Why do I always need a pin to unlock when fingerprint and intelligent scan is enabled?

As the title says, 99% of the time I'd need to use my pin to unlock my note 9. Why can't I just use either fingerprint or intelligent scan? My old s8+ rarely asks me to use my pin. Is there anything I'm doing wrong? If I try to remove pin unlock, and use swipe to unlock, then it says it'll remove all my biometrics. Any ideas?

Does fingerprint fail? Or you're getting the 'security' feature that requires your pin/password instead of biometrics at random times and certain situations (like trying to do it your phone right after it's been re-locked if it was unlocked by Smart Lock, after some location changes, and after failed attempts)?

Remove and redo your face and Iris bio.

It is fussy about distance, phone's angle, etc. FaceID on iPhone X for me always works over it "learns" more over time.

Try setting it up again. No reason to change pin or use swipe.

I do have my finger where it can automatically go to the fingerprint sensor, which is fast(er) - and reliable.

no it doesn't even ask for fingerprint or biometrics, it just go straight to "enter your PIN, as required by the security policy, instead of using your biometrics". i do have smart lock enabled at this location, but it never unlocks when i hard press the square.

i did try to remove the PIN unlock, and it erases all my saved biometrics. i then set it up again, but same results.

If the screen is off, does touching the fingerprint scanner unlock the phone? Do it without looking at the phone.

Originally Posted by jrsharp70

If the screen is off, does touching the fingerprint scanner unlock the phone? Do it without looking at the phone.

i just tried it, it's still asking me for a pin.

Originally Posted by mmakoto

no it doesn't even ask for fingerprint or biometrics, it just go straight to "enter your PIN, as required by the security policy, instead of using your biometrics".

Is this a corporate phone where they may have set up a restrictive security policy?

Originally Posted by mmakoto

i just tried it, it's still asking me for a pin.

Factory reset.

Wait

Had to disable Bluetooth and set power button lock... Too many trusted devices that bypass my security.

I can't see any reason for your problem. Do you have outlook installed? Any sort of corporate Microsoft or Google account?

I get the same thing about 3 times a day.

Originally Posted by jrsharp70

Wait

Had to disable Bluetooth and set power button lock... Too many trusted devices that bypass my security.

I can't see any reason for your problem. Do you have outlook installed? Any sort of corporate Microsoft or Google account?

no corporate stuff on this phone.

Originally Posted by mmakoto

no corporate stuff on this phone.

Do you have any app enabled as device administrator in your security?

I've got nothing. I'm sure you've already done this, but... Perhaps start clean. Remove all security, delete all biometrics. Add a pin and then smart unlock, scan your face looking at it the way you normally do, not just like perfect conditions.

But honestly, if fingerprints are not doing it, it's unlikely face unlock will.

This has to be super frustrating. It's been a while since I had a problem with a Samsung phone or watch like this.

If you press the icon I circled in the picture, it will require a pin, password, or pattern to unlock the phone. It's not uncommon to accidentally press it since it's close to where the home button is.

Originally Posted by Javier P

Do you have any app enabled as device administrator in your security?

i think i have figured out what the problem is. it's one of my app, double tap screen on and off, that uses device admin. i've just disabled it and it's working as it should. it's unfortunate that the app was working fine on my s8+ since may 2017, but sucks that it's causing such problem on the note 9.

Originally Posted by mmakoto

i think i have figured out what the problem is. it's one of my app, double tap screen on and off, that uses device admin. i've just disabled it and it's working as it should. it's unfortunate that the app was working fine on my s8+ since may 2017, but sucks that it's causing such problem on the note 9.

Excellent! Glad you managed to figure it out. Which app?

Originally Posted by Javier P

Excellent! Glad you managed to figure it out. Which app?

it's called "double tap screen on and off". i think most, if not all, of those kinda apps are facing the same problem from my short reading on the play store.

Originally Posted by mmakoto

it's called "double tap screen on and off". i think most, if not all, of those kinda apps are facing the same problem from my short reading on the play store.

Yeah, the problem is even included in the app description. :(

Attachment 290339

I hope that feature (at least to turn the screen on) makes it to the Note 9 et. al. It's natively on the Tab S4 now (and I loved it when it turned the screen off, too, when I had an LG).

Originally Posted by Javier P

Yeah, the problem is even included in the app description. :(

Attachment 290339

Nice catch!

Insert Facepalm gif

Originally Posted by Javier P

Yeah, the problem is even included in the app description. :(

Attachment 290339

Thanks for pointing it out. I have used this app on my s8+ for over a year without problems as mentioned earlier, wouldn't have known to check this certain app if it didn't have a problem.

Originally Posted by mmakoto

As the title says, 99% of the time I'd need to use my pin to unlock my note 9. Why can't I just use either fingerprint or intelligent scan? My old s8+ rarely asks me to use my pin. Is there anything I'm doing wrong? If I try to remove pin unlock, and use swipe to unlock, then it says it'll remove all my biometrics. Any ideas?

how do you lock your phone?using 3rd party apps?

Originally Posted by Hermes Hidayat

how do you lock your phone?using 3rd party apps?

Yes, you just tap their icon and the phone locks, just like pressing the power/lock button.