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Fingerprint scanner is utterly useless

On average it takes me 3 attempts to successfully log in using my fingerprint. Sometimes it will take many more attempts. I've scanned three fingers in every direction and orientation, but the recognition is still exceedingly poor. Why would the Note 4 have such a useless scanner? So frustrating

Don't scan each finger different directions when you register them. Do one orientation for each set of 10 registration swipes. I've registered my left and right thumb going sideways (as you would to unlock while holding it one handed) and I have near 100% success unlocking on the first try.

When registes my finger print i only use swipe straight and it work well.
Sent from my SM-N910L using XDA Free mobile app

I find the fingerprint reader 100% reliable....not 95%....100% I have been so impressed that I have not had failed swipes at all. The thing is not to rush swiping your finger. Get a nice smooth movement. Even on the iPhone it takes more than 1 second to scan the finger and unlock even though there is no swiping movement. With the Note 4, you need to swipe at the same speed. When I registered my finger I did not swipe from different orientations but I did lean more on the left side of my finger, then middle, then leaning more on the right side. I use my index finger.....thumbs are bigger/fatter and therefore the contact part of the finger will be more variable.

It works fine but you absolutely have to do it slowly, if you swipe too fast it wont work. With slow swiping i'm easily getting 10 out of 10 successful unlocks

pilotmills said:
Don't scan each finger different directions when you register them. Do one orientation for each set of 10 registration swipes. I've registered my left and right thumb going sideways (as you would to unlock while holding it one handed) and I have near 100% success unlocking on the first try.
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+1
Same here.

ozaghloul said:
On average it takes me 3 attempts to successfully log in using my fingerprint. Sometimes it will take many more attempts. I've scanned three fingers in every direction and orientation, but the recognition is still exceedingly poor. Why would the Note 4 have such a useless scanner? So frustrating
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Mine is working just awesome unlocks in 1st attempt.

I very rarely have problems with it, but when I do, it's usually because I was doing it too fast.
Sent from my SM-N910U

Muscle memory. It takes a while to get used to swiping with the right speed and direction but eventually it will become second nature. I was struggling at first with 3 or 4 failed attempts everytime but now, after a few days, it's pretty much 100%.

It works perfectly for me. Just like others said, just register one finger, swipe it 10 times. I love this function. it's much faster than a passcode.

It does not matter how many times you scan one finger. Ive scanned each finger and mine works perfectly. unless it says no match then that means you need to be more accurate on the scanner. if its because your not swiping correctly you will pick that up over time. took me a while to get used to it still occasionally doesn't but 95% works fine.
if i use my scanner with my finger straight on then it works 100% but that isn't viable one handed with such a phone you have to use your finger horizontally. That is why it takes getting used to to get it locked down.

I think it works perfectly
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using Tapatalk

I agree think it's a waste of space, if I really concentrate and do it slowly then fine but for me pattern unlock is twice as fast and I find the phone very top heavy for one handed fingerprint usage so can't be bothered with it

Works flawlessly, maybe placebo but seems far more reliable than the S5 one.

I have to disagree immensely, I thought this at first until I redone my the scans and it works almost all the time now.
You also need to swipe from just above the home button, so not to high, It's very accurate (at least for me ) once you get use to it. I'll advise don't give up.

I have the hardest time getting my thumb to work. ..so i tried swiping upward. Works much better for my thumb. (Train it that way)

Watch this also.
http://youtu.be/Mr526oaxdJk

I too disagree with the OP. Scanner has been near 100% recognition. The only exception is when my thumb is a little moist or sweaty while working it doesn't glide as smoothly so doesn't get a good scan.

Did they change the scanner since the Galaxy S5? It seems soooooooooooo much better on the Note than it did on the S5.

ozaghloul said:
On average it takes me 3 attempts to successfully log in using my fingerprint. Sometimes it will take many more attempts. I've scanned three fingers in every direction and orientation, but the recognition is still exceedingly poor. Why would the Note 4 have such a useless scanner? So frustrating
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Sorry its u not the note 4. Mine works flawlessly even with oil and grease on my hand from working on the car

To anyone who thinks the fingerprint scanner is bad / inaccurate

Hello.
I see peoples around on the internet (here on XDA to) that are complaining about the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy Note 4 to be bad and inaccurate. Well, i'm here to tell you that it's not the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy Note 4 that is bad or inaccurate, but it's your way of setting the fingerprint scanner up that is the problem.
I have set up my fingerprint scanner up correctly and it works extremely good. Just follow this guide and you will be all fine. This video is not made by me by the way and even if this shows the setup process for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S tablets, it still works the same for the Galaxy Note 4.
I also added a poll about the fingerprint scanner in the post here. ONLY answer it after you have correctly set up the fingerprint scanner according to the guide in the YouTube video and after you have given the fingerprint scanner some tries, thanks.
Have a good day.

Hmm well I have watched your video but I think you missed out what is causing the unsatisfactory experience.
If you are unlocking the phone supported/two-handed, such as in the video, phone placed on a stationary platform such as a table and you swipe your finger; or your left hand holding the phone while your right hand swipes the scanner - it isn't exactly a convenient feature. If you are unlocking the phone 2-handed, there isn't a lot of difference from unlocking using PIN.
2-handed unlock is 99.9% accurate for me - same as the iPhone 6/6+'s one-touch scanner. However, unlocking one handed is another matter. The phone will prompt you for a second set of 10 swipes after you done your first 10 - and if you did your second set of 10 supported on table or with your other hand, then you are likely to face issues unlocking single handed.
This is because the con of a swipe censor is that it is less accurate vs the one-touch version, and the drag of your finger/thumb while swiping distorts your fingerprint (because your flesh drags and there is pressure) according to the direction you swipe. The way you swipe 2 handed will be different from the way you swipe single handed.
I have no problems registering the first set of 10 with the conventional thumb downwards swipe. That is easy. But during the second set of 10 where I try to register one handed with my thumb swiping on its sides, there is a few hit and misses. I have eventually gotten used to it and accuracy in unlocking improved much, but for every 10 unlocks I can still miss 1 or 2 times. It is no wear near the accuracy nor convenience of the one-touch sensors.

At first when I got the device I thought the scanner was garbage (I was garbage not the scanner :3) used to get 30-40% accuracy, I was swiping my finger on the scanner in same direction (downwards) everytime as instructed while registering, when it dint work well I turned it off, then I came across few threads n vids and understood I have to swipe my whole pad in from different variations and angles while registering I tried that and woila, I have almost 99% accuracy now, it works sooo soo good now, been using it since more than a week and I unlock it around minimum 50 times a day using it and also use some apps I've assigned fingerprint to and I've only failed once since I corrected the method of registering finger. so yup, awesome scanner much btr than s5 the only trick is to register from diff angles as shown in video n you'll be good to go.. :good:

I dont care how well it works with two hands, its the thumb on my right hand when using the device onehanded thats the "problem".
It works most of the time, and ive registered my right thumb in various angles and variations like in the video. But not all the time. Its fine for normal use, though, it really is. But if you have a shorter thumb than me, it might be a lot worse. Even for me, its a bit of a dud due to the fact that it sometimes doesnt register (my thumb might be slightly off center, or I swipe too fast, etc).
The more reasonable method would be a slimmer bezel at the bottom, drop the scanner on the homebutton, add a onepress scanner at the back of the device for your index, instead of that horribly useless heartrate/oxygenlevel monitor.

i tried the fingerprint scanner, did it 10 times to recognize it and set it but it didn't show up so i restarted my new note 4 and it worked and i swiped my finger and it unlocked then i locked it again but the fingerprint scanner went away again and its only giving me an option to swipe to unlock.

I tried to set up the fingerprint scanner several times with different methods/angles. I was unable to get a good experience unlocking it with one hand. The iPhone is miles better in this department. Works almost every time two-handed, though.

The way Samsung design it sense is not good. You need gently swipe down which simply look stupid and troublesome.
This part no deny iPhone did it great by press and hold only.

Agreed. That being said, I dont see any real point of it. Its much like the UV sensor, the heartrate sensor and all that other jazz.

The fingerprint scanner is just pure garbage. Not sure why so many are blaming Samsung for not giving proper instructions? Everything in that video the OP posted is clearly explained in the fingerprint registration stage. It even has an animated finger that shows you how to scan different parts of the finger and different angles and directions. Its not that we have not registered the fingerprint properly, its that the scanner is just worse than ebola and aids combined. The poll results also support my assertion that the scanner is totally sh1t.
---------- Post added at 08:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:25 AM ----------
Slai said:
Agreed. That being said, I dont see any real point of it. Its much like the UV sensor, the heartrate sensor and all that other jazz.
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The fingerprint scanner is not jazz. If it worked properly most people could get some real use of the fingerprint scanner versus the UV sensor.

The only real use would be protecting certain apps and unlocking the phone. Both of which are easily doable with a PIN. that being said I don't have a problem using the scanner with one hand nor two, but it's not 100%, I agree it should have been better placed. Preferably at the back under the camera for your index.
I guess I get about 9/10 first try unlocks at this point, one handed.

I have tried all the methods and it still is mostly garbage for me. And it starts registering the swipe after a half-second delay which means you need to wait for the screen to turn on and for the arrow to show up - what a waste of time. It is also only 10% accurate for me (even when I have registered 15 different angles for the one finger I use). Maybe a software update will make it a bit better, who knows. For now - I will turn it off as before.

Maybe just register in the same-ish angles...

I still don't see what the problem is. I still have 99% success with my fingerprint scanner. It simply just works every time i'm using it.
Either you are setting the fingerprint scanner up in a wrong way, using it wrong, or there must be some problems with the fingerprint scanner.
I'm even tempted to make a video that shows how good my fingerprint scanner works just to prove it .
And lastly. Even if Touch ID on the iPhone is more easy to use, it's far from being more secure than the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S5 / Note 4. Because on Touch ID, you just presses directly on top of the home button on the iPhone, which leaves your fingerprint open to anyone who manage to steal your iPhone. On the Galaxy S5 / Note 4, you have to swipe to get it to work, which means that you are actually swiping away the fingerprint on the button as you swipe.
Because of that, a thief is going to have a hard time to find your actual fingerprint to use to open the phone.

Tom-Helge said:
I still don't see what the problem is. I still have 99% success with my fingerprint scanner. It simply just works every time i'm using it.
Either you are setting the fingerprint scanner up in a wrong way, using it wrong, or there must be some problems with the fingerprint scanner.
I'm even tempted to make a video that shows how good my fingerprint scanner works just to prove it .
And lastly. Even if Touch ID on the iPhone is more easy to use, it's far from being more secure than the fingerprint scanner on the Galaxy S5 / Note 4. Because on Touch ID, you just presses directly on top of the home button on the iPhone, which leaves your fingerprint open to anyone who manage to steal your iPhone. On the Galaxy S5 / Note 4, you have to swipe to get it to work, which means that you are actually swiping away the fingerprint on the button as you swipe.
Because of that, a thief is going to have a hard time to find your actual fingerprint to use to open the phone.
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If you can make a video where you at least 10 times in a row unlock the phone, while holding it comfortably in one hand, I'll believe you. I'm talking about unlocking it with the same hand holding the phone, not two hands. If so many people have problems with the scanner, Samsung either has piss poor quality control, or it's just inferior by design.
And have you ever used an iPhone at all? There's no usable track of your fingerprint after you unlocked the phone. Unless you have very greasy fingers, in which case you wouldn't be able to unlock the phone anyway.
Samsung did most things right with the Note 4, but the fingerprint sensor wasn't one of them.

This is ridiculous. We can blame Samsung for building a swipe-scanner rather than touch like Apple but what is this unlocking with one hand business? Look at how big the device is, I would think you have higher risk of dropping the device than it failing for you when you swipe with one hand given the device is top heavy based on how one would hold it if attempting to one-hand finger unlock.
However, if your device lays flat on a table when trying to unlock, make sure you get it at the same angle you registered it at...

Couldn't agree more.. Look at the poll... Clearly doesn't work like it should.

an_xda said:
This is ridiculous. We can blame Samsung for building a swipe-scanner rather than touch like Apple but what is this unlocking with one hand business? Look at how big the device is, I would think you have higher risk of dropping the device than it failing for you when you swipe with one hand given the device is top heavy based on how one would hold it if attempting to one-hand finger unlock.
However, if your device lays flat on a table when trying to unlock, make sure you get it at the same angle you registered it at...
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For me, having a fingerprint sensor is mostly for convenience. If I'm already holding my phone and have both hands available, it's not much faster than using a pattern or PIN code. Especially when I'm in a hurry or wanna check something quickly, pattern or PIN is much more reliable, because I'm "swiping too fast".

Mafle93 said:
For me, having a fingerprint sensor is mostly for convenience. If I'm already holding my phone and have both hands available, it's not much faster than using a pattern or PIN code. Especially when I'm in a hurry or wanna check something quickly, pattern or PIN is much more reliable, because I'm "swiping too fast".
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That is your use case. For my corporate IT policy, we require an 8-character (not just 8 digit PIN). This is effectively typing a complex password every time I need to unlock my device. The fingerprint scanner alleviates this pain and it has worked almost flawlessly on the S5 for me, let alone the Note 4...
If using the PIN or pattern works for you, you can ignore the fingerprint scanner then. Just another useless Samsung gimmick, right?

If you can make a video where you at least 10 times in a row unlock the phone, while holding it comfortably in one hand, I'll believe you.
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Oh, even I could do that. That doesnt prove much though, just confirms that it works 10 times in a row. Doesnt take in to account a bumpy busride, or when youre in a hurry, or if it rained ever, or if youre nervous, etc.

I saw a video a while ago explaining why people with an S5 had so much trouble using the fingerprint sensor: part of it was under the screen and you had to swipe over a part of the screen too. Just like in the video you posted.
I for instance am able to unlock my note 4 by only touching the home button with my index finger. This proves the fingerprint sensor is completely in the home button. And also why there are no dots on the lower part of the screen indicating you should swipe on them like that tab S and S5

Is your fingerprint reader awful?

I've found that my reader only works about 2 out of every 10 attempts. Sometimes I even get an error saying there's a problem with the scanner and I need to reboot the device. Curious as to if it's only me.
Been quite frustrating to say the least.

Yes I think it is too inconsistent. If you are more accurate in how you apply your print when unlocking it's better, but one shouldn't have to do this. There is also the individuals print depth variance although I know nothing about this. I would bet it can be improved with software updates

I had somewhat of that experience.. when I was setting up fingerprints, when you reach the 80% mark, it asks you to try the tip of your finger... also I register my thumb for example, sideways, not just up and down. Also 2 registered prints for 1 finger.
Hope it helps

I mentioned this in another post. But my advice would be have someone else with deeper fingerprint grooves try. (I used to work on fingerprint/biometrics scanners for medical systems). If they have noticeably better success, it could be your fingerprints. That said it could entirely be a Samsung issue as well. Until I get my hands on a couple of units to try with (one arrived last night I have to set up and the other is backordered), I won't know for sure what the issues are. But I would recommend what I suggested. Alternately note if the person has fingerprint ridges that are as shallow as yours before trying. Then find someone else whose fingerprints are more pronounced. Hopefully that helps at least identify the problem.

Could be hardware issue or natural fingerprint depth? No idea if that could even be the case, but makes sense if it's trying to register the prints. I can confirm that my device recognizes 8 out of 10 times both of my thumb prints and my wife's thumbs as well.

Mine works extremely well and very quickly (less than a second, faster than iPhone). When you register it and when you actually use it, press a bit harder so that your fingerprint flattens out more. For instance when registering it, it might say to "cover the whole button" or whatever, so just press a little bit harder to accomplish that.
Now when I pick up my phone, I just press and hold the button for a split second and am taken to the unlocked homescreen. This makes it quicker and helps it read the finger because you're obviously pressing harder when you actually push the button.

Finger print sensors take some time to get used to. I remember my iPhone 5S and I had issues getting it just right and then you figure it out. Every few days as you get used to the phone and where your finger sits delete the primary finger and out it back in. Also you only get 4 fingerprint slots (which is stupid) and you can train a single finger to multiple slots if you hold it multiple ways
Finally, if you get errors from the device asking you to reboot or its faulty do a factory reset. If that doesn't fix it then get it replaced.
Fwiw mine works about 99% of the times I expect it to. (Sometimes I'm holding it funky and don't want to move it so I try it to see if it catches.)

I will occasionally get a no match but I can tell when that's just because I've put my thumb on it at a bad angle.
I agree with the above, reset it to see if that fixes the issue with it erroring out and telling you to reboot, otherwise get a replacement. That is definitely not normal.

My fingerprint reader works flawlessly, no issues for me.

ingenious247 said:
My fingerprint reader works flawlessly, no issues for me.
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+1 Flawless! I have an iPhone 6 plus right next to me so I am well aware how they should function and the S6 is actually just a tad faster than the iPhone 6 plus. I really think that's all due to the animations though but the S6 is 10x better than the Note 4 sensor. Thank God they did away with that swipe down crap where it was basically useless unless it was done precisely.

i don't think its so much of an issue with the scanner as it is peoples perception of how it should work. the first time i set up my finger i held the phone in one hand and then pressed it in a couple of different ways with my thumb never really getting it with the tip or the side of my thumb as a result it would never recognize my thumb when i was holding in my hand and pressing the power button mostly hitting it with the tip of my finger. If you don't record your finger in every possible way you might touch the sensor then there's a chance it wont recognize your finger

Mine works great with out issue. I am very picky about my phone being locked. before now I never used any kind of security. This is the longest I have ever had any kind of security on my phone if that says anything.

Thanks for suggesting registering one finger twice, this put the accuracy at 9/10 on the first try versus 5/10 before.
I have also started to register the prints at the most common angles for me (sideways 90 degrees), rarely will you be going straight up and down.

Mine works like a charm. Registered two fingers so I could unlock w/one hand, thumb as well.

I have the tmobile GS6 edge and at first fingerprint scanner was ok (nearly as good as my iphone). In the last week it has been more inconsistent. Some times I get it on the first try, but many times need 4 tries or ending up having to enter the password.
I have an iphone as well (work). The iphone has significantly less errors (by order of magnitude). I have tried different fingertip positions and partial prints and the iphone is much more accurate. I rarely (practically never!) have to re-position a finger more than twice. It may be because the iphone has a round, depressed button, which guides the finger more accurately or simply better scanner quality- i don't know.
In addition the iphone allows ALL 10 fingers to be used.
I am not trying to praise the iphone or insult Samsung and it's galaxy edge line, but to keep throwing praise at a this phone is misleading and encourages mediocrity.
Just for the record, I do not like the iphone and its restrictions. However, most of the iphone's short comings are by purposeful and direct design. On the other hand, I see most of the Samsung's short comings (such as a lower quality fingerprint scanner system, Samsung's bloatware and so on) to be due to poor planing or lower quality rushed to market to try and beat, or catch up with, the competition.

faloom said:
I have the tmobile GS6 edge and at first fingerprint scanner was ok (nearly as good as my iphone). In the last week it has been more inconsistent. Some times I get it on the first try, but many times need 4 tries or ending up having to enter the password.
I have an iphone as well (work). The iphone has significantly less errors (by order of magnitude). I have tried different fingertip positions and partial prints and the iphone is much more accurate. I rarely (practically never!) have to re-position a finger more than twice. It may be because the iphone has a round, depressed button, which guides the finger more accurately or simply better scanner quality- i don't know.
In addition the iphone allows ALL 10 fingers to be used.
I am not trying to praise the iphone or insult Samsung and it's galaxy edge line, but to keep throwing praise at a this phone is misleading and encourages mediocrity.
Just for the record, I do not like the iphone and its restrictions. However, most of the iphone's short comings are by purposeful and direct design. On the other hand, I see most of the Samsung's short comings (such as a lower quality fingerprint scanner system, Samsung's bloatware and so on) to be due to poor planing or lower quality rushed to market to try and beat, or catch up with, the competition.
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Maybe you should delete it and register a new fingerprint. Mine works extremely well
Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

Can anyone get the fingerprint scanner to work most of the time?

The fingerprint scanner on the Nokia 9 is terrible! Seems to only read it 20% of the time. I use face unlock sometimes which is nice but I can't always hold phone up to face. Tempted to just use smart lock with my android wear watch but there goes my security. May end up trying to add fingerprints again for a 3rd time...

Mine almost always works, but I have to apply some pressure to it. It's not like most other in-display readers that work with just resting your finger on the screen.
I have each thumb trained twice on it.
It fails completely with a glass screen protector (at least for me).

Worst scanner. Works 50 percent or less and with multiple scans of same fingerprint. Utterly useless.Ar least the Galaxy S10 plus was fixed with updates and my success rate is 90% + on that phone.
Sent from my Nokia 9 using Tapatalk

It's a painful fingerprint scanner, but I've found a way to make it reliable. Not necessarily convenient, but reliable..
Before scanning, I lick my thumb of index finger lightly, then run them together leaving them just slightly damp (just enough so they don't slide smoothly across the phone screen), then touch firmly, but certainly not hard, on the sensor patch.
Works almost first time every time. I also used this same method when training the prints.

stiebs said:
It's a painful fingerprint scanner, but I've found a way to make it reliable. Not necessarily convenient, but reliable..
Before scanning, I lick my thumb of index finger lightly, then run them together leaving them just slightly damp (just enough so they don't slide smoothly across the phone screen), then touch firmly, but certainly not hard, on the sensor patch.
Works almost first time every time. I also used this same method when training the prints.
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Do you know where that thumb has been since the last time you licked it??? :silly: :silly: :laugh: :laugh:

I received my phone yesterday. My fingerprint scanner seems to work just fine. There are a couple times where it did take a couple tries, but it's been nothing like I've been reading. I'm perfectly content with it. I'll also add that it's been working just as well for me with a plastic screen protector on it.

You guys never had a xiaomi mi 5s. If so, you would not complain about fingerprint scanner ?

I've had about a 75% success rate with the fingerprint scanner. I set it up in a dark room and registered both thumbs and index fingers. There are times when it won't read my fingerprint at all, which seems to be software related. Other times, it will say not recognized. In those cases, I've tried to place my hand over my phone as if I'm covering my PIN at the ATM, creating a bit of a shadow or darkness over the fingerprint area of the screen and then trying it, which seems to work a lot more often. Covering it with the other hand might be a fluke, but I am able to repeat the results again and again.

Edit: I deleted my post, because it was not repeatable. Whatever the software issue is, its too intermittent to isolate through physical means alone. Someone with programming knowledge though should be able to see what might be causing the problem and provide some insight on a workaround until then.
Right now for me, it seems to work when its being charged and battery saver seems to affect its success rate.

for me it depends on the situation, sometimes it doesn't work at all. Things like temp etc seems to be influencing the succes rate. my xz3 has a reader at the back and it doesn't work sometimes as well. they are equal in reliability. But if you are used to a Huawei (like the mate 9) it is terrible. I really had to adjust when I got the XZ3 (coming from a mate 9).

I received mine this morning and it performed a system update out of the box.
I put a glass screen protector on the phone straight away and I've had some success with using the fingerprint reader, although not so much that I would like to use it all the time.
These are my observations so far,
- The 'press harder' message is deceptive. I have never got it to work by pressing harder when it tells me to press harder in a spot where my thumb/finger already is. Instead if I use that as a cue to re-position my thumb/finger then I have much more success. When it works, I have never had to press hard at all.
- It doesn't like my thumb very much. It takes some time to find the right position with my thumb, where as my forefinger is fine.
Update: 16:14
I've been persisting with it and have found the right amount of pressure to make it work more consistently. The message on the screen says press a little harder, and pressing it to the point where it flattens your skin out against the screen makes the chance of success better.

Moseman, i did everything you did, unfortunately its a software issue. You are right about the 'press harder' message, its not true. You don't need to press hard at all to get it to work, which i have been able to test successfully. The issue is not about pressure, its about placement. You must place your finger in the exact position that you placed it when you did the first half of the enrollment. Interestingly, i've noticed that apps that use the finger print reader as part of their login, seem to work much better. Such as ADP app or Bank apps.
You will notice that it probably works better while on charger, and works terrible with battery saver on. I tried many ways to find a workaround to get it to work consistently, but eventually it goes back to working 10% of the time. I believe they will create a fix here soon.
I've heard the face scanner login works much better. GL!

I got a good working scan by holding the phone in landscape mode while learning the scan. Might be coincidence , but i figured since the scanner is the shape of a flat rectangle it might cover more of my finger that way. (in normal use i just unlock in portrait mode, i just did the landscape thing to learn the fingerprint)

Interesting. I will try your method and see what i get. Will post an update later. Thanks Bk227865.
*Update: The method does appear to be working somewhat better. I will have to keep testing. Thanks.
*Update2: I don't know why im obsessed with getting this working. But BK you gave me an idea.
So after trying your method, i wondered if enrollment was the issue. Perhaps i wasn't doing it right, and maybe someone else did do it right, so let me know if you did the following.
I deleted all enrollments and tried again, this time with battery saver off (just to rule anything out related to that). I also made sure that my finger placement was exactly as described in the training photo. Originally and before, i had placed the edge of my fingerprints to the edge of the scanner, but actually it wants you to place the middle part on the scanner.
So when i re-enrolled using the exact finger placement the picture showed, it didn't work 100% of the time, but i do get somewhat better overall success with different finger placements.
Anyone willing to test this out?

Sliksta said:
Interesting. I will try your method and see what i get. Will post an update later. Thanks Bk227865.
*Update: The method does appear to be working somewhat better. I will have to keep testing. Thanks.
*Update2: I don't know why im obsessed with getting this working. But BK you gave me an idea.
So after trying your method, i wondered if enrollment was the issue. Perhaps i wasn't doing it right, and maybe someone else did do it right, so let me know if you did the following.
I deleted all enrollments and tried again, this time with battery saver off (just to rule anything out related to that). I also made sure that my finger placement was exactly as described in the training photo. Originally and before, i had placed the edge of my fingerprints to the edge of the scanner, but actually it wants you to place the middle part on the scanner.
So when i re-enrolled using the exact finger placement the picture showed, it didn't work 100% of the time, but i do get somewhat better overall success with different finger placements.
Anyone willing to test this out?
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I can vouch for this, great discovery, Sliksta! :good:
UPDATE:
After further experimenting, it seems like the results are only slightly better and this is not a permanent solution.

Wow. Really improved! Almost 8/10 now

The way I did it was placing my thumb in different angles from the beginning. Don't have a lot of troubles with it. Some times the light just doesn't switch on. Direct sunlight doesn't help its accuracy. Wet fingers doesn't help as well. But I would say mostly it works

Thanks all and Chaosdark for testing. I still believe that battery saver somehow effects the consistency of its accuracy. I would say it works more often than not with battery saver off. This might be the inconsistency you are experiencing. Can you/anyone confirm it works better w/ battery saver off?

Today I think I've found something interesting, if you go to verification option in the fingerprint section under security and touch the FP scanner to verify which fingerprint enrollment belongs to which finger, I have found that it detects and identifies the fingerprints enrolled easily and quickly and doesn't ask you to press harder as often as on lockscreen ( needs more testing from other users).
This results makes me hopeful that a software fix is possible and in the making according to Nokia CEO how vaguely suggested there will be a fix in an upcoming update.
What do you guys think?

stiebs said:
It's a painful fingerprint scanner, but I've found a way to make it reliable. Not necessarily convenient, but reliable..
Before scanning, I lick my thumb of index finger lightly, then run them together leaving them just slightly damp (just enough so they don't slide smoothly across the phone screen), then touch firmly, but certainly not hard, on the sensor patch.
Works almost first time every time. I also used this same method when training the prints.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works 100% without pressing harder
Incredible

tips for fingerprint reader speed

Hey everyone,
This is my first time using a phone with an onscreen fingerprint reader and when I first got it I was somewhat disappointed with the speed of reading. That being said I tried a few things out and managed to get the reader to be fast enough for my liking so I thought I'd share what I did.
Note that this is not in any way meant to be a comprehensive guide that works for everyone-- just what I found worked best for me.
What I initially tried to do was register five fingerprints using my thumbs and index fingers. I had two registered for each thumb and one for my index finger. This worked but was markedly slow no matter how many times I redid the scans.
I then tried to delete all of them and then only had 1 fingerprint saved but scanned both my thumbs in the same fingerprint. This worked MUCH faster for reading but often didn't recognize my finger.
The sweet spot was when I added a second and third profile ALSO using both thumbs. I noticed by the third profile that when i tried to put my thumb on to teach it it would say "fingerprint already enrolled" more and more often untill it was a struggle for it to recognize any angle of my thumbs as "new". Once that was done I found the fingerprint reader to be incredibly fast and accurate.
Tldr; to get the best speeds add three profiles using the same two thumbs in each profile until it stops recognizing your thumbs as new fingerprints.

homer.ali said:
Hey everyone,
This is my first time using a phone with an onscreen fingerprint reader and when I first got it I was somewhat disappointed with the speed of reading. That being said I tried a few things out and managed to get the reader to be fast enough for my liking so I thought I'd share what I did.
Note that this is not in any way meant to be a comprehensive guide that works for everyone-- just what I found worked best for me.
What I initially tried to do was register five fingerprints using my thumbs and index fingers. I had two registered for each thumb and one for my index finger. This worked but was markedly slow no matter how many times I redid the scans.
I then tried to delete all of them and then only had 1 fingerprint saved but scanned both my thumbs in the same fingerprint. This worked MUCH faster for reading but often didn't recognize my finger.
The sweet spot was when I added a second and third profile ALSO using both thumbs. I noticed by the third profile that when i tried to put my thumb on to teach it it would say "fingerprint already enrolled" more and more often untill it was a struggle for it to recognize any angle of my thumbs as "new". Once that was done I found the fingerprint reader to be incredibly fast and accurate.
Tldr; to get the best speeds add three profiles using the same two thumbs in each profile until it stops recognizing your thumbs as new fingerprints.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can register the same print twice then it didn't do a good job the first time. I have never been able to register the same finger twice.

Not sure what's going on with your phone where you need to do all that.
I registered both thumbs and index fingers only once each. It's basically the same speed as any physical fingerprint reader I've used with any of my registered fingerprints.

Seems to me (in my experience anyway) the only way to make it go faster is turn off all security and pick up and use the phone!

It's not as fast as the dedicated reader on the back of the 6, but it's plenty fast enough

I have registered each of both my thumbs only once and it works 99% of the time very quicky. Something is wrong with your finger mate.

I can confirm that registering two sets of Prints with the same finger works......and the fingerprint reader is way faster now. it will tell you that you already registered that singer but the trick is to keep trying because it didn't register every part of your finger with the first fingerprint.... my fingerprint reader was pretty fast before but now it's super fast I barely have to touch it. I can confirm this definitely works... Also I could only do two profiles for each finger

I needed to do this on my 6T. 7 Pro has been as fast as a physical scanner so I haven't felt the need to do any of this. Normal registration and use of the scanner works flawlessly for me. Just my experience!

rickysidhu_ said:
I needed to do this on my 6T. 7 Pro has been as fast as a physical scanner so I haven't felt the need to do any of this. Normal registration and use of the scanner works flawlessly for me. Just my experience!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same. I only registered my left and right once. Fingerprint sensor works 99 percent of the time and fast as hell. I had a note 8 and the fingerprint sensor on those was slow as hell.

Try turning off the fingerprint animation as well. It made it faster for me

You suck guys. You suck.

affection788 said:
I have registered each of both my thumbs only once and it works 99% of the time very quicky. Something is wrong with your finger mate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's actually entirely possible ?
I work in health care so I have to sanitize my hands easily 50 times a day.. that tends to wear out fingerprints!

I turned off the haptic feedback.

affection788 said:
I have registered each of both my thumbs only once and it works 99% of the time very quicky. Something is wrong with your finger mate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol he got a stink finger and the phone wants none of it.

Eric214 said:
Lol he got a stink finger and the phone wants none of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahahaha the ole stink finger

Guess I've got pretty complicated fingers as the thread starter as well ?
What works for me is:
1. Register the right thumb (1. fingerprint) with the "base" of the finger and a little bit more pressure.
2. Register the right thumb again (2. fingerprint) with the tip of the finger and light pressure.
3. Register left thumb like before (3. + 4. fingerprint).
4. Register index finger "normal" (5. fingerprint) or anything else.
5. Change animation to stripe.
When unlocking the phone from ambient display, lay down your finger while increasing pressure a tiny bit. It's super fast for me now.
I've got no chance when registrating only one or registrating the fingerprints in dark rooms, it'll be fast for the first hours but then they'll become very slow.
Maybe this will help anyone.