Apple’s iOS 7.1 Update Actually Made Touch ID Worse For A Lot Of Users
March 11, 2014
Like millions of others, I couldn’t wait to download Apple’s iOS 7.1 when it was released earlier this week. Unfortunately, the update has caused me nothing but problems, at least when installed on my iPhone 5s.
Unfortunately, one look at Apple’s support site shows that I’m not the only one experiencing one problem in particular -- Touch ID isn't playing nice with iOS 7.1.
After installing iOS 7.1 on my iPhone 5s, I noticed that the three fingerprints I had previously set were no longer there. I figured this was a security measure Apple had elected to impose as iOS 7.1 was the first significant update since iOS 7 launched last fall.
I dutifully re-added two of my three fingerprints (the third was my daughter’s), and figured I was good to go.
Soon after, I noticed Touch ID wouldn’t unlock my iPhone. In fact, it didn’t even recognize either of my fingerprints. In the Settings app under Touch ID & Password, I noticed “iPhone Unlock” wasn’t checked. That was obviously the problem — or so I thought.
Even with this setting checked, Touch ID wouldn’t work for me. After deleting and adding my fingerprints three more times, I finally got things working again. Unfortunately, success led to more failure. To date, Touch ID only works sporadically for me on my iPhone 5s.
Other troubleshooting steps I have taken include cleaning the home button, doing both a hard and soft reboot, and even washing my hands. None of these steps resolved the issue.
Convinced something was wrong with my iPhone 5s (as opposed to iOS 7.1 itself), I was ready to head to the Apple Store to get a replacement device. Before doing so, I did a simple Google search for “Touch ID iOS 7.1.”
Yep, this is a problem being experienced by many others as this Apple support thread shows. There is also one located here.
I’m in the process of contacting Apple about this issue. Hopefully, an official explanation (and fix) will be addressed soon.
While I understand that software bugs happen, I'm a little bit surprised by this one. After all, wasn't iOS 7.1 supposed to make Touch ID better?
Are you having more Touch ID issues since updating to 7.1?