9 Tips to Fix Unable to Activate Touch ID on This iPhone

User Concern

“My Touch ID is not working on my iPhone. I tried several forced power off and restart, but still, the prompt message 'unable to activate Touch ID on this iPhone' came out. Any suggestion about fixing this problem?”

Touch ID is a secure way to protect your iPhone and privacy. It is important for users with models before the iPhone X, such as the iPhone 5s, 6, 6s, 6s Plus, 7, and 8.

With Touch ID, you can easily unlock your iPhone, install apps from Apple Store, make payments, etc. It would be really frustrating if you are unable to activate Touch ID on this iPhone.

Why is My iPhone Saying Unable to Activate Touch ID?

Since Touch ID relies on both software (iOS) and hardware (sensors) to work properly, failures can occur due to various reasons, including:

• For Touch ID to work properly, the home button needs to be clean and dry. A dirty or wet button can cause the touch sensor to fail.
• The Touch ID scan may fail if you're using a phone case or screen protector that covers the home button.
• Touch ID can only be activated if either Phone Unlock or iTunes & App Store is enabled. If both are off, Touch ID will not function properly.
• Your iPhone is running an outdated iOS version or incompatible with the updated iOS version.

Relax, here we will provide several solutions for the Touch ID activation problem. Read on and check out.

1. Simple Steps to Fix "Unable to Activate Touch ID"

Touch ID activation errors can be both software and hardware-related. If you get this error "Unable to activate Touch ID on this iPhone," follow these simple steps to find a quick fix:

• Ensure that your fingers and the Touch ID sensor (the Home button) are dry and clean. Try to clear away any dirt or debris on your finger or device using a lint-free cloth.
• Ensure that your finger covers the entire Home button completely and don't move your finger around, so the Touch ID sensor can scan your fingerprint properly.
• Ensure that your phone case or screen protector doesn't cover the Touch ID sensor or the surrounding ring.
• Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode to ensure that iPhone Unlock or iTunes & App Store is enabled.
• You can also enroll a different finger to activate the Touch ID on your iPhone.

2. Activate Touch ID from Settings

Before we take any other measures to fix the Touch ID activation issue, let's take a look at how to activate Touch ID from Settings on iPhone. Please note that Touch ID cannot be used on iPhone devices earlier than iPhone 5S or later than iPhone 8.

• Open Settings on your iPhone and go to Touch ID & Passcode.
• You need to enter the password when asked. This step will be skipped if you have not set a password before.
• On the next interface, enable iPhone Unlock and click Add a Fingerprint.
• Now, place your finger on the Home button to add a new fingerprint.

The new Touch ID has been set up. Restart your iPhone to activate it. You can then unlock your iPhone via the new fingerprint.

3. Force Restart Your iPhone

If the error of "Unable to activate Touch ID on this iPhone" still cannot be removed after the setting, try to force restart your device. This method could usually be applied to solving most iPhone issues. Follow the steps below to hard reboot your iPhone.

• For iPhone 8: Press and release the Volume Up button quickly. Then press and release the Volume Down button quickly. Finally, press and hold the Side button until the Apple logo appears on the screen.
• For iPhone 7/7 Plus: Press the Sleep/Wake button and the Volume Down button at the same time until you see the Apple logo appearing on the screen.
• For iPhone 6/6s/6s Plus/5s: Hold the Home button and the Power button for nearly 8 seconds until you see the Apple logo displaying on the device screen.

4. Turn Password Off and On

Sometimes, the passcode on your iPhone may prevent the Touch ID from working normally. You can turn the passcode off and on to reset the security settings and solve the Touch ID activation issues. Here is how to do it:

• Go to Settings on iPhone and select Touch ID & Passcode.
• Enter the password that you set before, and click Turn Password Off.
• Wait for about 5-10 minutes, and then click Turn Passcode ON.

5. Delete Touch ID and Reset It Again

One more solution to get rid of Unable to Activate Touch ID on This iPhone is to delete Touch ID and reset it again.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Tap the option of Touch ID & Passcode and enter the passcode to proceed.
• Then, you will see the fingerprints you set before. Swipe from right to left and click Delete to remove the fingerprint.
• After deleting the fingerprint, follow the steps above to set the new fingerprint.

6. Reset All Settings on iPhone

Any changes in iPhone settings can also cause the Touch ID activation issue. In such cases, resetting all settings on your iPhone may help to fix the problem. It will not erase any of the device data or media files.

To reset the settings on your iPhone, you need to tap the Settings icon on the screen, then click General > Reset > Reset All Settings. After resetting, you can check whether the Touch ID can be activated or not.

7. Update Your iPhone

Glitches in the iOS system can also cause the "Unable to activate Touch ID on this iPhone" error. And a simple iOS update can help to solve the problem. Go to Settings > General and tap Software Update. If a new iOS version is available, Download and Install it.

8. Factory Reset iPhone with iTunes

If none of the solutions mentioned above works, you can try to perform a factory reset with iTunes to fix this error.

• Launch the latest version of iTunes on your computer and connect your iPhone via USB cable.
• Enter your passcode to unlock the device and tap Trust this computer when asked.
• Select your iPhone and click on Restore iPhone.
• Click on Restore to confirm, and iTunes will erase your device and install the latest iOS firmware.

Note

All the data and settings will be erased if you choose to factory reset your iPhone with iTunes. So, you should make a backup before doing that.

9. Fix iPhone Touch ID Activation Issue without Data Loss

We suggest you turn to FoneGeek iOS System Recovery for help if you are unable to find the internal cause of the Touch ID activation problem. This iOS Repair tool is dedicated to fixing any iOS issues and getting iPhone or iPad working normally without data loss.

Besides the Touch ID activation issue, you can also use it to fix an iPhone stuck in boot loop, iPhone app keeps crashing and other iOS-related problems. It is quite easy to use and will not affect the data while fixing. Also, this program is highly recommended by Mobile Mall, GetDroidTips, Inspirationfeed, Techjury, Pakainfo, and many other media sites.

Here is how to fix your iPhone touch ID not activating problem with FoneGeek iOS System Recovery (iOS 17 and iPhone 15/14/13 supported):

Step 1. Free download the iOS System Recovery from the FoneGeek official site. Install and launch it on your computer, then select "Standard Mode" to continue.

Step 2. You will be prompted to connect your iPhone to the computer and click the "Next" button.

Step 3. The iPhone information will be detected; check if the information is correct and click on "Download" to download the firmware package.

Step 4. When the firmware is ready, click on "Fix Now," and the program will begin to fix the Touch ID activation automatically.

FoneGeek iOS System Recovery is a reliable tool to fix unexpected problems on iPhone/iPad and has received much positive feedback from customers.

The Bottom Line

If none of the solutions are helpful in fixing your problem of being unable to activate Touch ID on this iPhone, we recommend you to contact Apple Support or take your device to an Apple Retail Store for more professional help. And you can also leave a comment below if you have any other issues that you don't find on our website.