
A large number of users are reporting issues with attempting to use Touch ID to authenticate application downloads, both paid and free, from the iOS App Store on Thursday after updating to iOS 8.3, which Apple released yesterday to fix a large variety of bugs in the iOS operating system.
The users note that Touch ID seems to be working just fine for unlocking the device from the Lock Screen, but that a Touch ID prompt doesn't even show up, as it is expected to, while attempting to download an application from the iOS App Store even though the option to use Touch ID for authentication is enabled from the device's App Store settings.
Meanwhile, instead of being prompted to use Touch ID, users are forwarded to entering their passwords instead, which for users with longer passwords, takes much longer than simply scanning a fingerprint and being able to start downloading the application in question. For this reason, an understandable amount of frustration among users is present.
Because this is a big flaw with Apple's Touch ID authentication system, we'll likely see an iOS 8.3.1 update this week, or very soon to resolve the issue.
Update: The issue very likely stemmed from Apple's new feature in iOS 8.3 for the App Store to remember your password for free downloads, only requiring it for paid downloads. The fix appears to be to disable the Touch ID function for the App Store under Settings > Touch ID & Passcode > iTunes & App Store, then to close the Settings application, reboot the device, and then re-visit this preferences pane and re-enable the setting.
Are you having issues using Touch ID after updating to iOS 8.3?
Sources: Apple via MacRumors
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