How to Fix Touch ID Not Working on iPhone 8 After iOS Update

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Touch ID is one of the most convenient security features on the iPhone — it lets you unlock your phone, approve App Store purchases, and verify Apple Pay in seconds. But if it suddenly stops working after an iOS update (like 11.4.1), that can be incredibly frustrating.

Here’s how to fix Touch ID problems on your iPhone 8 and get it scanning your fingerprint again.

Before You Start: Basic Touch ID Checks

Before jumping into any major fixes, make sure of the following:

  • Your finger covers the Home button completely and touches the metal ring around it.
  • Don’t tap too fast or move your finger while scanning.
  • Wipe the Home button clean — oil, dirt, or moisture can prevent proper scans.
  • Make sure Touch ID is enabled under Settings → Touch ID & Passcode.
  • Check that your fingerprint is registered — try adding a different finger just in case.

If all of that checks out and it’s still not working, try the steps below.

Restart Your iPhone (Soft Reset)

A simple restart can fix temporary glitches after an update.

To reboot your iPhone 8:

  1. Hold the Side button until “slide to power off” appears.
  2. Slide to turn off the phone.
  3. Wait 30 seconds, then hold the Side button again to power it back on.

Reset All Settings

iOS updates can sometimes mess with your system settings. Resetting them can restore Touch ID without wiping your data.

To reset all settings:

  1. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone → Reset.
  2. Tap Reset All Settings.
  3. Enter your passcode, then confirm.

This will reset things like Wi-Fi passwords and preferences, but your data will stay intact. After the reset, go back to Touch ID & Passcode and re-add your fingerprints.

Factory Reset Your iPhone

If Touch ID still doesn’t work, try a full reset to clear deeper software issues. This will erase everything, so back up your data first.

To factory reset from settings:

  1. Go to Settings → General → Transfer or Reset iPhone.
  2. Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
  3. Enter your passcode, then confirm.

Alternatively, use iTunes:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer.
  2. Open iTunes and select your device.
  3. Click Restore iPhone.

Once the reset is done, set up your phone as new and try adding Touch ID again.

Restore in Recovery Mode

Still stuck? A recovery mode restore might do the trick.

Here’s how:

  1. Connect your iPhone to your computer via USB.
  2. Press and release Volume Up, then Volume Down, then hold the Side button.
  3. Keep holding until you see the recovery mode screen (not just the Apple logo).
  4. iTunes or Finder will prompt you — choose Restore.

If the restore takes longer than 15 minutes, your phone might exit recovery mode. If that happens, just repeat the steps above.

After the restore, re-register your fingerprint in Touch ID settings.

Try a DFU Mode Restore (Advanced)

If nothing has worked so far, this is your last resort before heading to Apple.

DFU mode lets your iPhone communicate with iTunes without booting the OS — perfect for deep-level restores. If you want the full step-by-step, you can check out the guide on our iPhone 8 Tutorials section.

Still No Luck? Time to Contact Apple

If Touch ID still won’t work after all this, it could be a hardware issue — especially if you’re seeing errors like “Failed to complete Touch ID setup.”

Reach out to Apple Support or head to a Genius Bar to have your iPhone inspected. If you’ve recently dropped your phone or had a screen replacement, the Touch ID sensor might’ve been damaged or misaligned.

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