Finger Print Reader Unlock Performance

[canterp]

I have had the Pixel 6 since November and from day 1 I was very frustrated with the finger print unlock performance. The updates have not really improved the situation. I have tried all the suggestions for improvement.

I would say that the sensor works OK about 2/3 rds of the time. And sometimes really terribly, I think especially outside in the sun? I can say without any doubt that the performance is subpar. It's very frustrating.

I read that many are OK with their experiences with Pixel 6 and the finger print reader and now I am beginning to wonder if there is something wrong with my hardware. I can't believe that anyone could be happy with the performance I am experiencing. I read in the forums that many do not complain. The Android Central review dos not even list it as a "con".

Should I believe that it is a problem that is particular to my phone and ask Google for a replacement? I don't want to go through a new installation and phone set up if the performance will not change. I don't want to bother Google for a replacement unless there is a good reason to believe it is a problem in my particular phone.

Would be very grateful for input on this matter.

 

[drvier8]

That is about similar to what I achieve. If I am sitting at my desk with dry hands and paying attention (i.e. perfect conditions) it is ok, if slower than the capacitive rear finger print sensors on previous Pixel/Nexus devices. Out in the world (cold, holding phone in one-hand, etc.) it is about 70% hit for me. I also really miss swiping on the rear sensor to get the notifications.

Overall, this phone (P6) is about a 6.5/10 for me. Not the hit I was hoping for after skipping the 5 (wish I'd bought that now). I'm not rushing to replace it, but I am certainly open to doing so. Much sooner than I expected.

 

[TraderGary]

You can count me in the group that is quite pleased with my fingerprint sensor. I seldom require a second read and you can count the number of times I've required my passcode on the toes of a fish.

I think that the initial setup is crucial to obtaining good results. I would try deleting the fingerprints you currently have stored and setting them back up again. Pay close attention to what the setup is asking for. Use different angles. When asked for sides of the finger, do so. When asked for the tip of the finger, do so.

I will agree with you about full sun. It definitely doesn't work as reliably in full sun. I'm seldom using my P6Pro in full sun, but if I do, I understand the problem and shield my FPS from the sun during use.

 

[canterp]

have tried to re-do the prints several times, does not help...still I ask, is mine a hardware problem..how could you be pleased and me so disappointed? should i request a new phone from Google and tell them my hardware is faulty

 

[drvier8]

I don't think it is hardware. I think the nature of one's fingerprints is the issue. I do a lot of woodworking and I think that dries my skin, wears on my finger tips, etc. That impacts performance. I think this sensor just has a very narrow window of optimal reading. I have rescanned so many times, I have forgotten. It is bad for me both with and without screen protectors. I've seen enough other folks reporting having trouble that I believe it is the nature of the sensor as implemented, not my device in particular.

If you are still within the return window, you might try your luck with another unit, but when I called help about mine, they said it was operating as designed and that I needed to dry my hands, moisturize my hands, try another finger.... etc.. It's like when apple told people they were holding the iphone 4 incorrectly and that was the cause of connection issues.

 

[Remrose]

The February update has made the reader better for me, not that I was complaining previous. Had Pixel 5 for few months and did not like the back reader. Was always looking for it, so although it was faster to recognize my fingerprint, it was a longer process overall. Full disclosure: prior to P5, I was using BlackBerry Key Two with front reader. A return to a front one on the P6P was a pleasure for me. The fingerprint reader is not perfect 80-90% but acceptable for me. What I do find interesting is that apps that use the same fingerprint sensor on my P6P are much better at 1st try recognition than OS. Do not know why...OS unlock has higher standard than apps? (including my banking apps).

 

[Beachboy63]

have tried to re-do the prints several times, does not help...still I ask, is mine a hardware problem..how could you be pleased and me so disappointed? should i request a new phone from Google and tell them my hardware is faulty

I bought the P6P unlocked from Google at launch. For the most part, the phone has been excellent. Initially, I struggled with the FPS. It was a bit slower than my S21U, which I still have, but I could deal with that slight delay. My problem was that the FPS was simply unreliable on my P6P. Often I'd have to make 3 or 4 attempts to open my phone and sometimes it wouldn't work at all. I regularly experienced 1 or 2 other bugs that I couldn't fix but they were minor compared to the FPS issue. Dealt with these issues for a few weeks after receipt of the phone. Reluctantly, I decided to do a factory reset and start over. The reset changed my experience completely. The minor bugs disappeared and the FPS became very reliable. It's still not as quick as my S21U but it's every bit as reliable. It was a night and day difference. Thankfully, I've not experienced any of the other issues plaguing some folks. You may have already tried a reset on your phone but if not, it may be worth a try. Good luck!

 

[Blaize19]

You can count me in the group that is quite pleased with my fingerprint sensor. I seldom require a second read and you can count the number of times I've required my passcode on the toes of a fish.

I think that the initial setup is crucial to obtaining good results. I would try deleting the fingerprints you currently have stored and setting them back up again. Pay close attention to what the setup is asking for. Use different angles. When asked for sides of the finger, do so. When asked for the tip of the finger, do so.

I will agree with you about full sun. It definitely doesn't work as reliably in full sun. I'm seldom using my P6Pro in full sun, but if I do, I understand the problem and shield my FPS from the sun during use.

I have the same experience and suggestions.

 

[cbme2]

Something I did that helped a bunch was add fingerprints. Like for my right thumb, I have three fingerprints added. Seemed to help quite a bit.

 

[canterp]

it would be helpful to get a recommendation from Google. A factory reset , as we all know, is highly undesirable. I would do it if it would help. Why should it help?, what would change? and again a recommendation from Google would be good. They don't really seem to acknowledge there is a problem....I am open to suggestions and really interested in other opinions/experiences.

 

[Scott337]

Just my opinion, but I would try a factory reset if it were my phone. Just my 2 cents. It will wipe out everything you have done to the phone since turning it on the first time, so it makes a big difference. The other reason I would do it, if you are going to request a replacement from Google under warranty they are probably going to request that you try that first, before shipping you a new phone. Again, just my opinion, and what I would do if it were my phone.

 

[brosko]

have tried to re-do the prints several times, does not help...still I ask, is mine a hardware problem..how could you be pleased and me so disappointed? should i request a new phone from Google and tell them my hardware is faulty

Not hardware. If condition's aren't perfect (finger, ambient light etc..) it struggles to read reliably. That's it.

 

[TraderGary]

Not hardware. If condition's aren't perfect (finger, ambient light etc..) it struggles to read reliably. That's it.

If that were true, then why do I get reliable FPS reading when ambient lighting is pitch black dark at night when I'm in bed? I get reliable reading when in normal ambient lighting during the day. I also have a high intensity desk lamp with variable settings and I can turn it up to full intensity and still get reliable FPS readings. The only place my P6Pro struggles is in full sun. And even then, if I turn to where my body shades my P6Pro, my FPS reads just fine in intense daylight.

My fingerprints are also extremely hard to see as I'm a senior citizen. When I got my carry permit recently, they had great difficulty getting my fingerprints and had to try several times before getting successful prints. I was told this wasn't unusual due to my age. And my P6Pro fingerprint sensor still works reliably under anything but perfect conditions.

 

[drvier8]

If that were true, then why do I get reliable FPS reading when ambient lighting is pitch black dark at night when I'm in bed? I get reliable reading when in normal ambient lighting during the day. I also have a high intensity desk lamp with variable settings and I can turn it up to full intensity and still get reliable FPS readings. The only place my P6Pro struggles is in full sun. And even then, if I turn to where my body shades my P6Pro, my FPS reads just fine in intense daylight.

My fingerprints are also extremely hard to see as I'm a senior citizen. When I got my carry permit recently, they had great difficulty getting my fingerprints and had to try several times before getting successful prints. I was told this wasn't unusual due to my age. And my P6Pro fingerprint sensor still works reliably under anything but perfect conditions.

I think you have the fingers for which this sensor was calibrated, whereas I seem not to have them. I do not think it is a case of some specific phones working better than others or that some are defective. I just believe that this sensor has a narrow range of optimal fingers and I happen to be outside that range. I don't expect that they can improve it much more from the software side. The only "fix" to making it more responsive to more people would be to lower the match requirements, but that is not a good solution.

At this point, I believe it is as good as it is going to get and folks need to decide if they can live with it. Not going to lie, it annoys me a couple times every day, but the January update fixed the other annoyances so I can live with it for now. I hope the P7 fixes the situation (or adds facial recognition).

 

[TraderGary]

I think you have the fingers for which this sensor was calibrated, whereas I seem not to have them. I do not think it is a case of some specific phones working better than others or that some are defective. I just believe that this sensor has a narrow range of optimal fingers and I happen to be outside that range. I don't expect that they can improve it much more from the software side. The only "fix" to making it more responsive to more people would be to lower the match requirements, but that is not a good solution.

At this point, I believe it is as good as it is going to get and folks need to decide if they can live with it. Not going to lie, it annoys me a couple times every day, but the January update fixed the other annoyances so I can live with it for now. I hope the P7 fixes the situation (or adds facial recognition).

Have you tried Smart Lock to unlock when at home or when near a recognized device?

 

[drvier8]

I do use Smart Lock for the home location (sometimes successful) and with my car's bluetooth (that works), but the only other bluetooth device I have is my Pixel Buds and while I have them set as a trusted device, I only really use them when I'm on a walk or doing yardwork.

At my desk at home, it don't seem to have as much trouble with the FPS. It is when I'm at a store and trying to unlock my phone one-handed to look at a shopping list (or similar situations) that it gives me problems. Then I have to set the basket down, hold the phone in my left hand to unlock with my right hand.

As someone in one of these threads mentioned, in-app FPS use (CapitalOne, my password manager, some health portal apps) all work better than the unlock... maybe it is software (or those require a lower match threshold). The phone is better than it was. I only want to throw it across the room occasionally now.

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

OP your experience isn't unique. It is quite slow and can be inaccurate. Especially outside in the sun. It's summer here where I live and it's very bright/sunny - so you can forget about the fingerprint unlocking reliably. If it's in direct sunlight, it absolutely won't unlock for me. I either have to go somewhere with shade, cover up the screen with my other hand, or do what I do and just enter my PIN number.

It's a hardware and software issue. The fingerprint hardware (optic fingerprint scanner) Google opted for is older and isn't as fast/accurate as the latest fingerprint sensors (ultrasonic fingerprint scanner). And on top of that, even other phones with the same optic fingerprint scanners as the Pixel 6, are still faster to unlock, so that's why it's also software issue. Whatever Google are doing to run the fingerprint scanner is slower than other optical scanners. Google claim it's about security, but the Pixel 6 can still be unlocked with other people's fingerprints, so it's not completely safe anyway.

It sucks but it's how it is. I do believe Google could improve the speed even further, but I don't know if they can improve the accuracy and don't think they can improve the functionality in bright light.

Here have a read about the fingerprint scanner with some tips on how to improve it: https://www.androidpolice.com/pixel...xplaining-the-problems-how-to-make-it-faster/

Android Police were bang on the money when they called it "the slowest in-display fingerprint sensor on any flagship right now". It absolutely is.


Hopefully Google choose a better fingerprint scanner in the Pixel 7.

 

[TraderGary]

OP your experience isn't unique. It is quite slow and can be inaccurate. Especially outside in the sun. It's summer here where I live and it's very bright/sunny - so you can forget about the fingerprint unlocking reliably. If it's in direct sunlight, it absolutely won't unlock for me. I either have to go somewhere with shade, cover up the screen with my other hand, or do what I do and just enter my PIN number.

It's a hardware and software issue. The fingerprint hardware (optic fingerprint scanner) Google opted for is older and isn't as fast/accurate as the latest fingerprint sensors (ultrasonic fingerprint scanner). And on top of that, even other phones with the same optic fingerprint scanners as the Pixel 6, are still faster to unlock, so that's why it's also software issue. Whatever Google are doing to run the fingerprint scanner is slower than other optical scanners. Google claim it's about security, but the Pixel 6 can still be unlocked with other people's fingerprints, so it's not completely safe anyway.

It sucks but it's how it is. I do believe Google could improve the speed even further, but I don't know if they can improve the accuracy and don't think they can improve the functionality in bright light.

Here have a read about the fingerprint scanner with some tips on how to improve it: https://www.androidpolice.com/pixel...xplaining-the-problems-how-to-make-it-faster/

Android Police were bang on the money when they called it "the slowest in-display fingerprint sensor on any flagship right now". It absolutely is.


Hopefully Google choose a better fingerprint scanner in the Pixel 7.

Your claim that the FPS is inaccurate and can be unlocked with other people's fingerprints is unsettling. Do you have reliable, authoritative documentation to back up that claim?

 

[I Can Be Your Hero]

Your claim that the FPS is inaccurate and can be unlocked with other people's fingerprints is unsettling. Do you have reliable, authoritative documentation to back up that claim?

Sure.

Here's a video showing only one fingerprint being saved on a Pixel 6, yet two different people are able to unlock it with two different fingers (man's thumb and woman's index finger):

https://streamable.com/z9cm7g

Android Police had a story on it as it seems other users have similar issues: https://www.androidpolice.com/some-...-be-unlocked-with-other-peoples-fingerprints/

Doesn't surprise me in the least. The fingerprint scanner on the Pixel 6 is quite poor in speed and accuracy. Not surprised at all that it can be unlocked with other people's fingerprints.

 

[anon(40376)]

Optical 2D, same as a photo two dimensions; length and width. Ultrasonic 3D; meaning three dimensions so the scanner is registering length, width and very important depth of the ridges or flat areas.

From researching other models with optical FPS, some have less problems with optical than the Pixel and have been on the market longer. Why?