Fingerprint Scanner Not Working Well

[Mike Dee]

At first I couldn't get it to work. But I wasn't applying much pressure. I'm starting to get the hang of it now. If you click it like a button it seems to work better. At least for me anyway. I apply pressure like I'm clicking the home button on my note 9.

It's not going to break by pressing with your fingers if that's what you mean

 

[Ninjarette]

Are you going to return it?

No. I'm going to wait for an update. The ultrasonic FPS was never a selling point for me. I'm just clarifying the scanner experience isn't the same for everyone, and that's not always about not knowing how to position your finger.

 

[Mike Dee]

No. I'm going to wait for an update. The ultrasonic FPS was never a selling point for me. I'm just clarifying the scanner experience isn't the same for everyone, and that's not always about not knowing how to position your finger.

You're a 100 percent correct. The user experience seems to be varied and even changes from day-to-day for people. I was going to suggest trying to get it exchanged just in case but as long as you get the update before the return period is over.

 

[Darwm]

First day i got it the FPS was really ****. After the update and re-registering my thumb with different angles now it works 90% of the time even when the screen is off. However I dont think its faster than the fps i had on my note 5. I also use the face recognition now that is superr quick.

 

[bhatech]

You're a 100 percent correct. The user experience seems to be varied and even changes from day-to-day for people. I was going to suggest trying to get it exchanged just in case but as long as you get the update before the return period is over.

We already got an update that improved a lit bit and they are going to keep improving it most likely over the next few months. But I doubt there is going to be another update before the return period ends that will drastically change the experience.

 

[Ninjarette]

I was going to suggest trying to get it exchanged just in case but as long as you get the update before the return period is over.

Interesting that you mention exchanging before the return period is over. I JUST got off the phone with an AT&T rep-most of them are CLUELESS when it comes to tech issues, and the ones who have a bit of knowledge, that knowledge is limited to iPhones.

I have no idea why I still don't have the update, the rep was no help, and I have to decide if I want to exchange the phone within the 14-day window or just keep what I have and wait for an update that MAY address the issue.

 

[Ninjarette]

they are going to keep improving it most likely over the next few months. But I doubt there is going to be another update before the return period ends that will drastically change the experience.

I 100% agree.

 

[tadpoles]

My 128GB AT&T prism black still hasn't received the update that made my 512GB ceramic's fps better last week. What, the 128GB isn't boojie enough to get the update in a timely fashion??

 

[Almeuit]

Interesting that you mention exchanging before the return period is over. I JUST got off the phone with an AT&T rep-most of them are CLUELESS when it comes to tech issues, and the ones who have a bit of knowledge, that knowledge is limited to iPhones.

I have no idea why I still don't have the update, the rep was no help, and I have to decide if I want to exchange the phone within the 14-day window or just keep what I have and wait for an update that MAY address the issue.

Yeah reps are there to sell stuff -- not really tech support.

 

[PA174]

As I said in a previous post, I am having no problems at all with the fps (never tried it before the update) I would like to try another S10 fps. But I don't have a friend or coworker that has one. Maybe if your having problems, get a friend to try the fps, see how they get on with it? Maybe hardware problem?

 

[tadpoles]

Interesting that you mention exchanging before the return period is over. I JUST got off the phone with an AT&T rep-most of them are CLUELESS when it comes to tech issues, and the ones who have a bit of knowledge, that knowledge is limited to iPhones.

I have no idea why I still don't have the update, the rep was no help, and I have to decide if I want to exchange the phone within the 14-day window or just keep what I have and wait for an update that MAY address the issue.

I wonder if it's the model and perhaps the geographic area. I'm in the North East and I wonder if they're rolling out the update to the 512GBs and 128GBs (in other areas) before my 128GB receives the update.

 

[Sapient]

I've personally been having more success the past day or so. I don't know if it is because the weather has turned here a little, or if the FPS has some sort of machine learning going on.

I will also state, for those who are not experiencing problems, that the difference between the user error and FPS error is pretty obvious. When I miss the spot or press badly, it is easy to correct. When the FPS isn't catching my print, it will keep giving errors, including the "press harder" message. When that happens, I can tell there isn't anything I can do other than wetting my finger.

 

[Ninjarette]

I wonder if it's the model and perhaps the geographic area. I'm in the North East and I wonder if they're rolling out the update to the 512GBs and 128GBs (in other areas) before my 128GB receives the update.

I'm in the Midwest. You may be correct.

 

[Almeuit]

I'm in the Midwest. You may be correct.

Location doesn't matter.

 

[donm527]

If you have the ability to exchange with no out of pocket expense I'd do it.

For one, you'd eliminate the slightest possibility it's a hardware issue or QC issue causing this issue (maybe a wonky sensor or maybe the way it's glued to glass is just off).

Second you have a new unit where, if everyone has gotten the update that you have not, you should get the update with the replacement unit and avoid the possibility of having one of those phones you read about now and then of never getting monthly updates.

Interesting that you mention exchanging before the return period is over. I JUST got off the phone with an AT&T rep-most of them are CLUELESS when it comes to tech issues, and the ones who have a bit of knowledge, that knowledge is limited to iPhones.

I have no idea why I still don't have the update, the rep was no help, and I have to decide if I want to exchange the phone within the 14-day window or just keep what I have and wait for an update that MAY address the issue.

 

[Mike Dee]

I've personally been having more success the past day or so. I don't know if it is because the weather has turned here a little, or if the FPS has some sort of machine learning going on.

I will also state, for those who are not experiencing problems, that the difference between the user error and FPS error is pretty obvious. When I miss the spot or press badly, it is easy to correct. When the FPS isn't catching my print, it will keep giving errors, including the "press harder" message. When that happens, I can tell there isn't anything I can do other than wetting my finger.

It doesn't have machine learning that's builds with usage. Pixel and One Plus are doing that. Each time you get a good read match it adds more data points to the print database.

 

[mustang7757]

It doesn't have machine learning that's builds with usage. Pixel and One Plus are doing that. Each time you get a good read match it adds more data points to the print database.

Well they need to jump on that tech , if one plus can get better over time then they need figure something out.

 

[tadpoles]

If this 128GB hasn't received the update by 3/18 itsa going back.

 

[Ninjarette]

No, it's a fantastic phone besides the wonky fingerprint scanner.

I agree. I didn't upgrade because of a FPS.

 

[absrr]

Some interesting observations.

There are some that have said that the fingerprint scanner is fast and works flawlessly, while other are complaining how bad it works. I pre-ordered an S10 (not the plus version) and took delivery of it on Mar 8th. Out of the box I was easily able to add my fingerprint to the phone, and it worked flawlessly unlocking the phone every time with minimal effort or pressure on the fingerprint scanner... and it was "fast" unlocking the phone and showing the apps screen. For those days that I had the S10 I was thinking to myself... I don't see why so many people are complaining about how inaccurate the fingerprint scanner is, or how slow it is because the fingerprint scanner on my S10 is working perfectly. Then mid week I decided I wanted a larger screen. So I went back to the phone store and upgraded to the S10+. Now I know exactly what everyone is complaining about.

The first time I tried to register my finger print I thought there was something wrong with the phone. It kept saying Press Harder, Press Harder, Press Harder. I thought I was going to bust the glass on the phone by pushing so hard. I thought to myself that I definitely did not have this problem registering my fingerprint and I never once got a "Press Harder" when trying to register my fingerprint on the S10... it was easy and seamless with very little pressure required.

I've had the S10+ for a few days now and in comparison to the S10 that I had previously... the fingerprint reader on this S10+ is absolutely horrible. I've even registered my finger 4 times into the phone to make sure I've captured all possible angles. I used the "check fingerprint" option to ensure it's seeing my fingerprint every time (which it does). Then I go to try and unlock the phone and it fails most times with Try Again, or Press Harder. I've removed and re-registered my finger again using all 4 of the fingerprint options, and I still get an extremely high failure rate. I've tried every which way to unlock the phone... doing it slowly, doing it quicky, pressing harder, pressing lightly but still get high failure rates regardless. It usually takes me several attempts each time to unlock my phone before it finally lets me in.

Another odd observation I've found. If I leave the phone laying on the counter for several minutes then pick it up and try to unlock the phone it's guaranteed to fail (multiple times). But interestingly... once I do finally successfully unlock the phone using the fingerprint scanner... if I immediately go and lock the phone again and then immediately go to try and unlock it again with the fingerprint reader... works every time and from different angles, and with variable pressure. All I need to do is a quick light tap and it unlocks the phone every time - no problem. Put the phone down and come back 5 minutes later and try again, and it fails letting me in and I get multiple Try Again or Press Harder.

So it's interesting that I have personally experienced both sides of the fingerprint scanner performance. I had a S10 for a few days which its fingerprint registration and scanner worked perfectly each time (in fact I only registered my finger once on the S10 and it worked unlocking the phone flawlessly after that), then I switched to the S10+ and have no end of grief with the fingerprint scanner. This is what we are starting to see being reported out there around the world... for some people the fingerprint scanner works flawlessly every time and is easy and fast to use with just a light quick touch. Others have no end of grief with the fingerprint scanner. Could it be because the S10 and the S10+ have slightly different builds or thickness of glass? Why is it that if I leave the phone sitting for several minutes and then try to unlock it, it's guaranteed to fail unlocking the phone, but once I successfully unlock it, then immediately lock it again, then immediately unlock it again right away, it works every time... even with just a light touch, and seems to unlock fast. Is it caching the previous successful fingerprint login in its cache memory for several seconds making the unlock process easier, faster and more seamless?

There are definitely some strange anomalies going on... fingerprint scanner works perfect and fast for some people (on some phones), and works horrible for others. (As a side note I have such a high failure rate of trying to login that I finally disabled the fingerprint scanner process today and went back to entering a PIN instead as I was getting way to frustrated with failed unlocks - No Match - No Match - Press Harder - Press Harder.