Touch ID Not Working After iOS 13 Update? Here’s How to Fix It

If your iPhone’s Touch ID suddenly stopped recognizing your fingerprint after updating to iOS 13 (beta), you’re not alone. Many users experience Touch ID glitches after a major software update — but don’t panic. Most of the time, it’s just a temporary bug or settings conflict.

Here’s how to troubleshoot and fix Touch ID when it stops working after an iOS 13 update.

1. Clean the Home Button and Your Finger

Before diving into software fixes, check the basics:

Wipe the Home button with a clean, lint-free cloth.
Make sure your finger is dry and clean.
Remove any screen protector or case that might block the Touch ID sensor or surrounding ring.

If everything’s clean and Touch ID still doesn’t respond, move on to the next steps.

2. Reboot Your iPhone

Sometimes a simple restart can clear out post-update bugs.

To reboot:

Hold the Power (Top) button until the power slider appears.
Slide to turn off, then hold the button again to turn it back on.

If your iPhone is unresponsive, do a forced restart:

Hold Home + Power until the Apple logo appears.

Once rebooted, test Touch ID again.

3. Turn Touch ID Off and Back On

Refreshing the feature itself can help reinitialize the system.

Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode.
Enter your passcode.
Toggle off all options (iPhone Unlock, iTunes & App Store).
Reboot your iPhone.
Return to the same menu and toggle everything back ON.

Try unlocking your phone again using Touch ID.

4. Delete and Re-add Your Fingerprint

If the fingerprint data was corrupted during the update, re-registering can fix it.

Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode.
Tap on your saved fingerprint.
Tap Delete Fingerprint.
Restart your iPhone.
Go back and tap Add a Fingerprint.

Scan your finger at multiple angles for better recognition.

5. Reset All Settings

If system settings were altered during the update, restoring them can help.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Reset > Reset All Settings.
Enter your passcode and confirm.

This won’t erase your data, but it will reset Wi-Fi, Touch ID, and system settings.

6. Factory Reset or Restore via iTunes

If nothing else worked, a full reset might help eliminate deeper software conflicts.

To factory reset via Settings:

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Tap Erase All Content and Settings.
Follow the prompts to wipe your device.

To restore via iTunes:

Open iTunes on a computer and connect your iPhone.
Put your phone in recovery mode (hold Home while plugging in).
Choose Restore in iTunes.

After restoring, reconfigure your iPhone and re-add your fingerprint.

Still Not Working?

If Touch ID still doesn’t respond even after a full restore, you could be looking at a hardware issue — especially if the Home button was already a little flaky before the update.

Visit an Apple Store or authorized service provider for a hardware check. If your iPhone is under warranty or AppleCare+, you may be eligible for a repair or replacement.