Home Button Required
Touch ID is built into the Home button and allows you to unlock your iOS device by pressing your finger on Home rather than inputting your passcode. After you set up Touch ID, you can forget about retyping your passcode for every iTunes Store or App Store purchase. A fingerprint scan is all you need.
How to Set up Touch ID
Setting up Touch ID on a compatible iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch requires a few finger presses, and then you’re good to go. You should turn on Touch ID for the iPhone Unlock function, but you may also want to use it with other aspects of your iPhone. The options are:
iPhone Unlock: Move this switch to On/green to enable unlocking your iPhone with Touch ID. Apple Pay: Move this switch to On/green to use your fingerprint to authorize Apple Pay purchases on devices that support Apple Pay. iTunes and App Store: When this switch is On/green, you can use your fingerprint to enter your password when buying from the App Store apps on your device. No more typing your password. Password AutoFill: Use Touch ID to automatically enter your stored information, such as name or credit card number, in a web form.
In the Touch ID & Passcode screen, you can also:
Change fingerprint name: By default, your fingerprints are named Finger 1, Finger 2, and so on. You can change these names if you like. Tap the fingerprint name you want to change, tap the X to delete the current name, and then type the new name. When you’re finished, tap Done.Delete a fingerprint: There are two ways to remove a fingerprint. Swipe right to left across the fingerprint and tap the Delete button, or tap the fingerprint and then tap Delete Fingerprint.Add a fingerprint: Tap the Add a fingerprint menu to enter another fingerprint. You can scan up to five fingers, which don’t all have to be yours. If your partner or kids regularly use your device, you can scan their fingerprints, too.
Tips for Scanning Your Fingerprint for Touch ID
To get a good scan of your fingerprint, do the following:
Choose the finger you want to scan, depending on how you tend to hold your iPhone when you pick it up. It probably makes sense to use your thumb or forefinger. You can add other fingers later, up to a maximum of five.Lay the fleshy part of your finger lightly on the Home button, but don’t press the button, or the phone will cancel your scan.When the device vibrates, lift your finger off the Touch ID scanner and gently press it down.Repeat this process, each time putting your finger onto the scanner in a slightly different way or at a slightly different angle. The more complete the scan of your fingerprint, the more flexibility you have in how you hold your finger when using Touch ID later. The red lines on the on-screen fingerprint represent your progress. The more red lines you see, the better the scan.When the initial scan is complete, the iPhone prompts you to scan the edges of your finger. Repeat the same process as before, using the sides, top, and other edges of your finger to get the best scan.
How to Use Touch ID
After you set up Touch ID, it’s simple to use. To unlock your iPhone using your fingerprint, turn it on and then press the Home button with the finger you scanned. Leave your finger on Home without pressing it until the Home screen unlocks. To use your fingerprint as a password to make purchases, use the App Store app as usual. When you tap Purchase, Download, or Install, you are prompted to enter your password or use Touch ID. Lightly position your scanned finger on the Home button (but don’t tap it) and then enter your password to activate the download.
