Fingerprint sensor now works approx. 33% of the time

[turbotooslow]

Not sure if it was from the April update or what, but my fingerprint sensor which I used all the time has gone from nearly perfect to annoying at best. I tried resetting my fingerprints and that did nothing.

Anyone else in this problem and any fix?

 

[Nauga]

Have you cleaned the fps recently. They do collect grease from finger touches just like the displays; that's just not as noticeable against the matte finish.

 

[TraderGary]

Shortly after getting my first Pixel 2 XL, my fingerprint sensor totally failed. Support had me do a factory reset and it was completely dead. I was shipped a replacement, brand new, Pixel 2 XL and the fingerprint sensor has been absolutely 100% reliable ever since. So in my experience it can fail, but for me the failure was total.

 

[Mike Dee]

Not sure if it was from the April update or what, but my fingerprint sensor which I used all the time has gone from nearly perfect to annoying at best. I tried resetting my fingerprints and that did nothing.

Anyone else in this problem and any fix?

The only thing I can suggest other than cleaning the FPS is a factory reset. It's a long shot but I've had that clear up issues on other phones that I thought were hardware failures. After that contact Google.

 

[Morty2264]

The only thing I can suggest other than cleaning the FPS is a factory reset. It's a long shot but I've had that clear up issues on other phones that I thought were hardware failures. After that contact Google.

I too would recommend a factory reset after backing up all of your important information.

 

[turbotooslow]

It works about 0% of the time now. I'd like to avoid a factory reset but it might have to happen.

 

[Mike Dee]

It works about 0% of the time now. I'd like to avoid a factory reset but it might have to happen.

Call Google because they may make you do after you call unless they can tell from when the device signs on

 

[turbotooslow]

Call Google because they may make you do after you call unless they can tell from when the device signs on

Can you elaborate on this? Thank you!

 

[Knightmayre90]

mine has been playing up now for over a month, it works each time but is taking over a second to unlock the phone. it's getting slower and slower. it's getting annoying

 

[Mike Dee]

Can you elaborate on this? Thank you!

I meant call Google....they make you perform a factory reset as part of the trouble shooting process unless they can tell from a sign on log that you've already done it

 

[Mike Dee]

mine has been playing up now for over a month, it works each time but is taking over a second to unlock the phone. it's getting slower and slower. it's getting annoying

Your problem may be different from the OP

 

[SupraLB]

How many fingerprints do you have setup? I have 4 for the same finger. I set one pressing straight on, then one more on the tip of finger, then one focusing more the back, etc.
I think its best to add more because they all differ slightly depending on how my hand grips the phone.

 

[Rukbat]

I have only 4, but for 4 different fingers. (Depending on how I'm holding the phone, I'll use the thumb or index finger that's closest to the sensor.) But with - what is it, 6? - readings for each when you're setting it up, I've done the ball of each finger, each side, slid slightly higher up and slid slightly down. I sometimes have to tap a second time if I'm being sloppy, but I doubt that the fps has ever failed to read a properly placed finger. (And if it ever happens that I lose a fingertip, I can still unlock my phone when I've recovered. Having one nearly cut completely off makes you think of things like that.)

But it sounds as if turbotooslow's fps has just failed. (It's covered - and if you ask nicely they'll send you the replacement first, then you send the bad one back. [Just be sure to keep track of the tracking information, so you know when they get it back.]) Just do a full factory reset after removing your Google account, as soon as you're ready to put it into the box and send it back.

 

[Mike Dee]

I have only 4, but for 4 different fingers. (Depending on how I'm holding the phone, I'll use the thumb or index finger that's closest to the sensor.) But with - what is it, 6? - readings for each when you're setting it up, I've done the ball of each finger, each side, slid slightly higher up and slid slightly down. I sometimes have to tap a second time if I'm being sloppy, but I doubt that the fps has ever failed to read a properly placed finger. (And if it ever happens that I lose a fingertip, I can still unlock my phone when I've recovered. Having one nearly cut completely off makes you think of things like that.)

But it sounds as if turbotooslow's fps has just failed. (It's covered - and if you ask nicely they'll send you the replacement first, then you send the bad one back. [Just be sure to keep track of the tracking information, so you know when they get it back.]) Just do a full factory reset after removing your Google account, as soon as you're ready to put it into the box and send it back.

I believe they only send replacement first if you purchased directly from Google and they put a temporary hold on a credit card.

 

[Rukbat]

#2 yes, but you get it removed when they get the old phone, so that's usually not a problem.

#1 ? I did, so I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't, but that's good to know. (And considering that they sent me two replacements in the 2-1/2 months I've owned the phone, I'm glad I bought it directly. [No, they don't make terrible phones, they have terrible diagnosticians. Before I learned how easy it is to brick the P2, and how easy it is to recover from bricking it, they replaced the first phone and sent me a second replacement when the same thing happened. But the second time I figured out how to fix it before the replacement arrived, so I kept mine and returned the replacement. Now, if they fix that problem (USB 3.0), they'll get fewer returns. But that's up to them.])

 

[Mike Dee]

#2 yes, but you get it removed when they get the old phone, so that's usually not a problem.

#1 ? I did, so I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't, but that's good to know. (And considering that they sent me two replacements in the 2-1/2 months I've owned the phone, I'm glad I bought it directly. [No, they don't make terrible phones, they have terrible diagnosticians. Before I learned how easy it is to brick the P2, and how easy it is to recover from bricking it, they replaced the first phone and sent me a second replacement when the same thing happened. But the second time I figured out how to fix it before the replacement arrived, so I kept mine and returned the replacement. Now, if they fix that problem (USB 3.0), they'll get fewer returns. But that's up to them.])

If you buy from another retailer they make you send it first. If you buy from Verizon or have the Verizon model, Verizon will send replacement first but most likely a refurb.
I don't know how long Google replaces with brand new.

 

[Rukbat]

Seeing the condition of some fairly new "refurbs" ("soon after the phone was first released" new), I wouldn't take one*. I had a very nice conversation with a Google tech support rep, so when she told me she was going to talk to level 2 directly, I asked that, if they decided to replace the phone, could she please make sure they replaced it with a new one, not a refurb. Since they diagnosed a hardware failure (and were wrong, but evidently they don't mind replacing phones), they did. (No comments here - I don't believe in jinxes, but why tempt fate?)

Both times I got a replacement, it took only a few days. (It took the postal service longer than that to return the return to them - 7 calendar days for the last one [I don't still have the record for the first one].)

*How's a "like brand new" refurb with so much salt water damage that by the time it got to me it was already failing? Or one with a cracked motherboard? (Good enough if you used it lying on a table, but walking with it in my hand revealed a few bad connections. Granted, my wife has accused me of walking like an elephant, but still.) That's not "refurb" to me, it's not even used, it's "misused", and badly misused at that. Some carriers have no real "refurb" department, where they tear a phone down and replace anything that looks as if it's not new, they just turn it on and if the screen lights, it's a refurb. Get to know someone who owns an independent cellphone repair shop and you'll see horror stories.

 

[GSDer]

if they fix that problem (USB 3.0), they'll get fewer returns.

What is THAT problem? You can't use a USB 3.0 port when flashing firmware?

 

[Morty2264]

I have only 4, but for 4 different fingers. (Depending on how I'm holding the phone, I'll use the thumb or index finger that's closest to the sensor.) But with - what is it, 6? - readings for each when you're setting it up, I've done the ball of each finger, each side, slid slightly higher up and slid slightly down. I sometimes have to tap a second time if I'm being sloppy, but I doubt that the fps has ever failed to read a properly placed finger. (And if it ever happens that I lose a fingertip, I can still unlock my phone when I've recovered. Having one nearly cut completely off makes you think of things like that.)

But it sounds as if turbotooslow's fps has just failed. (It's covered - and if you ask nicely they'll send you the replacement first, then you send the bad one back. [Just be sure to keep track of the tracking information, so you know when they get it back.]) Just do a full factory reset after removing your Google account, as soon as you're ready to put it into the box and send it back.

Good advice! And I'm so glad you didn't lose a finger!

 

[Rukbat]

That will teach me to drill a large hole in an aluminum plate without having it securely held in a vise that's clamped to the drill press table. It grabbed the bit and spun - around my thumb. (And I discovered a fast - and excruciatingly-painful - way of modifying my fingerprint.)