ios

Disable Touch ID with Emergency SOS in iOS 11

Christine Ottoni • October 9, 2017

Keep your info safe with Emergency SOS

Apple’s iOS 11 comes with a built-in safety feature that helps keep unwanted intruders out of your phone.

Emergency SOS temporarily disables Touch ID so you can only get access with your passcode. The feature is being heralded as the “cop button” across the Internet. While law enforcement can compel individuals to open their phones using a thumbprint, they can’t ask for passwords or PINs.

Disabling Touch ID quickly and discreetly can keep your phone and info safe from anyone that tries to get you to open your phone when you don’t want to.

Here’s how to do it.

Press the Sleep/Wake button quickly five times

This will bring up the emergency services screen. Just hit cancel.

The next time you try to open your phone with Touch ID, you’ll get the “Your passcode is required to enable Touch ID” message on the screen.

To enable Touch ID again

Log in with your passcode. Lock your phone and you’ll be able to use Touch ID again.