Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

bktech11

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 26, 2022
6
13
IPhone SE 2022. After updating to 17.4.1 Touch ID no longer works. On reboot, get notification (Unable to Activate Touch ID on this Phone). In Settings/Face ID & Passcode, fingerprint is removed. When trying to re-add fingerprint during the registration process where you touch/lift your finger on the home button it partially fills in the fingerprint with red on the display but when you lift/re-touch, it seems to start-over (rather than filling in the fingerprint). Literally NOTHING has changed hardware-wise on this phone other than installing 17.4.1. Touch ID worked fine before. Tried rebooting but get the "Unable to Activate Touch ID on this Phone" on reboot. Any ideas? Will probably take into local Apple store but wondering if this is known issue with 17.4.1
 
Last edited:

Paddle1

macrumors 601
May 1, 2013
4,839
3,196
This error can happen if you have done an unofficial repair or have a damaged fingerprint sensor. I haven't seen any reports about this specifically on 17.4.1.
 
  • Like
Reactions: arc of the universe

bktech11

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 26, 2022
6
13
This error can happen if you have done an unofficial repair or have a damaged fingerprint sensor. I haven't seen any reports about this specifically on 17.4.1.
Interesting, this phone did have a cracked screen repair done a few months back but it was through mobile carrier's protection plan service provider (not a self-repair). And Touch ID worked fine since then up until the 17.4.1 installation today. I guess will open Apple support ticket and take it into Apple store to see what they say.
 
Last edited:

bktech11

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 26, 2022
6
13
Okay, took phone into apple store and they diagnosed the issue. The sensor was bad. Apparently the recent 17.4.1 install was just a coincidence. They replaced the bad parts and now touch id is working again.

If you found this thread as a result of an internet search and are having the same issue: One day touch ID was working then all the sudden you start getting "Unable to activate touch ID on this phone", it is most likely a hardware component that went bad. Take it to the Apple store and get it diagnosed.
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.