What to do if the fingerprint does not work on Xiaomi. What to do if Touch ID doesn't work well Why iPhone doesn't recognize thumbprint

To date, the Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi has already released several smartphones with a built-in security reader for fingerprint verification. The biggest problem for users of these devices is how to set up a fingerprint on Xiaomi, since difficulties arise at all stages: from registering data to operating the sensor.

Algorithm for recording and monitoring fingerprints

Let's look at how to configure the built-in fingerprint scanner, using Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro as an example. We will assume that we bought a phone with global firmware, and therefore with high-quality Russian localization.

On a clean device (out of the box), scans are added as follows:

If you wish, you can delete the failed shot (if it doesn't work). Again, it’s worth opening the menu through which the data was added. Then click on the desired name: according to the standard “imprint 1, 2, 3, …”. The window that opens will contain a window where you can change the name of a specific finger scan, and below there will be a “Delete” button.

Possible problems

When buying a Xiaomi Redmi 3s, learning how to set up a fingerprint is not enough, since there are a number of shortcomings. There are two main options: the scanner function is buggy, or it does not work at all.

First of all, you can check your guesses about incorrectness in the following ways:

lock and unlock the screen using an alternative code/password/key;
reboot the device;
re-record scans (if the device vibrates at any touch, indicating an unfamiliar fingerprint);
as a last resort, you can reset or reflash the smartphone, but the instructions for this procedure require a separate review.

If the problem remains and the scanner does not work due to its technical inoperability, then only the service center employees will provide assistance.

Nuances of work

As experience on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro has shown, the fingerprint scanner may periodically function incorrectly for a number of reasons:

the finger is dirty, wet or damaged;
there is dust, solid particles, or other objects on the surface of the scanner that partially or completely block the contact of the finger with the device.

Sometimes you cannot delete recorded data unless you first change the language to English. Only after changing the language is it possible to clear the records by disabling the lock and, returning to Russian, record new fingerprints.

Finally, some users are afraid to record fingerprints because they are not sufficiently aware of where exactly such an important part of their body's biometric data is stored. It is worth assuring everyone that information about the “fingers” of the smartphone owner is contained on the processor chip and nowhere else. Therefore, you don’t have to worry that when synchronizing with cloud storage and connecting to the Internet, such important data will fall into the hands of strangers.

Bottom line

The described sensor is an interesting and useful innovation. By integrating such functionality, any manufacturer makes the operation of their devices more simplified, and also increases the reliability of protecting the user’s personal data.

With the release of the iPhone 5s, Apple offered users an alternative method of unlocking smartphones and protecting important data - a fingerprint scanner. Since then, the fingerprint reading mechanism has been used in all mobile gadgets of the Californian corporation, and has become one of the factors in the abandonment of the usual “Slide to unlock” gesture.

Despite the fact that Apple engineers are constantly improving existing solutions, sometimes they fail. For example, the Touch ID fingerprint scanner may refuse to read the data of the smartphone owner. In order for Touch ID to correctly perceive the iPhone owner’s fingerprint again, you need to do a few simple manipulations.

Enable Touch ID unlocking in Settings

Before you start looking for the cause of the Touch ID malfunction, you need to make sure that fingerprint recognition is enabled. To do this, go to Settings - General - Touch ID and password and check whether the ability to unlock the iPhone using a fingerprint is activated. To be sure, you can turn this option off and on again by moving the toggle switch.

Clear scanner

If the ability to unlock using a fingerprint is enabled, but the scanner does not respond, you can begin to find and solve the problem. The first step is to thoroughly clean the Touch ID scanner. Perhaps dust or other dirt has accumulated on it, particles of which prevent normal fingerprint recognition.

Update the operating system to the latest version

Apple releases a major update to iOS and macOS once a year. Throughout the year, less significant updates appear that correct minor errors in the operation of the software and hardware of devices. Perhaps the Touch ID fingerprint scanner is not working correctly due to outdated firmware. To update it you need to go to Settings - General - Software Update.

Correct finger placement

Sometimes the reason the Touch ID scanner doesn't work correctly is because your finger is placed incorrectly. You need to make sure that your finger completely covers the fingerprint scanner, that you don't remove your finger too quickly, and that the system has enough time to scan.

Adding more fingerprints

Apple has provided the ability to add five different fingerprints with which you can unlock your iPhone. These can be different fingerprints from the same person, then when you try to unlock you won't have to use only one finger all the time. It could also be the fingerprints of family members who may be using the device.

When adding new fingerprints, make sure that the system fully and correctly read and recognized them. A partially scanned fingerprint will not allow you to unlock your iPhone in the future.

It is also worth making sure that the smartphone recognizes the owner’s fingerprints during the cold season. To do this, you need to add one scanned in the cold to the list of recognized fingerprints. Since low air temperatures can partially change the fingerprint, making it narrower, a scanner that stores a regular fingerprint in its database may incorrectly perceive a frozen fingerprint.

Xiaomi's installation of fingerprint scanners on its models has become more commonplace than a symbol of an elite device. The fingerprint on Xiaomi Redmi 3s became one of the first signs that promoted this technology “to the people.”

Already, most of the new Xiaomi tablets can boast of having a high-precision scanner. For example, a slightly enlarged Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 or even a “half-tablet” Xiaomi Mi Max. The newest representative of the sixth line of Xiaomi Mi6 inherited and received an improved sensor hidden under glass on the front side of the phone.

Some budget models, like the Xiaomi Redmi 4A, do not have such a sensor at all, while the fairly recent Xiaomi Mi 5 often works intermittently and can disappear completely.

Let's look at the algorithm for adding a new fingerprint.

How to turn it on

Setting up a fingerprint on Xiaomi for the first time is as follows:

Go to the “Settings” menu and select the “Lock screen and fingerprint” tab in the “System and device” list;
Next, click on “Screen lock and fingerprint”. In the new open menu, pay attention to the lowest item in the window - “Add a fingerprint”;
The system offers to set a graphic key in case the supplied fingerprint on the scanner does not work or the device partially fails;
Repeatedly apply any finger (the same one) to the surface of the scanner of your smartphone. An animation with a circle filling and a slight vibration of the device will inform you about the success of each stage of the scan.
If everything is done correctly, you will receive a notification about successful setup. Your device is ready. Additionally, you can install and select another fingerprint.

The location of the sensors will tell us how to make a scan more conveniently. For example, in Xiaomi Mi 5s the sensor is located in the back (by default for the index finger), and in Mi 6 it is in the front (for the thumb).

However, things don't always go so smoothly. It happens that in certain models, like Redmi 4X, there is no fingerprint menu in the settings or the phone does not respond to touches.

Possible problems

Xiaomi smartphones, like samples from other manufacturers, are not ideal. Some of them are subject to systematically occurring problems (namely, the Xiaomi fingerprint does not work) that many users experience.

There can be several possible glitches:

The fingerprint scanner works intermittently;
the saved sample is missing;
there is no response to pressing the sensor field;
The corresponding item in the settings menu has disappeared.

To independently eliminate these unpleasant phenomena in your smartphone, you need to perform the following actions:

unlock it with the main screen pattern set during setup;
completely discharge the device until it turns off automatically;
charge the battery to 100%;
wipe the touch area of the sensor with a dry, clean cloth;
start the smartphone (the sensor should work).

Often tactile recognition stops working on Xiaomi Mi 5, which is explained by shortcomings in the official firmware. If the phone still doesn’t find it or the menu disappears as if it never existed, you need to contact the Xiaomi service center. There, your phone will undergo a detailed analysis of the fault that has arisen, and, if necessary, repair or replacement of the part.

Nuances

Not in all cases, Xiaomi with a fingerprint scanner should be sent in for repair or “tormented” with firmware by yourself. New budget and flagship smartphone models have “raw” firmware at launch. The developers simply do not have time to eliminate all its shortcomings. Most often, the solution to such troubles is a new update. Thus, the operation of the fingerprint scanner on Mi 5s has been fixed.

A common reason for preventing fingerprint recognition on the lock screen can be a dirty or wet finger. Cuts and scars also negatively affect Xiaomi's screen locking ability.

Sometimes the problem is resolved by switching the language to English, then deleting the poorly recognized old scan sample and replacing it with a new one.

The last option is to disable the non-working scanner on your phone.

Removing a fingerprint

For the Xiaomi Mi and Redmi phone lines, creating a new scan sample is exactly the same as disabling the old one.

The removal process takes less than a minute:

go to the “Screen lock and fingerprint” menu (the path to it is indicated in the second section of the article) and enter the password.
By clicking on the “New password” item, we confirm deleting the scan on the smartphone.

After turning off the sensor, it will not respond to touches until the owner wants to set a new profile.

Is the Touch ID sensor on your iPhone or iPad not working as well as it used to? Are you able to unlock your device only after several attempts? It may be a hardware issue, or the problem may not be that serious and can be easily fixed.

The home button on your iOS device is extremely sensitive equipment. Not only does it allow you to instantly jump to the home screen, but it also acts as a powerful fingerprint scanner. Any iPhone user will confirm that when it works (and, more often than not, there are no problems), everything is just fine. However, sometimes this button does not function quite correctly.

If your Touch ID sensor has started acting strange, there could be many reasons for it. But before you replace it entirely, try a few solutions that may help you save money.

Note: If you do need to replace your hardware, remember that this can only be done by Apple itself or an Apple-authorized repair technician. Replacing the Home button at a third-party repair shop can lead to serious problems.

Mud and water

Most often, dirt and water are the culprits of the problem. Most likely, you will not be able to unlock the device with wet or damp hands.

Likewise, if your hands are covered in a layer of dirt or grease that obscures fingerprints, gaining access to your device may not be such an easy task.

In this case, the solution is quite simple: wash your hands and dry them.

However, there is a possibility that dirt may have gotten on the Home button itself. Try wiping it with a soft, dry cloth. If this doesn't help, use a can of compressed air.

Cold weather, hard work and worn fingerprints

Cold weather can dry out your hands, leaving them rough. If you live in a cold, dry climate, there's a good chance that your fingerprints will change enough that Touch ID won't recognize them.

Handwork can also affect your fingerprints. Your hands may become so rough and worn that Touch ID has trouble recognizing your fingerprints.

Try adding the altered fingerprints to the list of acceptable ones until the weather changes or take a break from working to return your hands to their previous state.

Issues with updates

You always need to install the latest updates for your version of iOS, by the way, I recently wrote about how to disable Predictive Dialing. However, sometimes new software versions can become a source of problems. If you experience sudden Touch ID sensor failure right after updating your iPhone or iPad, it may be due to faulty software.

In such a situation, you can wait to install the update, or roll back the system to a previous version of the software.

Update the fingerprints stored in the system

If none of the above methods helped you, try updating your fingerprints saved in the system. This procedure will likely resolve many, if not all, Touch ID related issues.

We have several articles devoted to this process. There is a method to improve fingerprint recognition on your device. In addition, you can add additional prints in case the main ones stop working.

When all else fails, use a factory reset

If even updating your saved fingerprints does not help you, you may have to reset device to factory settings. After contacting a repair shop, this is the most extreme option and will result in a complete cleaning of your iPhone or iPad. Therefore, if you do not want to lose your photos, videos, messages and other important data, take care of it in advance.

If you still can't solve the problem, it's time to admit defeat and take your device to certified technicians for repair. It won't be cheap, but the Home button is tightly coupled to your iPhone or iPad, so you don't have much of a choice. By trying to save money, you'll likely end up spending more money in the long run and risk turning your device into a piece of plastic. Contact Apple and Apple-authorized repair shops only.

Touch ID is the official name of the fingerprint reader found on the iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, as well as the iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, iPad Air 2 and iPad Pro tablets. Apple claims that the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus models have a newer version of Touch ID, and on forums users claim that Touch ID often does not work, both “old” and new.

Touch ID is, of course, a useful solution, not only from a marketing point of view, but also from a purely practical one.

Users can use it to unlock their iPhone and iPad, log into accounts in various online services, and even pay for purchases via Apple Pay.

But only if Touch ID works properly. But, unfortunately, like any other electronics, this one is also capricious sometimes. Therefore, let's figure it out.

To begin with, we note that if problems with Touch ID on your Apple device began after a recent update of its operating system to iOS 9 and/or even newer versions, then most likely you may need a downgrade (i.e. rolling back the system to the previous one) version), or, if the problems are not so critical, then it is better to wait for the next update.

You can try to figure out other problems with the fingerprint scanner in iPhones from 5s and newer, as well as in iPads mini 3, mini 4, Pro and Air 2, so to speak, on your own and even at home. Fortunately, there are not very many such problems, and ways to eliminate them are already known. So if:

Touch ID doesn't work - crash

If Touch ID malfunctions, it is recommended to deal with this problem by simply reconfiguring it. In other words, you need to re-teach your iPhone (or iPad) to recognize your fingerprint. Since the advent of scanners, Apple has regularly updated their software so that users’ smartphones and tablets remember their owners’ “fingers” longer and better.

Radical optimization seems to have been carried out back in iOS 8, but, as practice shows, if you don’t refresh the fingerprint, then over time (from a month or longer) Touch ID fails one way or another, but it happens. The reasons can be very different, but, as a rule, they are purely cosmetic in nature: slight “wear and tear” of the fingerprint itself, dry skin of the finger, etc.

Therefore, if Touch ID suddenly fails, then first update the fingerprint in the memory of your smartphone or tablet. But first, you should carefully wipe the surface of the scanner and wash your hands. Next we go to “ Settings ", then - in " Touch ID and passcode ". We remove old fingerprints by swiping across the screen from right to left. After that we tap “ Add a fingerprint "and repeat the standard procedure for entering a fingerprint according to the instructions.

Touch ID doesn't work in the App Store

This is also a noticeable problem. Most often, the reason that the scanner stops working with the App Store is also a cosmetic factor, but often the problem occurs due to software malfunctions. Some users complain that with iOS 8.3 Touch ID is simply not displayed in the App Store.

In such and similar cases, we do the following:

click " Settings » -> « Touch ID and passcode «;

In chapter " Using Touch ID » disable « App Store, iTunes Store «;

reboot iPhone (or iPad);

back to again “Settings” -> “Touch ID and password” and turn on " App Store, iTunes Store «.

After this, the Touch ID bug in the App Store should resolve itself. We also remind you that if you have not purchased anything from the App Store within 24 hours, the system will require a password at the entrance.

Touch ID doesn't work at all

Of course, there is also a possibility that the fingerprint scanner has failed. Although users complain about such breakdowns relatively rarely. If, after updating the fingerprint, Touch ID does not work properly, then you can try a “hard reset” by first creating a backup. If the problem is software in nature, then a hard reboot should fix it. Otherwise, you will have to visit a service center, since it is unlikely to be possible without qualified diagnostics.

Touch ID does not work in winter or cold

Statistics show that in low temperatures the fingerprint scanner in iPhone and iPad fails more often. The problem, again, in most cases has a simple explanation. The fact is that in cold weather the papillary pattern of the fingers changes. It is difficult to notice these changes with the naked eye, but Touch ID notices them and begins to fail. As you probably already guessed, the problem is also cured by updating the fingerprint. But you can do it even simpler and enter a special “winter” fingerprint into the device’s memory, i.e. scan the finger pattern immediately from the cold. True, they say that both methods only partially solve the problem, but it’s still worth a try.

Touch ID doesn't work when it's dirty or wet

Well, there’s not much to explain here. It is clear that moisture or dirt (whether on the skin of the finger or on the surface of the scanner) is very effective in preventing any fingerprint from being scanned. Therefore, if the scanner contains excess wet and/or dirty substances, it is better to wipe it with a dry, clean cloth. And you need to wash your finger (you can even wash it with your hands). However, you shouldn’t overdo it with water, because if you keep your hands in water for a long time, the fingertips will wrinkle and the papillary pattern will temporarily change. Apple claims that in the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus Touch ID works better with wet skin, but the manufacturer still does not recommend using the scanner with wet hands.