Touch ID is what Apple called its fingerprint sensor in the iPhone 5s, the first device of the brand to incorporate such a biometric system. Over the years it has been improved and adopted by different devices. In this article we will tell you all about the Touch ID settings, the iPhone compatible with it, the possible bugs it has and more.
What exactly is it and what is it for?
As we have already explained at the beginning, Touch ID is the official name by which Apple’s fingerprint recognition is known. This is mainly used to unlock the iPhone safely without having to enter the security code, although it will be required when you turn on the iPhone after it has been turned off.
However, Touch ID also allows you to make secure payments through Apple Pay, either in a physical or digital establishment. In the same way, it is used to avoid having to enter passwords in some applications and wen sites , since if you have this saved in the iCloud keychain, your finger will suffice. This is also available on the App Store, obviating the need to enter the Apple ID password on certain downloads.
What iPhone have Touch ID?
Apple smartphones that have Touch ID today, all have it located on the Home button . The list of iPhones that have it are the following:
- Iphone 5s
- Iphone 6
- iPhone 6s
- iPhone 6s Plus
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone SE (1st generation)
- iPhone SE (2nd generation)
In future iPhones this biometric system could return , probably shared with the Face ID facial detector. Although at the time of publishing this article, this is pure hearsay. All this would be due to a movement by Apple to try to correct the problems caused by face masks with Face ID and would probably have to do it in a new place due to the absence of the Home button in the new generations.
How to configure Touch ID
When you start an iPhone for the first time and go through its initial configuration you will find at a given moment the possibility of registering your fingerprint with Touch ID. If you have already configured the iPhone and have not registered it, you will have to go to Settings> Touch ID and Code . Once here you must click on “Add a fingerprint” and follow the instructions on the screen. It is important to follow them, since that way you can be completely sure that the registration is done well.
Delete or add more fingerprints from iPhone
Just as adding a fingerprint for the first time is easy, the same is true for adding new ones or deleting them. From the same Settings panel indicated in the previous section, you will find the possibility of adding more fingerprints up to a limit of 5. You can add two fingerprints of the same finger for more security, other fingers or even those of another person.
To delete or rename them to distinguish them, you must put your finger on the Home button and, without pressing, you will see how the fingerprint in question appears highlighted on the screen. You can click on it and rename or delete it depending on what you want.
Touch ID doesn’t recognize you?
Despite the good work of Touch ID in terms of speed and efficiency, the truth is that it can fail on occasion. The first thing you should know is that if you try to unlock several times without success, it will lock allowing you to unlock the device only with the security code. The origin that I did not rec
Knowing even having the registered fingerprint is usually associated with the following:
- Misplacing your finger on the Home button.
- That the finger and / or the Home button are dirty.
- That your finger is wet and / or the Home button is.
If you find yourself in one of the last two situations, what we recommend is to clean your finger and leave it dry to try again. First pass a wet wipe (without abrasive liquid) over the button to clean it.
What to do if the button is wrong
If the Touch ID does not work despite following all the recommendations, it is very possible that it is the Home button that is failing. For this you must go to Apple or a technical service authorized by them. In these places they will not only be able to verify exactly the origin of the problem, but also offer you the best solution. The cost of the repair may vary depending on whether or not it is really the button that is failing, as well as depending on your iPhone model and whether or not it is under warranty. If the fault is found to be caused by a factory defect, it could even be free.
