.
 
It is TERRIBLE. Not ready for prime time. For the first month I re-registered my prints every couple of days. Upon re-registering, it'd work great but after a couple days it would become very finicky. I've totally given up on it.
 
I've had mine since launch, and re-registered my prints once after the initial setup.

I find it helps if you register the same print on another slot. After doing this, it works probably 98% of the time.
 
I admit nothing. I set it up on my 5s when I received it last year and it works every time and I use it every day. I've never had to reset anything.

For me, it works as intended.

agreed completely with this.

Never had a single issue since it released Day 1. You need to meet new people...all the people you know have very bad luck!
 
It is TERRIBLE. Not ready for prime time. For the first month I re-registered my prints every couple of days. Upon re-registering, it'd work great but after a couple days it would become very finicky. I've totally given up on it.

Take it to Apple. Sounds like you have a faulty sensor. Several members reported a similar experience, took it to apple store and received replacements. Much better experience with the replacements.

As you can tell by many posters in this thread, myself included, Touch ID works perfectly for many users.
 
If you registered the same finger from 3 different thumb print angles or more then you will find that it works very well all the time.

It did give me trouble like you are describing before but after I registered my thumb several times each from a new angle, It works a little to well now.

I have 5 different registered finger prints but from one finger. That will get it to work consistently.
 
Let's all admit it, the fingerprint sensor on the 5s sucks. I have to re-register my fingerprint every couple of days. Everyone I know that has a 5s says the same thing. My wife has stopped using it all together. Meanwhile, the fingerprint reader on my thinkpad which is like 3yrs old still can read my fingerprint every time.

Why does this fingerprint reader on the 5s suck so bad?

Yes, I admit it. The fingerprint sensor is awesome and works almost every time for me.
 
Mines works 99% of the time... The only time it doesn't work is right after I wash the dishes and that's no surprise that it won't work. Maybe your phone is defective,

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Mines works 99% of the time... The only time it doesn't work is right after I wash the dishes and that's no surprise that it won't work. Maybe your phone is defective?
 
My original iPhone 5s worked I would say 90-95% of the time. I dropped it a little over a week ago and got a replacement. I can't remember an instance of the new phone not working. In fact it was working so well that I deliberately used different fingers just to make sure it failed on those!
 
I had the same experience as the OP... with my first 5S - first phone was about 75% success rate with the touch ID, and was annoying. A replacement phone for it is now 95%+. As in, maybe once in 20 or 30 tries I have to "try again" or simply lift my thumb and replace it and voila, only maybe .5 seconds of delay. Every other time it's instant. Even outdoors in this cold winter in freezing temperatures. I've been impressed to say the least with the replacement phone's touch ID function.

To reply to the OP, I may have agreed with you had I not needed a replacement phone. On the original I had in fact turned touch ID off cause it failed too annoyingly often. Now, with the replacement phone, I love touch ID.

To the OP and those who have chronic problems with their touch ID, i suggest the same as others in this thread: get a replacement. I truly enjoy the feature now, and have it turned on 100% of the time.
 
My FPS works pretty well, better than I thought, but the amount of hype surrounding the FPS prior to the 5s release and ongoing is ridiculous. It's such a small feature, it's like getting excited about a new model Ford that comes with two ashtrays instead one one....
 
Let's all admit it, the fingerprint sensor on the 5s sucks. I have to re-register my fingerprint every couple of days. Everyone I know that has a 5s says the same thing. My wife has stopped using it all together. Meanwhile, the fingerprint reader on my thinkpad which is like 3yrs old still can read my fingerprint every time.

Why does this fingerprint reader on the 5s suck so bad?

If you don't like washing your hands after eating greasy food, at least clean the button every once in a while...
 
I had the same experience as the OP... with my first 5S - first phone was about 75% success rate with the touch ID, and was annoying. A replacement phone for it is now 95%+. As in, maybe once in 20 or 30 tries I have to "try again" or simply lift my thumb and replace it and voila, only maybe .5 seconds of delay. Every other time it's instant. Even outdoors in this cold winter in freezing temperatures. I've been impressed to say the least with the replacement phone's touch ID function.

To reply to the OP, I may have agreed with you had I not needed a replacement phone. On the original I had in fact turned touch ID off cause it failed too annoyingly often. Now, with the replacement phone, I love touch ID.

To the OP and those who have chronic problems with their touch ID, i suggest the same as others in this thread: get a replacement. I truly enjoy the feature now, and have it turned on 100% of the time.

This is pretty much word for word what I came in this thread to post. Love it since I got the replacement.
 
Let's all admit it, the fingerprint sensor on the 5s sucks. I have to re-register my fingerprint every couple of days. Everyone I know that has a 5s says the same thing. My wife has stopped using it all together. Meanwhile, the fingerprint reader on my thinkpad which is like 3yrs old still can read my fingerprint every time.



Why does this fingerprint reader on the 5s suck so bad?


Mine works flawlessly.
 
Mine works flawlessly. 7.1 definitely improved Touch ID somewhat. I can't even remember the last it didn't work on my finger. It's much faster than sliding to unlock, let alone entering a pass code.
 
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