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Is Touch ID Safe?

Is Touch ID Safe?

Laura Martisiute

January 31, 2025

Reading time: 5 minutes

If you use or plan to use Touch ID, you need to know: Is Touch ID safe? 

Below, we explain whether Touch ID is: 

  • Safe to use. 
  • Good for privacy. 

We also look at some steps you can take to improve both your safety and privacy when using this feature. 

What Is Touch ID?

Touch ID is a fingerprint recognition feature developed by Apple. 

TouchID

It’s primarily used for authentication and security purposes on iPhones, iPads, and certain Mac models. 

Instead of using a password or PIN, Touch ID users can unlock their devices, authorize app downloads, make payments, and authenticate other actions by scanning their fingerprints. 

After five unsuccessful fingerprint attempts, a passcode is required.

Although more recent Apple devices, like the iPhone X and newer, have shifted toward Face ID (facial recognition technology), Touch ID remains popular on certain devices and models for its simplicity and reliability.

Is Touch ID Safe?

Yes, Touch ID is generally considered safe. 

Touch ID uses capacitive touch to capture high-resolution images of fingerprint details, including sub-epidermal layers, pores, and ridge directions. It then generates a mathematical model of your fingerprint, which is compared to the stored fingerprint data to confirm a match and unlock your device. 

Only this numerical representation of your fingerprint is stored; actual images of your finger are never saved. 

Touch ID continuously updates its mathematical models of enrolled fingerprints over time to enhance the accuracy of matching.

Fingerprint data is encrypted and stored within the Secure Enclave, an isolated security architecture that prevents access from the device’s main operating system or applications.

Features like Find My Lost Mode and Activation Lock prevent unauthorized use and turn off Touch ID remotely. 

On Mac, Touch ID allows up to five fingerprints across multiple user accounts for secure sharing.

A passcode or password must be set up initially and is required for actions like device restart, adding/removing fingerprints, and after certain security-triggered events.

That’s not to say that Touch ID couldn’t be bypassed. 

A study by Cisco’s Talos security group found that fingerprint authentication can be bypassed with around an 80% success rate using fake fingerprints. So, though fingerprint-based methods like Touch ID are convenient and secure enough for most users, they are vulnerable to determined and well-funded attackers who can create sophisticated replicas. 

No data breaches have been associated with Touch ID at the time of writing.

Is Touch ID Private?

Depends on your definition of “private.” 

Touch ID creates a mathematical representation of your fingerprint, which it then matches against the stored fingerprint data to verify your identity and unlock your device. Only this numerical model is retained; no actual images of your finger are ever stored. 

Fingerprint data is never stored on Apple servers, backed up to iCloud, or used to match against other databases.

The biggest drawback of Touch ID is that authorities could potentially compel you to unlock your device with your fingerprint in certain legal situations.

"US Court orders Touch ID iPhone unlock" headline

Terms of Service; Didn’t Read (ToS;DR), a project that rates internet services’ terms of service and privacy policies, gives Apple Services a “Grade D.” This means, “The terms of service are very uneven, or there are some important issues that need your attention.” 

Terms of Service; Didn't Read - Apple Services (Grade D).

Among the potential concerns listed by Tos;DR is that the service can collect many different types of personal data. 

How to Improve Your Safety and Privacy While Using Touch ID

Follow the below steps for a safer and more private experience when using Touch ID. 

  • Use a strong backup passcode. Touch ID works in conjunction with a passcode, which is required in certain situations, such as after a device restart. Make your passcode as strong as possible (avoid simple combinations like “1234” or birthdays) to add an additional layer of security in case Touch ID fails.
  • Limit registered fingerprints. Touch ID allows multiple fingerprints, but for better privacy, only register essential ones—preferably just your own. Reducing the number of registered fingerprints lowers the risk of unauthorized access.
  • Turn off Touch ID for certain functions. You can control what Touch ID is used for, such as unlocking your device, making App Store purchases, or using Apple Pay. Restrict Touch ID to specific tasks and use a passcode for others, particularly for payments.
  • Regularly review and update fingerprints. If you think someone may have accessed your device or if a registered fingerprint no longer feels secure, go to your settings and remove or update the stored fingerprints.
  • Enable “Erase Data” after failed attempts. For extra security, enable the feature that wipes all data from your device after 10 failed passcode attempts. 
  • Keep your fingerprints private. While it may seem obvious, avoid leaving clear prints on surfaces or allowing someone to scan your fingerprint without consent. 
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Laura Martisiute is DeleteMe’s content marketing specialist. Her job is to help DeleteMe communicate vital privacy information to the people that need it. Since joining DeleteMe in 2020, Laura h…
Laura Martisiute is DeleteMe’s content marketing specialist. Her job is to help DeleteMe communicate vital privacy information to the people that need it. Since joining DeleteMe in 2020, Laura h…
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