IPads, IPhones, etc.

My iPhone 6 works great with fingerprint. Plus it saves you from logging on to many apps.

I've found the fingerprint option to be great and a wonderful time saver. When you use certain apps that require a password, you can just "give it the Finger!" The only time I have trouble is if my finger is wet or has oily residue (potato chips, checking a recipe while cooking) on it. Then you might have to revert to entering numbers.

Have you had anyone else in your family try to use their fingerprint to get onto any of your devices?
Reason being is that I am wondering how "specific" they are for the original person's fingerprint?
Thanks

Works as advertised. Every now and then it asks for your passcode just to make sure it's you. It also asks for a passcode from a cold start or when completely turned off.

I just tried using my other fingers. Wouldn't unlock using them.

So do you also have to have a passcode as a backup for the fingerprint option?
I was trying to avoid using a passcode completely even from a cold start or after being turned off.

I don't think you can avoid the passcode completely. At least I haven't found a way.

Nope, need a 6 digit number for iPhone 5 and above. 4 digits for 4S and below, but none of those has the fingerprint reader.

My fingerprint reader (on an iPhone SE) works great for the total of 4 fingers and thumbs that I have taught it, but is useless if I have eaten french fries with my fingers. Clean 'em and it's back in business again. Absolutely useless with my other fingers, I know nothing about other people trying to break in because nobody has.

If you really don't want a pass number in addition you will need to pony up $999 for the iPhone X (pronounced, ten), introduced a day or two ago, which will only open when it recognises your face.

I was just reading a Wall St. Journal article about the new phones. According to the article, Apple estimates that the chances that someone other than the user being able to unlock a new iPhone 10 using face ID is literally one in a million. For touch ID it's one in 50K. It doesn't say how they came up with those estimates.

Note to what was said above - you can still retain your four digit pass code on the newer iPhones, but the newer ones will give you an option to select six if you like.

As far as the fingerprint goes - it's specific to your fingerprint. In fact, if you want to make it less annoying for yourself, use the same finger to create at least three profiles for your finger. Sometimes we touch our finger one way onto the home button. Sometimes we're sloppy and hit it on the side. If you use three fingerprints of the same finger but at different angles, you can more quickly and easily unlock your phone.

So, even though there are 6 slots for the passcode on a Phone 6 for example, you can enter only four and it will still be accepted??
Did I read your response correctly?

I use both fingerprint sensor and four-digit access code on my iPhone 6S. Both work fine. And, to answer your question whether a relative or someone else could open the phone using their fingerprint -- no. Not unless they know your 4 or 6 digit code and use that instead.

I think that if someone else you allow to use your iPad i.e. wife, then she would be able to bypass my fingerprint and use the passcode to have access. Probably that is another reason to have both a fingerprint and passcode access when you share a iPad or iPhone.

On the iPad and iPhone you can use both fingerprints and characters to unlock your device. Under "Settings" go to "Touch ID and Passcode," enter passcode when asked, go to "Change Passcode", enter your passcode again and a numeric keyboard pops up. Right above the numbers, click on "Passcode Options," now you can select 4 or 6 digits or even an alpha-numeric code.

Apparently you can register up to five fingerprints. So presumably up to five different people if you so desire.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201371

So, even though there are 6 slots for the passcode on a Phone 6 for example, you can enter only four and it will still be accepted??
Did I read your response correctly?

If your phone currently uses a 6 digit passcode, you still have to use that passcode. You can't use just part of it to open the phone. You do have the option under change passcode to select either a four or six digit passcode, though.