Planned iOS Update May Prevent Touch ID from “Forgetting” Your Fingerprint

Apple plans to release a software update that aims to prevent Touch ID from “forgetting” your fingerprint, sources familiar with the matter told AppleInsider.

A source familiar with Apple’s development plans said the company is well aware of early adopter issues that many iPhone 5s users are experiencing with Touch ID, the fingerprint recognition feature introduced last year after acquiring AuthenTec in 2012.

After launching iPhone 5s last fall, Apple has continued to work with the original AuthenTec team to improve its recognition software and will release an update relatively soon, the source confidently reported. However, AppleInsider could not verify whether the update will ship as part of iOS 7.1, which is expected to drop in mid-March.

Shortly after the iPhone 5s hit the shelves, users began reporting that the integrated sensor was failing to scan their fingerprint. In a growing thread in the Apple Support Communities, a user complains, for example, that he bought two iPhone 5s devices and noticed fingerprint scanner failures 24 hours after using it.

There are multiple methods of solving the “issue”, such as scanning the same finger multiple times, but these workarounds offer only a temporary fix. A fix could be issued via a software update, but it is yet unknown whether it will be part of the highly anticipated iOS 7.1 (release expected mid-March) or a later one.