pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again later"

[Android Central Question]

pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again later"

I keep my pixel 3 in my pocket, and until a couple of days ago the fingerprint sensor worked perfectly: I would take the phone out of my pocket and at the same time touch the fingerprint sensor, and the phone unlocked immediately.

Since a couple of days when I take the phone out of my pocket I get the message: "Too many attempts, try again later." I have never seen that when when I keep the phone on the table, so I assume this means that when the phone moves in my pocket and the the fingerprint sensor touches the lining it thinks someone is attempting to enter a fingerprint, which obviously fails? Has anyone observed that?

Thanks!
Andrea

 

[mustang7757]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

I keep my pixel 3 in my pocket, and until a couple of days ago the fingerprint sensor worked perfectly: I would take the phone out of my pocket and at the same time touch the fingerprint sensor, and the phone unlocked immediately.

Since a couple of days when I take the phone out of my pocket I get the message: "Too many attempts, try again later." I have never seen that when when I keep the phone on the table, so I assume this means that when the phone moves in my pocket and the the fingerprint sensor touches the lining it thinks someone is attempting to enter a fingerprint, which obviously fails? Has anyone observed that?

Thanks!
Andrea

Haven't had that happen, do you use a case?

 

[eric002]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

Haven't had that happen, do you use a case?

I honestly don't put my 3 XL in my pocket. I usually wind up holding it in one of my hands.

 

[mustang7757]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

I honestly don't put my 3 XL in my pocket. I usually wind up holding it in one of my hands.

I usually carry in my back pocket while walk and in my front pocket siting.

 

[eric002]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

I usually carry in my back pocket while walk and in my front pocket siting.

Haha, j would try to do that, but I feel like my phone is very big for my pockets. Plus it's gets dusty in my pocket...

 

[mustang7757]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

Haha, j would try to do that, but I feel like my phone is very big for my pockets. Plus it's gets dusty in my pocket...

Probably because I'm a tall guy my pockets are usually big and no issues for my phone . For the dust in your pocket , what u have a construction site in there ..

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

Are you also putting your hands in your pockets from time to time (e.g., if they're hip pockets), or is this a pocket that your hand would never rest in?

 

[andrea6491]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

Are you also putting your hands in your pockets from time to time (e.g., if they're hip pockets), or is this a pocket that your hand would never rest in?

No, i don't put the hands in my pocket, and mine in not the XL, it fits comfortably in my pocket, and no, I don't use a case, in my view a case would defeat the purpose of a slim, nice phone.

Again, it never happened until a couple of days ago, so i suspect that my fingerprint sensor is developing a problem. The issue persisted after a reboot, so i suspect a HW problem.

thank you all !
Andrea

 

[ahiqar]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

I do the same thing. Pixel 3 in front pocket. I have gotten the "too many attempts" message once or twice, but not normally. I agree. You might have a problem with the fps.

 

[ahiqar]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

By the way, I don't use a case either.

 

[eric002]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

Probably because I'm a tall guy my pockets are usually big and no issues for my phone . For the dust in your pocket , what u have a construction site in there ..

Haha yeah a lot of construction materials.. lol

 

[GSDer]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

Again, it never happened until a couple of days ago, so i suspect that my fingerprint sensor is developing a problem. The issue persisted after a reboot, so i suspect a HW problem.

It's quite possible that it's a hardware problem assuming that nothing has changed in your usage pattern (different pants material than what you were wearing before? different phone orientation [facing in vs out; up vs down]? different weather [more humid]? etc).
I guess a good question to ask is does it work normally when you don't have it in your pocket?

 

[B. Diddy]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

Have you already wiped the fingerprint sensor down, making sure it's entirely clean? I wonder if certain kinds of residue stuck on the sensor might get charged via static electricity, and then cause a false fingerprint detection. (I have no idea if that makes any sense electrically -- as Bones McCoy may have said, "Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor, not an electrical engineer!")

 

[mustang7757]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

I would also check if you have lift to wake on, turning the screen on and making false touches in your pocket .

 

[andrea6491]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

First I want to thank all the people that suggested possible causes to my problem. I think I can finally confirm that the real cause of the problem has been pointed by

GSDer

: it has to do with the lining of the pants I am wearing: I started paying attention to the pants I was wearing and the occurrence of the problem, and I found a strong correlation! So, yes, it was a couple of "bad pants" causing it!

Thanks again to everybody!
Andrea

 

[aecgda]

Re: pixel 3 in the pocket generates the fingerprint sensor message "too many attempts try again late

I keep my pixel 3 in my pocket, and until a couple of days ago the fingerprint sensor worked perfectly: I would take the phone out of my pocket and at the same time touch the fingerprint sensor, and the phone unlocked immediately.

Since a couple of days when I take the phone out of my pocket I get the message: "Too many attempts, try again later." I have never seen that when when I keep the phone on the table, so I assume this means that when the phone moves in my pocket and the the fingerprint sensor touches the lining it thinks someone is attempting to enter a fingerprint, which obviously fails? Has anyone observed that?

Thanks!
Andrea

I get that occasionally. Need to put the pin number in.