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So day 4 with new pad and Touch ID sucking again

ssledoux

ssledoux

macrumors 601
Original poster
Sep 16, 2006
4,416
4,245
Down south
I'm pretty annoyed. I was having so much trouble with Touch ID on my 1st generation, and was thrilled that the new one was much improved. Well, today, back to the same crap - not opening at all with my Touch ID.

What the heck?
 
I started out on an ipad air 2 and registered my thumb. Did not work half the time. Then one day I registered my index finger and have had no problems since. For one thing I think, according to what kind of work you have done in your life, your fingerprints wear down by the time you are in your late 40’s so you might even try registering a fingerprint from your non dominant hand.
 
Okay well there's definitely an issue, because when I go to add a fingerprint, it's not really registering. It doesn't show the fingerprint outline, and then, when it does pop up, it registers one touch then stops filling in (if that makes sense). I'm gonna be really pissed if I have to go swap out this iPad.

Also I NEVER have issues on my phone, so I don't think it's my fingerprint that's the problem.
 
ssledoux said:
Okay well there's definitely an issue, because when I go to add a fingerprint, it's not really registering. It doesn't show the fingerprint outline, and then, when it does pop up, it registers one touch then stops filling in (if that makes sense). I'm gonna be really pissed if I have to go swap out this iPad.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you might.
 
ssledoux said:
I'm pretty annoyed. I was having so much trouble with Touch ID on my 1st generation, and was thrilled that the new one was much improved. Well, today, back to the same crap - not opening at all with my Touch ID.

What the heck?
Click to expand...

Do not see a lot of complaints here about defective touch ID and since you have had this happen on a previous device . . . .

Have you tried using a different finger or thumb.
Hands pretty dry? I have problems if hands are wet.
ssledoux said:
Okay well there's definitely an issue, because when I go to add a fingerprint, it's not really registering. It doesn't show the fingerprint outline, and then, when it does pop up, it registers one touch then stops filling in (if that makes sense). I'm gonna be really pissed if I have to go swap out this iPad.

Also I NEVER have issues on my phone, so I don't think it's my fingerprint that's the problem.
Click to expand...

All you can do is reset the device and try to register your fingers again. If you are still having the same problem then it is likely a hardware problem and will have to be repaired or replaced.

Still strange that you have had this same problem on your previous device, too.
 
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Ok so apparently the Touch ID doesn't work when the iPad is charging. I unplugged it per apple support and it worked.

But now my damn ASK isn't connecting. Lovely.
[doublepost=1497631786][/doublepost]Okay - disconnected and reconnected it for the second time and it's good.

But yeah, unplugged the pad and it let me get in with my fingerprint and set 2 more fingerprints. Weird.
 
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ssledoux said:
Ok so apparently the Touch ID doesn't work when the iPad is charging. I unplugged it per apple support and it worked.

But now my damn ASK isn't connecting. Lovely.
[doublepost=1497631786][/doublepost]Okay - disconnected and reconnected it for the second time and it's good.

But yeah, unplugged the pad and it let me get in with my fingerprint and set 2 more fingerprints. Weird.
Click to expand...

There have been threads where the finger ID did not work on iPhones while the charger was hooked up to it. Had to do with the charger or cable, I think. Are both charger and cable from Apple?
 
Newtons Apple said:
Do not see a lot of complaints here about defective touch ID and since you have had this happen on a previous device . . . .

Have you tried using a different finger or thumb.
Hands pretty dry? I have problems if hands are wet.


All you can do is reset the device and try to register your fingers again. If you are still having the same problem then it is likely a hardware problem and will have to be repaired or replaced.

Still strange that you have had this same problem on your previous device, too.
Click to expand...

Well I just posted that apparently it doesn't work when plugged in. I tend to have mine plugged in charging a fair amount when using it, so that's likely been my issue the majority of the time.

I unplugged it and got 2 more fingerprints registered, so I'm just gonna see how it goes, and if I don't see improvement I will take it in. The apple tech said the surges in power can sometimes keep it from working when plugged in, so I'm thinking I just never put two and two together. He did suggest taking it in and having it looked at, so I'll likely do that just to be safe if I have it happen again while unplugged.
 
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Some people have terrible fingers. I mean the finger's lines are not present due to cuts, burns, injuries or even genetics. The scar tissue has issues to get recognized by the TouchID. My mom has this issue.
 
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d5aqoëp said:
Some people have terrible fingers. I mean the finger's lines are not present due to cuts, burns, injuries or even genetics. The scar tissue has issues to get recognized by the TouchID. My mom has this issue.
Click to expand...

Well I haven't had this issue on other devices, so I am assuming that's not an issue, but it certainly does make sense.
 
I am betting it is the charger block or cable. People have reported this before and I am pretty sure they had a problem with either the cable or charger block.

Are both your charging block and cable from Apple?
 
Last edited:
ssledoux said:
Ok so apparently the Touch ID doesn't work when the iPad is charging. I unplugged it per apple support and it worked.

But now my damn ASK isn't connecting. Lovely.
[doublepost=1497631786][/doublepost]Okay - disconnected and reconnected it for the second time and it's good.

But yeah, unplugged the pad and it let me get in with my fingerprint and set 2 more fingerprints. Weird.
Click to expand...

Well I just tested mine a few seconds ago, and when it was off and the charging cable in, I can log on to my iPad just fine.
 
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Actually, the iPad touchID has been a problem in every iPad I've ever had that supported touchID. It started great, but after a few weeks, its almost like it "forgot" my fingerprint - especially the thumb. Re-register, then again good for a few weeks, until it forgets again. Last three iPads I had did that. Seeing how this 10.5 goes.

iPhone - no issues though, ever.
 
ssledoux said:
I'm pretty annoyed. I was having so much trouble with Touch ID on my 1st generation, and was thrilled that the new one was much improved. Well, today, back to the same crap - not opening at all with my Touch ID.

What the heck?
Click to expand...

Yes, I have had to re-do my fingerprint three times already on my new ipp 10.5. About the same as my old iPad.
 
My dad has issues using the fingerprint censor. He has just come to the conclusion that his fingers don't work particularly well for this. On the other hand, I never have an issue with either my iPhone 7 or my first gen iPad Pro 12.9. They always work quickly and on the first try.
 
Newtons Apple said:
I am betting it is the charger block or cable. People have reported this before and I am pretty sure they had a problem with either the cable or charger block.

Are both your charging block and cable from Apple?
Click to expand...

They are, but you know, come to think of it, my cable has been chewed on a little so I wonder if it's just surging.

I haven't had any issues with it since I unplugged it, and I noticed that even my phone wouldn't work when it was plugged in, so it must be an issue with my cord.
 
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Rafterman said:
Actually, the iPad touchID has been a problem in every iPad I've ever had that supported touchID. It started great, but after a few weeks, its almost like it "forgot" my fingerprint - especially the thumb. Re-register, then again good for a few weeks, until it forgets again. Last three iPads I had did that. Seeing how this 10.5 goes.

iPhone - no issues though, ever.
Click to expand...

I've had the same experience with my iPads and no trouble with iPhone 7. So far no problem with Touch ID on the 10.5 but a little early to tell.
 
masotime said:
You shouldn't "redo" your fingerprint. Create multiple fingerprint entries of the same finger. Make sure that you scan your finger in multiple positions (from the left, right, upside down)
Click to expand...
This is correct. Users typically 'are doing it wrong' by placing their finger in the exact same place over and over. Think of the TouchID as taking pictures of your finger. If you place it in the exact same place every time, then it will have 12 duplicate copies of your finger print. Two weeks from now you slightly alter your placement and it gets confused and refuses to give you access.

When lifting and setting your fingerprint move it from the left edge of the button to the right, rotate it slightly after each press, ect. Basically ensure the TouchID gets your fingerprint from every possible angle.
 
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masotime said:
Register your same finger multiple times in Touch ID as different fingers. That may help improve recognition.
Click to expand...
That's an interesting idea, it seems so simple but I had never thought of it. I'm guessing it has no impact on speed just reliability?
 
In addition to the suggestions of moving your finger around a bit while setting a new one up, and scanning the same finger more than once, keep in mind that the iDevice isn't scanning your finger and going "well, it seems close enough" and unlocking. We do all sorts of things that can temporarily alter our fingerprints so maybe your finger was a bit damp, dry, cracked, just recently applied significant pressure elsewhere, etc. Now imagine any of these existed while you were setting up the fingerprint but not when you later tried to unlock and you can see the possibilities of failure.

All in all the function works amazingly well for what it is tasked to do.
 
epca12 said:
That's an interesting idea, it seems so simple but I had never thought of it. I'm guessing it has no impact on speed just reliability?
Click to expand...

I'm guessing the identifying mechanism will try to match your finger through a series of steps which involves narrowing down which finger you registered appears to be a close match. There might be perhaps a really small slowdown, but it's probably unnoticeable to a human being.
 
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