How to Fix the Fingerprint Sensor on Android

Rida RehanMarch 30, 2022

On Android or iOS smartphones, the fingerprint scanner has long been one of the most popular security techniques. It gives your phone an extra shield of protection and makes unlocking it a lot easier and faster. From reactive scanners on the back of phones to ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanners, they have come a long way.

However, many Android users have observed that the fingerprint scanner on their phones does not work at times. The phone displays an error that “Android fingerprint not working”. Thus, this article will explain why your fingerprint scanner isn’t working on Android and how you can fix it.

Why Your Fingerprint Sensor Is Not Working?

Unclean Fingers

Make sure your fingertips are clean. Fingerprint scanners require clean fingers in order to read the image on your fingertip that you set to unlock the device. After you have washed your hands, pat them dry and test your fingerprint.

Dysfunctional Software

Check to see if your software is current. Fingerprint sensors are not working properly due to pending updates. Install them to keep your phones up to date. Furthermore, if any issues arise as a result of the software update, revert to the prior OS version.

Unclean Fingerprint Scanner

Similar to your figures, your fingerprint scanner requires cleaning. They collect dirt and grease from your figures as a result of frequent touches. Hence, preventing the scanner from properly reading your figure print.

How to Fix Android Fingerprint Scanner Error?

Restart Your Device

The majority of software issues, such as an Android fingerprint that isn’t working, can be resolved by restarting your phone. If the “android fingerprint not functioning” issue is software-related, as it generally is when your phone hasn’t been restarted in a while, this will undoubtedly assist. It’s also worth a shot because it can help with a variety of software-related difficulties like this.

Clear System Cache

If your Android fingerprint is still not working, you may need to delete the system cache on your phone. The frequently accessed data by apps and your phone systems can be erased by clearing the system cache. Data from the cache contains information that will expedite the procedure.

To clear the system cache, follow the steps below:

Power off your phone
Switch it to Recovery Road by powering your phone back on by simultaneously pressing the power and volume up buttons.
For navigation, use the volume buttons, and select Wipe Cache Partition.
To confirm your option, press the Power button
Finally, select Reboot System Now

Clean the Fingerprint Scanner

As mentioned above, a dirty fingerprint scanner is the primary reason why your scanner is not working. To clean the fingerprint scanner, use a microfiber cloth and gently rub it on the surface.

Wipe your phone’s display with an Iso Propyl cleanser applied on a microfiber cloth if it has an in-display fingerprint scanner.

Moreover, you can use a dampened cloth soaked in alcohol or plain water to clean your scanner or screen. To protect it from major damage, avoid scratching it or putting pressure on it with harsh/pointed objects.

Ensure the Fingerprint Scanner is Intact

As you may know, for the module to function correctly, it must be well-connected. Check that the module is well connected if you have a phone with a physical fingerprint or touch ID.

The module is similar to the rear panel on most Android phones. If your fingerprint module is clickable or shaking, you should take it to a repair shop right away.

This is also true for touch ID. You may notice that the fingerprint module is not as responsive as it was when you initially bought the phone. Therefore, you should take it to a repair shop in this case.

Remove Screen Protector

Optical and ultrasonic fingerprint scanners are the two major types of in-display fingerprint scanners. Optical scanners capture an image of your fingerprint by shining a light through the glass. This is how you unlock your phone. Screen protectors don’t usually cause problems with these scanners.

Ultrasound scanners, on the other hand, use a sound wave reflected off your finger to unlock the phone. If the screen protector is too thick, it may cause problems with the scanner.

Regardless of the sort of in-display fingerprint scanner on your phone, it’s a good idea to remove the screen protector and scan your finger to make sure it’s working.

Add Another Fingerprint

There may have been some modifications to your fingers recently. Such as noticeable marks/lines that are interfering with the registered fingerprint. This occurs especially if you conduct an industrial job. In this scenario, you should use your phone’s settings to add another fingerprint.

To reconfigure the fingerprint on your Android phone, follow the guidelines below:

Access your phone through your PIN
Open the Settings app
Select Biometrics and Security. This option may vary across different models of Android
Select the Fingerprints option
Feed in your PIN to access the fingerprints you have previously added
Select all the registered fingerprints, and Delete/Remove them
Choose the add fingerprint option, and register your new fingerprints

Enable Touch Sensitivity

If you wish to keep using your phone’s screen protector, try raising the touch sensitivity of the display. By doing so, it is a potential solution to make the in-display fingerprint scanner work. However, this feature is not available on all Android phones. It is typically found on Samsung and Google Pixel phones. Therefore, make sure to check the Display settings on your device to see if there’s a similar option available.

Follow the guidelines below to learn how to enable Touch Sensitivity on Android phones:

Launch the Settings application
Go to the Display section where the Touch Sensitivity option will be located
Enable the toggle which will be next to the Touch Sensitivity option

Reset Your Device

Resetting your device may result in the resolution of software-related issues such as this. If none of the preceding solutions work, try a Factory Reset.

Before you reset your phone, make a backup of all vital data because it will erase everything on it. If you have a computer, you can try backing them up.

To Reset your Android device, follow the instructions below: