iPhone Touch-id surprise

[spock999]

I am using an iPhone SE ios12.1.2 with Touch-id recently set up - just for unlocking the phone not for Apple Pay, iTunes or password autofill.

Occasionally I need to xfer photos from my iPhone to my MBPro and use Image Capture (I don't use iCloud). As usual, the MBPro asked permission to use the phone and the authority to do so came up on the phone., It accepted my finger press to give permission but no photos were seen on the MBPro. This is something that I have done many times before I set up touch-id. It wasn't until I put in my passcode that the photos could be seen on the laptop.

This seems a bit weird. If it is OK to use touch-id in this circumstance why didn't the photos become available? If it isn't OK why did the phone accept the touch-id? Seems like a bug to me!

Any views?

Thanks.

 

[IWT]

Here is a possible explanation.

Apple has introduced a safety feature whereby anyone trying to connect the iPhone via USB to anything, will be blocked until the iPhone is unlocked. And sometimes, not always, this requires the Passcode; other times the finger ID works.

This only applies if the iPhone has not been opened in the last 60 minutes.

BTW this applies to all iDevices running 11.4.1 or later

What I suggest, and it's what I do, is any time you are connecting to your Mac via USB, unlock the device first before attaching it.

Ian

 

[Rod]

Hmm, interesting. This explains something that has puzzled me for a while. The time factor is what three me. How did you find that out Ian?


Sent from my iPhone

 

[IWT]

Hmm, interesting. This explains something that has puzzled me for a while. The time factor is what three me. How did you find that out Ian?


Sent from my iPhone

By accident, initially! As is so often the case. Then one time, the iPhone, I think it was, came up with a message like - "Open to allow USB access".

Then I researched it and came up with sites such as those below. In fact, it started with iOS 11.4.x. I had forgotten that when I said iOS 12.x.

Very useful feature, but not one that was broadcast much at the time.

The feature is ON by default, but can be disabled.

https://9to5mac.com/2018/07/09/ios-11-4-1-unlock-iphone-to-use-accessories-explained/
https://www.macobserver.com/tips/quick-tip/phone-ipad-usb-restricted-mode/
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/06/04/ios-12-usb-access-disabled-by-default/

Ian

 

[spock999]

Apple has introduced a safety feature whereby anyone trying to connect the iPhone via USB to anything, will be blocked until the iPhone is unlocked. And sometimes, not always, this requires the Passcode; other times the finger ID works.

This only applies if the iPhone has not been opened in the last 60 minutes.

BTW this applies to all iDevices running 11.4.1 or later

What I suggest, and it's what I do, is any time you are connecting to your Mac via USB, unlock the device first before attaching it.

Ian

Thanks Ian. All has worked OK since I took note of your suggestion.