Fingerprint Scanner Bug? Works at half capacity.

[Spikasaur]

Hi all,

Forgive if this has been raised but I've not seen it/direct me via link please

I'm noticing a few issues or bugs and one I'm most wondering about is the fingerprint scanner. If it's common or if there's a potential fix.

My fingerprint scanner is now only working maybe 50% of the time as of about a month ago. Which is effing infuriating when I've got something I want to do, but it says 'not recognised' and then I can't just swipe up to bring up the keypad, but lock and unlock to swipe up - which in itself is a crappy design.

My Pixel will often ring but the screen will stay locked. Which means if the fingerprint scanner isn't working, I miss the calls.

I've tried having multiple of one print and just the one print stored but it's not very fun to deal with at what is now a daily basis. I have to say, my iPhone never failed.

Please help,
Thanks

 

[djrakowski]

Try deleting all stored fingerprints, then re-adding them.

Honestly, it sounds like a hardware fault, and if it is, then you'll need to have it repaired or replaced.

 

[Spikasaur]

Yeah, I'd removed all fingerprints and re-added the one after adding multiple of the same finger. I'm worried it's a hardware fault/really don't want to have to send it away. Bleh.

 

[Nauga]

Have you been cleaning the FPS? You didn't say. I think I've only seen a "sensor dirty" message once, but every time I've gotten an error message about it, cleaning the FPS has been the fix.

 

[weepatc]

I would agree with cleaning FPS as it tends to gunk up over a period of time due to sweat & dirt from your fingers.

Have you been cleaning the FPS? You didn't say. I think I've only seen a "sensor dirty" message once, but every time I've gotten an error message about it, cleaning the FPS has been the fix.

 

[Morty2264]

Have you been cleaning the FPS? You didn't say. I think I've only seen a "sensor dirty" message once, but every time I've gotten an error message about it, cleaning the FPS has been the fix.

Absolutely! I got that message maybe two or three times; and since I work at a daycare, I collect a lot of grease on my hands (sunscreen, diaper cream, etc)... So cleaning the fingerprint sensor is definitely a good plan.

 

[GSDer]

then I can't just swipe up to bring up the keypad, but lock and unlock to swipe up - which in itself is a crappy design.

My Pixel will often ring but the screen will stay locked. Which means if the fingerprint scanner isn't working, I miss the calls.

I'm not sure what you mean by the first statement - if for some reason my fingerprint is not accepted all I have to do is swipe up from the fingerprint icon which brings up the keypad, where I can enter my PIN.
Also not sure about your second complaint - if my screen is off and the phone is locked, when I receive a call the screen turns on (phone still locked) and there's a set of prompts shown to either Accept/Decline the call. If I accept the call the phone still stays locked but I'm allowed to complete the call at which point the screen will turn off.
If you're having a raft of problems you may want to boot into Safe mode and see if the problems go away - if they do then you have some applications causing your issues.

 

[Spikasaur]

Hi all. So I had tried deleting all my fingerprints and re-adding. I have also ensured the scanner is clean (which is also something I've never needed to do on any other phone..?) but yeah, it still fails, telling me my print isn't recognised and then I need to unlock using keypad. It's also overheating out of nowhere and so I'm certain it's a hardware issue / I've booted up my old phone to send this one away. Let's hope it gets fixed.

 

[Spikasaur]

I'm not sure what you mean by the first statement - if for some reason my fingerprint is not accepted all I have to do is swipe up from the fingerprint icon which brings up the keypad, where I can enter my PIN.
Also not sure about your second complaint - if my screen is off and the phone is locked, when I receive a call the screen turns on (phone still locked) and there's a set of prompts shown to either Accept/Decline the call. If I accept the call the phone still stays locked but I'm allowed to complete the call at which point the screen will turn off.
If you're having a raft of problems you may want to boot into Safe mode and see if the problems go away - if they do then you have some applications causing your issues.

If my print isn't accepted, I can't swipe up. It just doesn't work. The same 'fingerprint not recognised' note sits at the bottom. I need to use the lock/power button to lock it, then press it again in order to swipe up.

And the 2nd point, I wonder if you misunderstood me. I said that my phone would be ringing, but unlike you'd expect, my screen will stay turned off. Black. As if nothing were happening, but of course with vibration and ringing coming from it. It's occasional but I have to unlock the phone in order to be able to accept the call. Some major bug or something. Anyways....

I'm sending it away as I'm certain it's broken. It's a shame as it's only 6 weeks old.

 

[GSDer]

If my print isn't accepted, I can't swipe up. It just doesn't work. The same 'fingerprint not recognised' note sits at the bottom. I need to use the lock/power button to lock it, then press it again in order to swipe up.

There's something wrong there - that scenario (fingerprint not recognized; swipe up and get PIN entry) works fine for me.

And the 2nd point, I wonder if you misunderstood me. I said that my phone would be ringing, but unlike you'd expect, my screen will stay turned off. Black.

Ah, guess I misunderstood. That was a pretty common problem awhile back, although IIRC it seemed to happen to folks that had smartwatches in the mix.
Well, good luck with your replacement.

 

[Morty2264]

Keep us posted on what happens with your replacement!