Touch ID is a method for authenticating your identity on an iPhone SE 2020. When Touch ID isn’t working, you can’t use your fingerprint to get into your device, nor can you scan your fingerprint to make purchases through places like the App Store.
If you’re experiencing issues with your Touch ID such as being unable to set it up or a different error, then check out this guide on how to fix iPhone SE 2020 Touch ID not working.
If you’ve already tried setting up Touch ID on your iPhone SE 2020 and it doesn’t let you complete setup or won’t let you scan your fingerprint, read on to learn what you can do to make Touch ID work.
How to Fix iPhone SE 2020 Touch ID Not Working Problem
A number of things have to be just right for Touch ID to work, and only one thing has to be off to cause problems. Follow the steps below in order, completing the easier things first before moving on to the more complex directions. Try Touch ID again after each step to see if it works.
If you’re unable to even activate Touch ID, we’ve also explained what to do.
Ensure that the fingerprint reader, and your finger, is dry and clean.
You can use a lint-free cloth to clear away anything that could be on your finger or iPhone that’s interfering with the fingerprint reader. Sometimes, even a tiny bit of water or sweat can make it hard for your iPhone SE 2020 to read your fingerprint.
Scan your fingerprint properly
Only lightly touch the Home button and give it a few seconds at most to read your print, don’t press too hard on the button, ensure that your whole finger is on the reader, and don’t move your finger around while scanning.
In some cases, while unlocking your iPhone with Touch ID, you might need to rest your finger on the reader and then press the Home button once to unlock your iPhone SE 2020.
Remove your case and/or screen protector if it’s in the way of the fingerprint scanner.
The case might not only be in the way but could also be trapping too much heat and preventing the Touch ID sensor from accurately reading your fingerprint.
Hard reboot your device
The iPhone SE 2020 Touch ID problem could be temporary and solved with a good reboot.
Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and disable all of the options you see. Then, restart your iPhone and re-enable the features you want turned on.
For example, to unlock your iPhone with Touch ID, iPhone Unlock needs to be on, and to use your fingerprint to download apps from the App Store, the iTunes & App Store option needs to be toggled on.
Delete your existing fingerprint and then restart your iPhone
When the iPhone turns on again, enroll a new finger. The initial Touch ID setup might not have completed successfully.
Update your iPhone, either wirelessly or via iTunes
There might be a bug or other problem with Touch ID that Apple has already resolved through an update.
Reset your iPhone network settings
Some users have had luck resetting just the network settings to fix iPhone SE 2020 Touch ID not working.
Reset your iPhone to completely erase all the software and start from scratch
Make sure you’ve tried all of the above before completing a reset. All of your apps, photos, videos, etc., will get deleted during this full reset.
Reach out to Apple
Contact Apple about a possible repair for a malfunctioning Touch ID sensor.
Check for damages if you recently serviced the iPhone yourself
For example, if you replaced one of the cameras or some other piece of hardware, and now iPhone SE 2020 Touch ID doesn’t work, you could have damaged the flex cable, a connector, or something else that’s necessary for Touch ID to work.
Can’t Activate Touch ID?
If Touch ID won’t activate and you’re getting an “Unable to complete Touch ID setup.” error, or Touch ID is greyed out, then many of the above troubleshooting steps won’t do you much good.
However, go ahead and reboot your iPhone(Step 4 above) since rebooting is a helpful step in any troubleshooting scenario. Also complete any other steps from above that you can, like updating iOS and resetting the network settings.
When you’ve done all that you can with the directions from above, return here for additional help:
Unplug your device.
For whatever reason—be it an issue with the cable, overheating, or the iOS software—some users have had luck fixing iPhone SE 2020 Touch ID activation problems by simply removing their device from power or from the computer’s USB port.
Turn off your passcode via Turn Passcode Off in the Touch ID & Passcode area of the settings.
When you disable the passcode, you’re giving your iPhone a chance to do a soft reset of the security settings. You’ll have to re-enable the passcode again in order to use Touch ID, but during the process, things behind the scenes will do a sort of power cycle, which might be enough to fix iPhone SE 2020 Touch ID not Working issue.
Sign out of your Apple ID and then log back in.
To do this, head to Settings, tap your profile at the top, and then choose Sign Out at the bottom. Follow the on-screen steps and then log back in when that option is available.
See also: iPhone SE 2020 Home Button not working? Fix
Contact Apple to learn about your repair options
If you find iPhone SE 2020 touch ID not working after trying the above steps, you might have a defective or broken Touch ID sensor. Contact Apple for further help.