Fingerprint ID is a crucial feature on modern phones that allow you to quickly and easily unlock your device for use. However, sometimes things can go wrong that will lead you to ask yourself, “why isn’t my iPhone recognising fingerprint ID?” – and this can be incredibly frustrating.
Here, we will go through what you can do to try and resolve the issue, but ultimately, a repair might be needed. Before you fret too much, though, it’s always worth trying to fix the issue in the comfort of your own home, and for free.
Learn what to do if a software update fails, and fix iPhones that won’t vibrate, detect SIM cards, charge, stay charged, or connect to Wi-Fi. We also explore issues like speaker issues, and broken power buttons, so there’s plenty to check out.
Simple Fixes for Getting Fingerprint ID to Work
Before we get into the more in-depth options for fixing an iPhone that won’t recognise fingerprint ID, let’s start with the basics. If these fix the issue – great! If they don’t, then be prepared to try more drastic measures to get your device working as it should again.
Make Sure Your Finger and the Reader is Clean and Dry
The number one problem with fingerprint ID is that moisture, grime, and swollen fingers can all prevent it from working. Humid climates can make this incredibly difficult, so always give your finger (and hand)a good wipe to ensure that it’s both clean and dry before using your phone.
Take the Screen Protector Off
If you recently got a new screen protector, and fingerprint ID stopped working after that, then the screen protector could be the issue. Low-quality protectors will prevent the reader from recognising your finger, and the sensitivity might be dialled way down.
Make sure you get high-quality screen protectors, and you will notice that they will not be the cause of these kinds of issues in the future.
Force Restart Your Device
Sometimes a simple restart is all that’s needed to jumpstart the correct processes in your iPhone. Depending on the iPhone model you have, you will need to take different steps to force restart your device, but none of them require your home button to be working.
For iPhones that Support iOS 16 or Later
- Quickly press the volume up button and release
- Quickly press the volume down button and release
- Hold down the side button
- Release the side button when the Apple logo shows
For iPhones that Don’t Support iOS 16 (iPhones 6, 7, 8 and SE (1st Gen)
- iPhone 6 models and iPhone SE (1st Gen) – Hold down the home and sleep/wake button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 7 – Hold down the sleep/wake button and volume down button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd Gen) – Quickly press the volume up button and release, then do the same with the volume down button. Hold down the side button, and release it when you see the Apple logo
Why isn't My iPhone Recognising Fingerprint ID
Now, let’s have a look at some more in-depth fixes that could correct your phone and get it to recognise your fingerprint ID again. These might take a little while if nothing else has worked, so be prepared to spend more than five minutes trying to resolve the issue.
Make Sure Your iPhone is Up-to-Date
This is something that helps with a lot of tech issues – from phones that have poor sound quality on calls and other audio issues to various camera problems. Usually an iPhone will update without an issue, but if you are having trouble, you can follow the steps we’ve outlined below.
You will need the latest version of iTunes on a Windows or Mac laptop/PC for this method.
Follow these steps:
- Connect your Windows/Mac device to the phone
- Do a force restart to get your phone in Recovery Mode
- Don’t let go of the buttons until the phone screen has the Recovery mode screen (a charging cable with an arrow pointed at a laptop)
- Select ‘update’ when the option to restore or update on your computer shows up
- Confirm, then follow the instructions given to you (it can take up to 15 minutes, so have some patience)
- Your phone will restart on its own once you’re done
If this doesn’t work, you can use DFU Mode, but beware that this will restore iOS to a clean slate, so back your phone up first!
Disable Touch ID Settings
Another option you can try is disabling all touch ID settings and restarting the device. This is straightforward, where you go to Settings → Touch ID & Passcode, and disable all the options there.
Once disabled, restart your iPhone, go back to the settings, and re-enable all the features you turned off.
Delete the Fingerprint
You can delete the current fingerprint attached to the device and restart your iPhone. When it’s booted up again, go back to the settings and set up a new fingerprint ID. You can use the same finger or a different one, or set up more than one.
This is a great option if you want to make sure that the fingerprint ID is set up correctly, as there might have been something wrong with the previous one.
Reset all Network Settings
Some people have found that resetting all the network settings on the device has resolved the issue for them. This might not sound like it should be related to fingerprint ID, but tech can work in mysterious ways.
To reset all network settings on your iPhone, follow these steps: Settings → General → Reset → Reset Network Settings.
If you are having this issue on your iPad or an iPhone with a different iOS, you can follow these steps: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone/iPad Settings → Reset → Reset Network Settings
Reset Your iPhone
If nothing else is working, you might need to erase your iPhone to its default state. This will get rid of everything on the device, so make sure you back up all your important data before proceeding if you want to keep it.
To reset your iPhone, follow these steps: Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset → Erase All Content and Settings → Erase iPhone.
If All Else Fails…
Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a more in-depth look in order to figure out what the issue is – and this is where repair shops like us come into play. While there’s a lot that you can do at home, if you lack the technical knowledge, then some issues just can’t be fixed sitting on a couch.
At imFixed, we have skilled technicians that know what to do and are more than willing to do it.
imFixed Can Help You
At imFixed, we believe local is best, and have repair shops in Manchester, Rochdale, Oldham, and beyond. We also keep accessories such as Apple chargers, Apple cases, android cases, and screen protectors, and supply you with the ultimate tool – knowledge.
We also have articles on replacing the front and back glass on your phone, as well as the battery. There are also several articles on accessing the rear camera of your iPhone, what happens if your camera lens breaks.
So, why isn’t my iPhone recognising fingerprint ID? There are any number of reasons – from your finger being damp or swollen to software glitches and incorrect settings. Hopefully this article has helped you solve your problem, and you can easily access your iPhone again.
