Fingerprint Not Working on Android or iPhone? 10 Easy Fixes

If your fingerprint is not working on your phone, clean and dry both the sensor and your finger, remove any case or screen protector that covers the sensor, and delete and add your fingerprint again. These three steps fix most problems on both Android phones and iPhones with Touch ID. If it still fails, restart the phone and install the latest software update.

Fingerprint sensors are very sensitive. Even a little lotion, sweat, or dust can stop a match.

10 ways to fix a fingerprint sensor

1. Clean the sensor

Wipe the sensor with a soft, lint-free cloth. For under-screen sensors, clean the whole bottom of the screen. Do not use harsh cleaners.

2. Clean and dry your finger

Wet, oily, or dirty fingers are hard to read. Wash and dry your hands, then try again.

3. Fix very dry or cold skin

Very dry skin and cold hands can make fingerprints faint. Warm your hands or use a little lotion, then wipe off any extra.

4. Remove the case or screen protector

A case that covers part of the sensor, or a thick screen protector over an in-display sensor, can block it. Take it off and test again. If it works, buy a protector made for your phone model.

5. Press the right way

• Cover the whole sensor with the flat pad of your finger, not just the tip.
• Hold still for a moment.
• For in-screen sensors, press firmly on the fingerprint icon.

6. Delete and add your fingerprint again

Fingerprints can change a little over time, especially with cuts or dry skin.

On iPhone (Touch ID):

1. Go to Settings, then Touch ID & Passcode, and enter your passcode.
2. Tap the fingerprint and choose Delete Fingerprint.
3. Tap Add a Fingerprint and follow the steps, moving your finger slightly each time.

On Android: Go to Settings, then Security or Biometrics, then Fingerprint. Delete the old print and add it again. Menu names vary by brand.

7. Add the same finger twice

Many phones let you save more than one fingerprint. Saving the same finger twice, once normally and once at a slightly different angle, can help a lot.

8. Restart your phone

A restart clears small software glitches. On iPhone, you will need your passcode after a restart before Touch ID works again. That is a normal security step.

9. Update your phone

Phone makers often fix fingerprint bugs in updates. Install the latest update in Settings. If your phone restarts or acts up often, see our guide on random phone restarts.

10. Check for hardware damage

If the sensor is cracked, the Home button was replaced, or the phone got wet, the sensor may be damaged. Apple notes that Touch ID may not work if the Home button or sensor is not an original part matched to your iPhone.

Why your iPhone keeps asking for a passcode

This is normal. Apple requires your passcode instead of Touch ID in cases like:

• After the phone restarts
• After five failed fingerprint tries
• When the phone has not been unlocked for 48 hours
• When you change Touch ID settings

Quick fixes by problem

When to get it repaired

Contact Apple, Google, Samsung, or your phone maker if:

• The fingerprint option is missing or grayed out
• The sensor is physically damaged
• It still fails after you reset your fingerprints and update the phone

Until then, you can use a PIN, passcode, pattern, or face unlock.

Other phone problems? See why a phone screen keeps dimming or what to do when a phone gets hot.

Fixes for popular phone brands

Menus differ a little by brand. Here is where to find fingerprint settings on common phones.

Samsung Galaxy tips

• Samsung phones with an in-display sensor work best with the screen protector the phone came with or one made for your exact model.
• Turn on Touch sensitivity in Settings, then Display, if you use a screen protector.
• After adding a new protector, delete your fingerprints and add them again.

Google Pixel tips

• Pixel phones have a Screen protector mode under Settings, then Display & touch, that makes the screen more sensitive.
• Press firmly and hold your finger still until the phone vibrates.

iPhone tips

• Make sure your finger touches the metal ring around the Home button, not just the button.
• If Touch ID is grayed out or you see "Unable to complete Touch ID setup," Apple says the phone may need service.

Side-button and back-mounted sensors

Some phones put the fingerprint sensor on the power button or on the back.

• Side-button sensors often fail if you press the button too hard or only touch the edge. Rest your finger flat on the button without clicking it.
• Back sensors get dirty from pockets and cases. Wipe them often, and check that your case has a clean cutout around the sensor.

Why fingerprints get harder to read over time

• Dry winter skin makes the ridges on your fingers fainter.
• Cuts, burns, and calluses change the pattern the phone saved.
• Hand washing and sanitizer dry out skin.
• Some jobs and hobbies, like construction, gardening, and playing guitar, wear down fingertips.

Adding the same finger two or three times, and updating it every few months, helps the phone keep up with these changes.

Keep your phone secure while you fix it

• Use a strong PIN or passcode, with 6 digits or more.
• Turn on face unlock if your phone has it.
• Do not remove your screen lock just because the fingerprint sensor is acting up.
• If you think someone else's fingerprint is saved on your phone, delete all fingerprints and add only your own.

Signs it is a hardware problem

If you see these signs, contact your phone maker or an authorized repair shop. Unofficial screen replacements on some phones can break in-display fingerprint sensors.

Know your fingerprint sensor type

Phones use different kinds of fingerprint sensors, and each one has its own weak spots.

To find your type, search for your phone model and "fingerprint sensor type," or check the maker's specs page.

Just added a screen protector?

A new screen protector is one of the most common reasons an under-screen sensor stops working.

1. Make sure there are no bubbles over the sensor area.
2. Delete your old fingerprints and add them again after the protector is on. This fixes most cases.
3. Check the protector box. It should say it works with your phone's fingerprint sensor. Ultrasonic sensors usually need a thin protector made for them.
4. If nothing works, try a different protector before you blame the phone.

The bottom line

When your fingerprint is not working, start simple: clean the sensor, dry your finger, and remove any case or screen protector in the way. Then delete and add your fingerprint again, and try saving the same finger twice. Restart and update the phone if it still fails. If the sensor is damaged or the option is missing, contact your phone maker for repair.