Fingerprint sensor sometimes doesn't work at all

[naturalguy]

Very randomly my fingerprint sensor completely stops working. If I restart the phone it works fine. I can't figure out what is triggering this. I've had the phone since launch and this is the only thing that is bothering me about it.

Anyone else?

 

[eric002]

Yup me too as well! It's got to be an OS glitch with the S8. I justt have to toggle it on and off, and it works again. A little annoying but not a big deal.

 

[anon(7901790)]

This may sound like a silly (and obvious) question; do you have anything on your finger? Sweat, grease, water, ect.? I've run into problems where my finger wasn't clean enough for it to work.

The thing is, if it is random then it's hard to replicate and therefore hard to troubleshoot. The only thing I can suggest right now, is the next time it happens, note what you were doing previous to the failure. Things like which apps, were you taking a photo, talking on the phone, etc.

It may seem like a pain in the backside, but it can help narrow down a cause.

Also, you can wipe the cache partition. It doesn't actually delete any data. Here are the steps for wiping the cache partition.

https://www.technobezz.com/wipe-cache-partition-samsung-galaxy-s8/

IF you still can't narrow down the cause, then, AS A LAST RESORT, you can try a factory reset. Again, that is AS A LAST RESORT. If it is OS/driver related, doing a factory reset will install a fresh copy of the drivers and MAY clear up the problem.

If all else fails, then you may need to replace the phone.

I hope this helps.

 

[pinkvikchick]

*ME TOO* I have stopped using the FS because of this.

 

[eric002]

*ME TOO* I have stopped using the FS because of this.

I love the fingerprint scanner too much. I can "deal with it"

This may sound like a silly (and obvious) question; do you have anything on your finger? Sweat, grease, water, ect.? I've run into problems where my finger wasn't clean enough for it to work.

The thing is, if it is random then it's hard to replicate and therefore hard to troubleshoot. The only thing I can suggest right now, is the next time it happens, note what you were doing previous to the failure. Things like which apps, were you taking a photo, talking on the phone, etc.

It may seem like a pain in the backside, but it can help narrow down a cause.

Also, you can wipe the cache partition. It doesn't actually delete any data. Here are the steps for wiping the cache partition.

https://www.technobezz.com/wipe-cache-partition-samsung-galaxy-s8/

IF you still can't narrow down the cause, then, AS A LAST RESORT, you can try a factory reset. Again, that is AS A LAST RESORT. If it is OS/driver related, doing a factory reset will install a fresh copy of the drivers and MAY clear up the problem.

If all else fails, then you may need to replace the phone.

I hope this helps.

It's a good suggestion and I had thought of that before. It's just a randomness happening with the phone . Like I said, I just toggle it off, then on again and it's all good.

 

[Qc_Anubis]

I've had this issue once not really a huge thing imho (i use the retina scanner) but just like op a quick restart fixed the issue.

Pretty sure i've "cleaned" my finger before restarting too.

 

[eric002]

Yeah again just by toggling the setting on, and off quickly does the job, so whatever.

 

[njdan30]

I only use finger print for my banking app and I use it multiple times a day no problems with mine sometimes it'll say to cover the whole sensor but other then that nothing.does it say anything when it acts up or just bugging at all like you haven't even touched it?

 

[Mr_Spencer]

Mine has done the same thing randomly to the point that I have to restart my phone to get it working again. Nothing on my fingers nothing on the sensor. I'd even clean it assuming it was something along those lines, but nope.

 

[naturalguy]

The really odd thing is that the sensor still works with samsung pay and my banking app




Thank you for all the suggestions. Toggle on/off doesn't work, only restarting the phone does. I did make sure my finger was dry and I wiped off the sensor also. It doesn't happen often but when it does it's extremely frustrating.

 

[eric002]

The really odd thing is that the sensor still works with samsung pay and my banking app




Thank you for all the suggestions. Toggle on/off doesn't work, only restarting the phone does. I did make sure my finger was dry and I wiped off the sensor also. It doesn't happen often but when it does it's extremely frustrating.

Yeah believe me I can understand that. I mean I've just learned to deal with it so to speak. It does work consistently within apps for expletives Bank of America, Samsung pay, etc. That what leads me to believe it's a glitch within the OS itself.

 

[jstwondrng]

Seldom does this happen but I don't think it's an issue with the scanner. I have to wake up the phone using the power on button. Even pressing the home button doesn't do it.

J

 

[eric002]

Yup true that.

 

[munnarg]

Yeah mine does that from time to time as well. Not often though. I just set my phone to reboot every Sunday morning so I don't have to worry about rogue/system apps bogging things down.

 

[anon(123856)]

I just got my S8 and while I haven't really had any usage issues with the fingerprint scanner it was a huge PITA to set up. It seems very finicky about placement.

 

[eric002]

Gotcha. I mean I just accidentally reset my phone settings so maybe that'll fix that issue a little bit. Who knows....

 

[20blks]

Happens to me also. I just press the power button and try again. Works every time

 

[Gus_Gutz]

As someone who as spent the last 30 years looking at fingerprints, I can tell you that many times it is the fingerprint and not the scanner that is the problem.

 

[eric002]

So far, ever since I accidentally reset my phone settings, the finger print scanner has been working beautifully.

 

[kpdx]

This has been happening every 2 or so days. I have to restart the phone to get it working again. It is as if the sensor goes dead.