A new report claims that Apple is working on a software update that will enhance the functionality of its iPhone 5s' Touch ID.
When Apple releases "S" moniker iPhones, we pretty much know what we're in for. The smartphone's design will be practically identical to its successor and will include a major exclusive feature that can only be found on the newest iPhone. When Apple unveiled the iPhone 4S, the device had upgraded internals over its predecessor, the same overall design, and the now legendary assistant that lives inside our iOS devices, Siri.
Leading up to the release of the iPhone 5s, numerous details and images of Apple's next-generation smartphone leaked on the web and the information revealed pretty much what Apple delivered. Since the company was launching an "S" moniker iPhone, the iPhone 5s had to have a feature on it that would be exclusive to the device to make Apple fans want to upgrade and also allow Apple to use the feature to educate and attract new iPhone users.
We learned the iPhone 5s' defining feature is its fingerprint scanner Touch ID. Apple made the feature easy to setup and use and placed the Touch ID sensor inside of the iPhone 5s' Home button, a button millions of people are already very familiar with. Touch ID at this point is used to unlock the iPhone 5s and it can also be used to make purchases in the iTunes Store.
However, a few months after the iPhone 5s went on sale, reports began to surface from users flooding Apple's forums complaining that the Touch ID in the iPhone 5s had dissipated over time and was having trouble recognizing fingerprints and rejecting the user. Many iPhone 5s users are familiar with what's been called "AuthenTec Fade" (Authentic built the fingerprint scanner in the iPhone 5s and was also acquired by Apple in 2012). The symptom usually pops up several weeks after setting up Touch ID. Users will begin to notice that Touch ID takes a little longer to let you into your iPhone 5s or rejects a known working fingerprint.
Apple is well aware of the issue and has already publicly stated that it was working on a fix for the issue. Apple Insider is reporting that sources have told the site that Apple is getting ready to release the iPhone 5s Touch ID software update very soon.
If you're experiencing this issue and don't want to wait for Apple's fix, you can go into Settings, General, Touch ID, click Edit and delete the entries under Fingerprints. You can then add your fingerprints again and your iPhone 5s should open as fast as it did on the first day.
It's unclear if Apple will roll out the fix into iOS 7.1, which is expected to be released in March or issue a standalone release.
