Really??? News to me! After 2 months with my new 5S, I've never had a problem. Must be something in the air?
Never had an issue since release day. I wonder how big an issue this is?
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Apple Readying Fix for Issues with Touch ID Fading
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Never had an issue since release day. I wonder how big an issue this is?
Wipe iPhone to fix
I was having this problem, and was at an Apple store for another reason. I thought there might be a quick fix, so I asked a "genius". He ran some tests and found that springboard was crashing. No surprise, iOS 7 on my 5s crashes, unlike my iPhone 4 running iOS 6.
His solution was to wipe the iPhone and set it up as a new phone. I did do this, and it "fixed" the problem, but I needed some data (photos) that only existed in the iTunes backup. So, I restored from backup. It has worked great for 3 weeks, and only now am I starting to have fade on one of four learned fingerprints.
I was having this problem, and was at an Apple store for another reason. I thought there might be a quick fix, so I asked a "genius". He ran some tests and found that springboard was crashing. No surprise, iOS 7 on my 5s crashes, unlike my iPhone 4 running iOS 6.
His solution was to wipe the iPhone and set it up as a new phone. I did do this, and it "fixed" the problem, but I needed some data (photos) that only existed in the iTunes backup. So, I restored from backup. It has worked great for 3 weeks, and only now am I starting to have fade on one of four learned fingerprints.
For what it's worth, I had trouble with TouchID's consistency until I stopped trying to perfect it.
I farted around with it a lot shortly after getting it, constantly retraining it, hoping to get the 'perfect' image of my prints. I noticed mine was far less consistent than my wife's, who had simply done the very first training.
I let it be, allowed it to do the behind-the-scenes optimization for the prints, and my consistency skyrocketed.
I rarely have a missed touch now, only if my hands are grimy.
TL;DR: I stopped trying to 'fix' my TouchID, and it fixed itself. YMMV.
I farted around with it a lot shortly after getting it, constantly retraining it, hoping to get the 'perfect' image of my prints. I noticed mine was far less consistent than my wife's, who had simply done the very first training.
I let it be, allowed it to do the behind-the-scenes optimization for the prints, and my consistency skyrocketed.
I rarely have a missed touch now, only if my hands are grimy.
TL;DR: I stopped trying to 'fix' my TouchID, and it fixed itself. YMMV.
Good question. It must be a significant number since it is making the forums.
Personally, even with its shortcomings, I love the touch ID. It is almost always much quicker than entering a passcode and I never have to worry about someone looking over my shoulder at my 4 digit code. I figure the tech will only get better with time.
Works for some, but not others...
These comments are always so predictable.
"It doesn't work for me, worse thing ever"
"Well, it works for me, what's the problem?"
A quick search of Apple's discussion forums will show 67 pages (at this writing) of complaints from people with TID issues that fade over time. I'm one of them. My first 5s worked flawlessly. My display developed problems within weeks, and Apple replaced it with a new one. Then, with the replacement, my prints started fading within 48 hours. I went through the usual methods of troubleshooting, but my prints just do not last.
I didn't purchase the 5s for TID, as I've always used a complex passcode and have become so accustomed to typing it in, it's almost as quick as a print scan anyway. Also, my uncle, who's an U.S. attorney, has told me it's more of a convenience factor than actual security. If your phone is ever confiscated by law enforcement and they wish to examine your phone, you can be forced to turn over biometrics. Whereas a passcode in something "in your mind" and you cannot be forced to reveal it.
I will gladly use TID around the house as a convenience, but once I leave the house, I turn it off and use my passcode and always enable data wiping.
These comments are always so predictable.
"It doesn't work for me, worse thing ever"
"Well, it works for me, what's the problem?"
A quick search of Apple's discussion forums will show 67 pages (at this writing) of complaints from people with TID issues that fade over time. I'm one of them. My first 5s worked flawlessly. My display developed problems within weeks, and Apple replaced it with a new one. Then, with the replacement, my prints started fading within 48 hours. I went through the usual methods of troubleshooting, but my prints just do not last.
I didn't purchase the 5s for TID, as I've always used a complex passcode and have become so accustomed to typing it in, it's almost as quick as a print scan anyway. Also, my uncle, who's an U.S. attorney, has told me it's more of a convenience factor than actual security. If your phone is ever confiscated by law enforcement and they wish to examine your phone, you can be forced to turn over biometrics. Whereas a passcode in something "in your mind" and you cannot be forced to reveal it.
I will gladly use TID around the house as a convenience, but once I leave the house, I turn it off and use my passcode and always enable data wiping.
It would be nice to see some percentage.
If this is something that could be corrected by software, I would really be interested in the what is being corrected.
I still can't shake the feeling that peoples change due to climate or dirty phones/hands could be the real issue here.
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Your right these comments are predictive.
But you are supporting my suspicion that this could be an issue with how the phone is being used or even climate might play a factor.
Fading software?
Whatever it is that is fading, it's obviously not a software. Software never "fades". This sounds like a problem with hardware (loss of calibration, sensor degradation or whatever) that they want to try to compensate with software tweaks.
Whatever it is that is fading, it's obviously not a software. Software never "fades". This sounds like a problem with hardware (loss of calibration, sensor degradation or whatever) that they want to try to compensate with software tweaks.
Strongly suspect that it is more due climate/hand conditions than actually "losing" any data on the fingerprint.
I'm sure climate, cleanliness, etc., can be factors, but in my case, and many others if you read through the Apple forums, that doesn't appear to be the case. My first phone worked fine for weeks. My prints and my environment did not change so drastically in that short amount of time.
@lilo777: you'd be surprised on how much software tweaks can affect hardware. Think of how many times NASA has been able to change their hardware configurations by changing the software, in some cases repairing what seemed to be inoperative hardware.
I have seen the "fade" but in general it never got to a point of bothering me that much. Lately it has been very reliable. I have the jailbreak tweak virtual home and never even push the home button. And 95%+ of the time my phone is unlocked before the screen turns on. I would not deny the issue but I will not give up my jailbreak for a "fix".
Same here - I kind of like Touch ID (aside from NSA issues) but I've recently started using the unlock code instead all the time because the scanner doesn't work very often and gets frustrating.
IIRC, I saw a Forbes article where over 20% of those surveyed had problems.
How to fix it, has been a pretty common question on forums.
Very possible, although this particular type of subdermal sensor was chosen because it should not be that affected by dirt or other surface artifacts. (It's still sensitive to wetness though, since that lets the signal also take a shorter path directly across the finger surface.)
This is exactly why physical buttons exist and still exist. No "interpretation" by "software" to make something happen...especially something as critical as opening the door to using the device.
Are you suggesting I'm not "using it correctly"? Too funny!
Read the comment, but you never know.
You had 2 phones that both have the same issue, while there are some many more user that never experience the fading.
I also mentioned climate too....
I don't think you fully read my comment(s).
I stated twice that my first 5s worked fine, no issues at all. It was the replacement unit that caused me problems."My first 5s worked flawlessly."
"My first phone worked fine for weeks."
Technically you're not supposed to be punching in the pass code when you're driving
I mean what would it cost Apple, considering they have Siri and could license voice biometrics from Nuance.
Technically, you shouldn't be *USING YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR HANDS AT ALL* when you're driving.
FTFY.
I bought my 5s on release day. My fingerprint sensors have been working awesome ever since... It only fails when my hands are wet.
Software might not fade, but the statistical representation of the fingerprint might degrade, which can be fixed by changing the software. Imagine taking many pictures of the same face, all from slightly different angles. Now average that pictures and you get a blurry face that preserves its essential features nonetheless. This could be used as a template for IDing the face in the future. Now average this picture with a new face - one of a panda - it's going to corrupt the representation. I presume something similar might happen for touchID and fingerprints. Software updates might be used to tweak whether or not new images would be added to the template.
Mine has scanned fine on the first try 95% of the time, and if you count a second occasional scan, it's 100%.
I think they are sending out free rubber fingers each with unique fingerprint to resolve it.