Go into the Touch ID section and text each finger that you registered. Make sure the corresponding finger flashes.
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Touch ID on iPhone 6
- Thread starter Jr1985
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Go into the Touch ID section and text each finger that you registered. Make sure the corresponding finger flashes.
Get a friend or family member to help you test this. See if they have the same trouble registering fingerprints on your phone. If so, maybe you have a defective device and should take it to Apple. If not, maybe there is something unusual about your fingerprints that is not working well with Touch ID.
I have entered fingers, erased and re-entered them multiple times and I NEVER achived "perfect and never fails" on my 5 or 6.
Seems it would not work when I needed it the most. Just not worth the trouble.
Seems it would not work when I needed it the most. Just not worth the trouble.
So far it seems very good. I'm not sure if it's ever failed to recognize my thumbprint in the day or two since I got my Plus. However, shortly after I got the device I had TouchID itself totally fail (not even trying to recognize, and getting an error message when trying to add new fingers). Restarting, etc. had no effect. This was on stock iOS 8.0 and not 8.0.1 so I was pretty surprised, but the update to 8.0.2 did fix the issue.
After hearing of people having issues with the 5s I was apprehensive about it working well on the 6, but no... it's been absolutely perfect, except for times when my finger is damp with sweat or water. No big deal, though; that's what my passcode is for. 
I had this problem once when I first got my 5S last year.
Believe it or not, the only thing that fixed it was resetting my phone and setting it up as new.
Believe it or not, the only thing that fixed it was resetting my phone and setting it up as new.
Mine is hit and miss. But I do not have finger prints that are nice and clean. I work in harsh environments so my hands are rough. So it is 50-50 as to it working. I do not put the blame on my phone at all as I honestly believe it purely comes down to my fingers.
Only had my phone since Wednesday, but never had a failure. My wife's had hers a week longer and she's never had a failure either.
Maybe I have super duper big fingerprints? I did have failures before I trained my index fingers but it was because I kept trying them -- that's what made me decide to train those as well.
I'd better not become a career criminal then. Clearly my fingerprints are easily read.
One of the nice things about android I like with their face unlock, is you can have the phone take more pictures of your face so it can get better at recognizing it in different situations.
If I am not mistaken, you can only "add new fingers", but not "add more print angles" for an existing finger....
If I am not mistaken, you can only "add new fingers", but not "add more print angles" for an existing finger....
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Maybe I have super duper big fingerprints? I did have failures before I trained my index fingers but it was because I kept trying them -- that's what made me decide to train those as well.
I'd better not become a career criminal then. Clearly my fingerprints are easily read.
Uh, it will need to work with my thumbs. I tried does both thumbs which is how I would unlock my phone. I did do an index finger for when the device is laying on a table and even that did not work all the time.
Face unlock isn't really great for security, though, since it can be fooled by a photo in many cases. And I don't see how it could be more convenient than Touch ID already is (unless of course you're one of the people who seem to have trouble with it).
Take it to Apple, maybe get it exchanged. You should not put up with a less than awesome experience.
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Never mind, you did already...
Glad your new one works better
I came from a 5 so I've never had Touch ID. I got my 6+ last Thursday and Touch ID has worked flawlessly every time. As much as I love the bigger screen Touch ID may be my favorite "new" feature. I LOVE it.
I used to always think it was gimmicky and wouldn't work very well but it's been awesome.
I used to always think it was gimmicky and wouldn't work very well but it's been awesome.
During the first round of "training" your fingerprint, make sure you're just not mostly getting the same spot on your finger. I'd suggest middle, towards the tip, bottom of the print, and keep doing that. Also may want to rock your finger from side to side a bit for subsequent runs. Then, when you get to the the additional angles part of the training move more towards the edges, etc.
Make sure your hands aren't really dry as well. If they feel dry, try licking a finger, wipe it off, and then try it.
If none of that works it could be defective. Outside the lock screen I have seen some TouchID bugs with 8.0.2 with iTunes purchases though, so maybe you're hitting one as well.
Make sure your hands aren't really dry as well. If they feel dry, try licking a finger, wipe it off, and then try it.
If none of that works it could be defective. Outside the lock screen I have seen some TouchID bugs with 8.0.2 with iTunes purchases though, so maybe you're hitting one as well.
Touch ID works Fantastic for me!
And works stupid well for almost every one I know with a 5s or 6.
But...
I've seen 2 problems before.
My mom was having tons of trouble with Touch ID on her 5s even after multiple delete and repeat scans. Eventually I put one of my thumbprints in it, fast forward a month or two and she tells me it still didn't work. I asked to see her phone and gave it a try. It read my thumb print the very first time, and every time after that. Huh.
It just doesn't like her prints.
In the other case a friend has an almost beat to heck & back 5s that won't read anyone's prints very well.
The phone has had a very hard life though... Caseless carry (she's about as clumsy as me so that's a lot of drops) plus a teething toddler that likes the bright screen and the iPhone's superior taste.
I suggested a slober-proof kids tablet, a case and a wipe & restore or at least a settings reset but that's a no-go for her so hard to rule in or out hardware or software.
My suggestion for those having trouble is:
1) Make sure your getting a good scan. (Both for setup & use) Seems obvious, but it isn't always. Good center area of your pad. That's the area where your skin stays fairly consistent throughout the day. Don't use the edges as those are usually where calluses build up. Have a friend who's Touch ID experience is great demonstrate their setup & scan method. Maybe you're missing something.
2) Try a different finger. (Remember sanding your fingers back in your bank robbing days? Yeah, maybe your thumb print just isn't there anymore. Seriously, thumbs take a lot of wear & tear, get wet, callused, burned. Maybe you've got a more consistent print on another finger.
3) Try a trusted friend or spouse's print. This is especially important if your Touch ID experience seems to get worse with time. If it still works for your friend, it's likely a skin condition thing.
4) Try a setting reset (maybe wait for iOS 8.1 before you try that though)
After that, I'd carry my happy self to the Apple Store and see about a replacement.
And works stupid well for almost every one I know with a 5s or 6.
But...
I've seen 2 problems before.
My mom was having tons of trouble with Touch ID on her 5s even after multiple delete and repeat scans. Eventually I put one of my thumbprints in it, fast forward a month or two and she tells me it still didn't work. I asked to see her phone and gave it a try. It read my thumb print the very first time, and every time after that. Huh.
It just doesn't like her prints.
In the other case a friend has an almost beat to heck & back 5s that won't read anyone's prints very well.
The phone has had a very hard life though... Caseless carry (she's about as clumsy as me so that's a lot of drops) plus a teething toddler that likes the bright screen and the iPhone's superior taste.
I suggested a slober-proof kids tablet, a case and a wipe & restore or at least a settings reset but that's a no-go for her so hard to rule in or out hardware or software.
My suggestion for those having trouble is:
1) Make sure your getting a good scan. (Both for setup & use) Seems obvious, but it isn't always. Good center area of your pad. That's the area where your skin stays fairly consistent throughout the day. Don't use the edges as those are usually where calluses build up. Have a friend who's Touch ID experience is great demonstrate their setup & scan method. Maybe you're missing something.
2) Try a different finger. (Remember sanding your fingers back in your bank robbing days? Yeah, maybe your thumb print just isn't there anymore. Seriously, thumbs take a lot of wear & tear, get wet, callused, burned. Maybe you've got a more consistent print on another finger.
3) Try a trusted friend or spouse's print. This is especially important if your Touch ID experience seems to get worse with time. If it still works for your friend, it's likely a skin condition thing.
4) Try a setting reset (maybe wait for iOS 8.1 before you try that though)
After that, I'd carry my happy self to the Apple Store and see about a replacement.
Mine is incredibly frustrating because it works for the first 5 - 10 minutes then starts working about once every other time, then within the hour stops working completely. Just like clockwork it does this every single time. Tried at least 20 different scans and most of my fingers. Always the same. Will try another family member and then see about a replacement.
You CAN train Touch ID to be better than the initial registration. Go into the Touch ID settings screen (where fingers are listed or added), and repeatedly touch the sensor with an already registered finger. The slot for that finger will flash gray. You can greatly improve reliability by building a detailed map of the finger with dozens of touches of the same finger from different angles and positions.
Didn't know about this but I just tried it and it works great. I wasn't really having an issue with TouchID but it's much more fast / responsive now than it was before.