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Touch ID works what percent of the time
- Thread starter bushman4
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Haven't used mine since the first day I did the "hmm, cool" set-up, but curious to know how it has worked out in everyday use for folks.
if I have cold or wet fingers it doesn't work.
if I sit slightly at different angle it doesn't work.
so I voted 60-70%
if I sit slightly at different angle it doesn't work.
so I voted 60-70%
Works 1st or 2nd time most of the time. I haven't retaught a finger in at least 6 weeks (bought on launch day).
In the first few weeks' useage, I noticed a change in accuracy depending on the my skin condition - for instance, after showering, I wouldn't have a lot of success with the sensor, so I would re-teach the finger. It'd be ok for a while, but would slowly degrade. I read about the following procedure, gave it a try, and haven't needed to re-teach a finger since.
One way to improve accuracy (for at least myself and another family member) was to accelerate the automatic "learning" over time by watching the finger list while slightly moving the finger "out of range", then back in - essentially "pushing the envelope" of what TouchID reads as a positive ID. This is something TouchID is supposed to do anyway; the procedure is just a way to quickly expand the particular finger's data set.
In the first few weeks' useage, I noticed a change in accuracy depending on the my skin condition - for instance, after showering, I wouldn't have a lot of success with the sensor, so I would re-teach the finger. It'd be ok for a while, but would slowly degrade. I read about the following procedure, gave it a try, and haven't needed to re-teach a finger since.
One way to improve accuracy (for at least myself and another family member) was to accelerate the automatic "learning" over time by watching the finger list while slightly moving the finger "out of range", then back in - essentially "pushing the envelope" of what TouchID reads as a positive ID. This is something TouchID is supposed to do anyway; the procedure is just a way to quickly expand the particular finger's data set.
It's pretty reliable but it does tend to not work on my right thumb for some reason.
I've been working outside the last two nights in the 0 - -9 degree weather and I had to turn off TouchID till I get home or back inside because it doesn't seem to work OK in those cold temps. It's likely just the way the cold changes the skin.
I've been working outside the last two nights in the 0 - -9 degree weather and I had to turn off TouchID till I get home or back inside because it doesn't seem to work OK in those cold temps. It's likely just the way the cold changes the skin.
"It works 60% of the time, everytime."
But in all seriousness, I would say it works about 98% of the time for me. The few times it hasn't was when my hands were sweaty and I guess the Touch ID couldn't pick up my finger print. Otherwise, it works flawlessly.
But in all seriousness, I would say it works about 98% of the time for me. The few times it hasn't was when my hands were sweaty and I guess the Touch ID couldn't pick up my finger print. Otherwise, it works flawlessly.
It works so well that this is the first iPhone since the very first in 2007 that I actually lock. I don't even keep my iPad locked.
Same here, I've never put a code lock on any of my iPhones until now. Works 100% of the time for me.
You guys are making me think that I must have a hardware problem. There is a very long thread on the Apple Support Forums about Touch ID issues, and I have tried everything in there. No matter what I do, my Touch ID follows the exact same pattern every time:
Here are the things I've tried:
Hardware problem?
1) For the first hour, it works 100%, regardless of the finger or the temperature or anything else.
2) After the first hour, it starts to degrade and requires several attempts to unlock the phone.
3) After about 90 minutes, it won't work at all.
2) After the first hour, it starts to degrade and requires several attempts to unlock the phone.
3) After about 90 minutes, it won't work at all.
Here are the things I've tried:
Rescanning according to the "Jo Fo" method: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3r8AGn9PCI&feature=youtu.be
Registering the same finger twice
Always using the fleshiest part of the finger and covering the entire button
Keeping the button and the fingers very clean
Hard-Resetting the phone
Registering the same finger twice
Always using the fleshiest part of the finger and covering the entire button
Keeping the button and the fingers very clean
Hard-Resetting the phone
Hardware problem?
Me too
My experience matches yours, except that I took my phone to my local Apple store and saw the technician, twice. Both times they acted like they had rarely seen this problem, then they gave me a replacement phone. I restored the new phones rather than setting them up as new to avoid many hours of configuring. Both replacement phones behaved just like the first phone. In my case I think I can rule out a hardware problem. I am hoping it's a software problem that gets fixed in 7.1.
BTW, I was surprised by the results of this survey. I would love to be able to unlock with touch id.
My experience matches yours, except that I took my phone to my local Apple store and saw the technician, twice. Both times they acted like they had rarely seen this problem, then they gave me a replacement phone. I restored the new phones rather than setting them up as new to avoid many hours of configuring. Both replacement phones behaved just like the first phone. In my case I think I can rule out a hardware problem. I am hoping it's a software problem that gets fixed in 7.1.
BTW, I was surprised by the results of this survey. I would love to be able to unlock with touch id.
I have been using Touch ID since I got my 5s, but it seemed to work 70% of the time, which was somewhat disappointing. I got a replacement from Apple for a completely unrelated issue and my new phone works so well with TouchID, so much better than the old one. Probably one out of 50 times it won't read properly and I have to quickly rescan. Much quicker than entering my 4 digit pass code!
Works about 95% of the time for me. I was having trouble with it at first, but it turns out I wasn't placing my finger on the sensor properly.
I was placing my thumb on the sensor too far toward the tip. Now I place the center of my thumb on the sensor and it works much more reliably.
I was placing my thumb on the sensor too far toward the tip. Now I place the center of my thumb on the sensor and it works much more reliably.
A good trick I've found to improve the accuracy of Touch ID is to configure your fingerprint with your finger crooked not centered, just like it would be when holding the phone with just one hand and trying to touch the sensor with the thumb.
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