Proven Ways to Fix Touch ID Not Working to Unlock iPhone

Though Face ID is already the new recognition for iPhone X and later, Touch ID is still the great biometrics solution for those on the iPhone SE series, iPhone 8 series, and earlier. Using Touch ID, users can unlock their iPhones and use other services simply by placing their fingerprints on the sensor.

However, it would be tricky if Touch ID is not working. The first inconvenience is that you can only unlock your iPhone by entering the passcode. If you have the same problem, please keep reading the article and you can get the solutions.

Part 1. How to Fix iPhone Touch ID Not Working

Method 1. Make Sure Your Finger is Dry

If your finger is wet when touching the Home button, this may also leave Touch ID not working on your iPhone. So, wipe off any water or grease from your finger and keep your finger dry and clean before pressing the Home button.

Method 2. Clean the Touch ID Sensor

Check that there is no dirt or stains on your Touch ID sensor, as these can prevent the sensor from fitting your fingerprint and lead to iPhone Touch ID not working. Thus, use a clean, soft cloth to gently wipe the Home button (Touch ID part) of your phone, and remember not to get water on it.

Method 3. Check Touch ID Settings

Another reason why your iPhone Touch ID not working could be the Touch ID feature is set up improperly. You may have not added your fingerprint successfully, or have not enabled the available options, such as Unlock iPhone.

To check Touch ID settings, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode. You may click on Add a Fingerprint if there is no added Finger, and enable the options for unlocking using the Touch ID as well.

Method 4. Delete and Reset Touch ID

If the Add fingerprint option is already enabled in the Touch ID settings and you still can't unlock the screen, you may delete the added fingerprint and reset it. Resetting and recalibrating the fingerprint on the Touch ID sensor will help fix the issue with Touch ID not working on iPhone.

Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > select one of the Fingers you want to delete > Delete Fingerprint. Then tap Add a Fingerprint to reset it.

Method 5. Update iOS System

Restarting your iPhone is also one of the quickest ways for fixing the iPhone Face ID not working problem. By doing so, your phone may fix itself to resolve some of the system errors that cause FaceID not to work and restore this feature again to help you unlock your iPhone quickly once your device is powered back on. Here's how to force restart on different iPhone models.

To update your iPhone to the latest system, such as iOS 16 versions, simply open Settings > General > Software Update > Download and Install.

Method 6. Force Restart Your iPhone

Outdated iOS can be another culprit for iPhone Touch ID not working to unlock the screen, especially if you're currently using a version that's much older than the latest one. Therefore, it is essential to keep your iPhone system version up to date.

For iPhone SE series and iPhone 8 series: Press and hold the Volume Up button, press and hold the Volume Down button, and press and hold the Power button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone 7 series: Press and hold both the Volume Down button and the Power button until the Apple logo shows up.

For iPhone 6 Series and iPhone 5S: Press and hold both the Home button and the Power button until the Apple logo displays.

Method 7. Touch ID Not Working and You Forgot iPhone Passcode? Try TunesKit iPhone

One situation that many of you may have encountered is when Touch ID doesn't work and you forget your password at the same time, preventing you from accessing your iPhone. This is where TunesKit iPhone Unlocker comes in handy.

TunesKit iPhone Unlocker is a user-friendly yet professional iOS unlocking tool. Although its name might lead you to believe that it can only be used to unlock iPhones, it can actually unlock various passcode restrictions from iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches or fix biometric unlocking features that do not work, such as iPhone Face ID not working, unlock disabled iPhone, Apple ID unavailable, etc. With its help, your iPhone could be accessed even though the Touch ID is not working. But one thing you cannot avoid is that this program won't retain any data and content on your device once it's started, so you'd better back up your phone in advance.

Key Features of TunesKit iPhone Unlocker

• Available on Windows and Mac
• Fix Touch ID not working on iPhone, iPad
• Unlock screen lock, no-longer-used Apple ID, MDM, Screen Time without passcode
• Applies to all iOS systems, including the latest iOS 16

Try It Free 600,000+ Downloads

Try It Free 600,000+ Downloads

Here is the step-by-step tutorial for fixing iPhone Touch ID is not working using TunesKit iPhone Unlocker

Step 1Connect Your iPhone to Computer

Download and launch TunesKit iPhoe Unlocker, and then connect your iPhone to the computer. In TunesKit iPhone Unlocker interface, tap Unlock iOS Sreen > Start.

Step 2Put Your iPhone into DFU Mode

Next, refer to the on-screen steps to put your iPhone into DFU mode.

Step 3Download Firmware Package

In this step, check your iPhone details and select the right option if it's wrong, and click on the Download button to download the firmware package.

Step 4Start Fixing Touch ID Not Working to Unlock iPhone

After the download, simply tap the Unlock button to start fixing Touch ID not working to unlock iPhone problem.

Conclusion

We have shared all effective methods to help you fix iPhone Touch ID not working problem. In case you've forgotten the passcode and Touch ID does not work, you could give TunesKit iPhone Unlocker a try to access your iPhone successfully. But if the Touch ID is not working because of hardware damage, you'd better go to Apple Store or an authorized service center to get it fixed.