TouchID never works. Are my finger prints malfunctioning?!?

[appleguy123]

Most of the time when I try to set up a fingerprint, it will fail and say the operation wasn't successful. Sometimes it goes through and it will work to unlock the phone for a few times. Then it inevitably works about 1 in 20 times and I turn it off to start the process again.

Is my phone defective? I bought this phone exclusively for this feature and the fact that it doesn't work is infuriating.

 

[Carlanga]

take it back? test w/ other persons fingers?

 

[lordofthereef]

I'd say something is amiss. I suppose you could see if it works with someone else's fingerprint? I imagine if your fingertips are worn it might be difficult to get a read but that shouldn't be the case for most people I wouldn't think.

 

[appleguy123]

I'd say something is amiss. I suppose you could see if it works with someone else's fingerprint? I imagine if your fingertips are worn it might be difficult to get a read but that shouldn't be the case for most people I wouldn't think.

I'm pretty nerdy, and I don't think I've done anything to hurt my prints.

 

[lordofthereef]

I'm pretty nerdy, and I don't think I've done anything to hurt my prints.

Then I'd think it's an issue with the phone. Go into an apple store or any store with a test model and try it out. Does it work better? That should answer some questions right away.

 

[sillywabbit]

Most of the time when I try to set up a fingerprint, it will fail and say the operation wasn't successful. Sometimes it goes through and it will work to unlock the phone for a few times. Then it inevitably works about 1 in 20 times and I turn it off to start the process again.

Is my phone defective? I bought this phone exclusively for this feature and the fact that it doesn't work is infuriating.

Wash your hands with soap! Ha!

 

[appleguy123]

Wash your hands with soap! Ha!

That was the first thing I tried to do. It did not help. I tried to clean the Home button too. Nothing worked.

 

[AbyssImpact]

That was the first thing I tried to do. It did not help. I tried to clean the Home button too. Nothing worked.

Try it with another part of your body.

 

[KPOM]

Most of the time when I try to set up a fingerprint, it will fail and say the operation wasn't successful. Sometimes it goes through and it will work to unlock the phone for a few times. Then it inevitably works about 1 in 20 times and I turn it off to start the process again.

Is my phone defective? I bought this phone exclusively for this feature and the fact that it doesn't work is infuriating.

It could be your phone. The poll I started is pretty convincing.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1642138/

Make sure that you are touching the silver ring. When I've registered a "miss" it's usually because I'm not touching it. Otherwise, it works flawlessly for me.

 

[TimCook]

That was the first thing I tried to do. It did not help. I tried to clean the Home button too. Nothing worked.

You may be pressing to hard?
Mine works perfectly, but it doesn't accept my print if I unlock by pressing the home button hard from and angle (that causes the print to stretch at hence it isn't recognised)
If that's not the issue then it may just be a lemon

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Oh and your finger must touch both the metal detection ring AND the scanner. You probably knew that, but just in case

 

[WhiteIphone5]

You're an Alien.