Fingerprint sensor/ Lockscreen - Samsung Galaxy S9+ Questions & Answers

Hello,
Long time lurker here and was hoping for some advice/ suggestions.
I have a Canadian S9 Plus (on Bell Mobility) and noticed the following issues/ annoyances:
1) When the phone is woken up (e.g. pressing the virtual home button, plugged into charger, new text message received, etc.), the screen would turn on, continuously look for fingerprints ("Wipe the fingerprint sensor and try again" message would keep flashing) and would not shut off until I press the power button to turn off the screen
2) The fingerprint sensor generally works (e.g. unlocks the phone, swipes to drop down notification window), HOWEVER it does not work to unlock the phone if the phone has been sleeping for more than a few minutes (nothing happens no matter which direction I swipe/ press the fingerprint sensor). When I try to unlock the phone, I will have to press the power button to wake up the phone then swipe the fingerprint sensor. This may be a standard feature, but after pressing the power button to wake up the screen I will always get a message that says "The fingerprint sensor may be dirty. Clean it and try again.". Again the fingerprint sensor otherwise works so cleanliness of the sensor isn't really an issue here.
Has this happened to anyone's phone? I tried clearing cache/ resetting app preferences/ factory resetting the phone multiple times but with no luck. I also called Samsung but the conversation didn't go anywhere.
Any other suggestions? Thanks in advance for your help!

Have not had that issue with mine.

Do you have the finger sensor gesture on?

chickenbb said:
Do you have the finger sensor gesture on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried both finger gesture on and off - no difference with the same issues persisting :crying:

this is the exact issue im facing when i got my s9+, i also thought that it was a factory defect. but luckily recently it didnt came up again and i did nothing. but still continuing monitoring the issue as it is really so bothersome.

Sounds like a defect to me. I'd exchange it.

I have not had any issues. Have you tried re-scanning your fingers? I noticed that this finger print scanner is different from the one on my LG V20. It feels different, and seems to operate different. It's also a little smaller which makes me have to position my fingers different.
I also read the instructions wrong.. I was supposed to swipe my finger during the setup. I was pressing it down. Either way mine works great.

Same issue here, did you manage to solve it?

Mario_Nissan said:
Same issue here, did you manage to solve it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not at all - I ended up returning it. Any luck on your end?

Maybe try registering your finger/s with and without a case on. See what happens.

Same issue here. This is the one thing that really bugs me about this phone.

Related

Can't press #1 during a call?

I have the VZW gs3, running the stock rom with the motion lift to ear to call enabled. I've noticed that during a call, when you go to input numbers, such as if you are on automated call center, if you try and press the 1 key the screen goes black as soon as your finger gets too close to it. Then comes back when you are a little further away. Not sure about 2 and 3, but the lower keys did not have the same problem.
I thought maybe the phone is attempting to shut the screen off, thinking I'm holding the phone to my face maybe? Either way really annoying problem, has anyone else noticed the same thing? Is there a workaround or fix?
sleepingkraken said:
I have the VZW gs3, running the stock rom with the motion lift to ear to call enabled. I've noticed that during a call, when you go to input numbers, such as if you are on automated call center, if you try and press the 1 key the screen goes black as soon as your finger gets too close to it. Then comes back when you are a little further away. Not sure about 2 and 3, but the lower keys did not have the same problem.
I thought maybe the phone is attempting to shut the screen off, thinking I'm holding the phone to my face maybe? Either way really annoying problem, has anyone else noticed the same thing? Is there a workaround or fix?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's because when you're moving your finger to the 1 your hand gets in front of the proximity sensor, which turns off the screen. Just be aware of where the rest of your hand is and it won't happen anymore.
Yes, it's the proximity sensor so watch your other fingers and you go to press a key. I must say this is one of the most annoying things of the SIII I have found so far.
Alright, thanks, is the proximity sensor the two small dots next to the samsung logo?
One of them, yes.
AvengerBB said:
One of them, yes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does that mean I can just bring my finger up to the sensor to make a call when texting? so that I don't have to press my face into the phone?

[H850] Fingerprint Settings Disappeared.

Hello all,
I have treated this phone very carefully since I have got it about a year ago just to mention but all of a sudden at work today lock-screen said it could not use fingerprints and then suddenly the settings regarding the fingerprint sensor disappeared. Anyone got any clue on how to bring them back? The button itself is working fine.
Thanks.
No one has any ideas? If I replace the button using my Ifixit kit does anyone know if that would fix this?
If you used your fingerprint button with wet fingers or if some light humidity was near the button he stops working. Wait some time and then restart your phone. Had the same problem many times. Maybe a "safety feature" by LG?
I have left it for a while, I also tried some Isopropyl alcohol as others have advised with their malfunctioning power buttons and that didn't do anything.
I had the same problem, replaced the fingerprint power button module. Now it's working. Just followed ifix

Fingerprint sensor always active.

Greetings,
Does anyone have this issue? Phone wakes up when fingerprint reader is touched (with any finger) even when it's not set up? Is there any workaround?
Nope. In my case the phone just vibrates when touched with non-registered finger, but the screen remains dark.
katoda_ltd said:
Nope. In my case the phone just vibrates when touched with non-registered finger, but the screen remains dark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That happens to me as well if I have a fingerprint set up.
But if there is absolutely no fingerprint is set up, the phone still wakes up whenever the scanner is touched.
To see if you have this issue, delete all your fingerprints from your f1, turn off the display and touch the fingerprint sensor and see what happens.
Yes, then it works like in your case, the phone wakes up.
As I'm using the fingerprint reader, it is not an issue for me. In your case, maybe just add a fingerprint hard to use, e.g. thumb, phone will vibrate when touched but at least will not wake up.
katoda_ltd said:
Yes, then it works like in your case, the phone wakes up.
As I'm using the fingerprint reader, it is not an issue for me. In your case, maybe just add a fingerprint hard to use, e.g. thumb, phone will vibrate when touched but at least will not wake up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not a big issue. I was just wondering if it's only a problem with my specific unit.
If its a software issue probably get fixed with updates or maybe a different rom.
You never know if it's a bug or a feature
katoda_ltd said:
You never know if it's a bug or a feature
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the FP lock gets triggered without having it activated/registered, it's a major bug and posses a huge security threat.
Rowdyy Ronnie said:
If the FP lock gets triggered without having it activated/registered, it's a major bug and posses a huge security threat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you also have this bug?
Windoors said:
Do you also have this bug?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope I don't have any such issue on miui beta 9.4.26
I would suggest you to do a factory reset if you continue to have this issue.
My phone came with oreo, it had this issue.
Now using 10.3.4 stable (prerooted) the issue persists.
Haven't tried lineageos.
This is a software feature from miui, my mi max used to also light up when no fingerprint is registered. It can be turned off somewhere in settings iirc.
If you don't have a finger print set up, then the finger print sensor acts a bit like the power button to wake the screen. I don't see why you would consider this to be a bug but I've seen this in a few other phones as well. Doesn't strike me as being a problem but maybe that's just me.
srahman53171618 said:
If you don't have a finger print set up, then the finger print sensor acts a bit like the power button to wake the screen. I don't see why you would consider this to be a bug but I've seen this in a few other phones as well. Doesn't strike me as being a problem but maybe that's just me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, if you accidentally touch it phone will wake up without you knowing. It can happen while its in your pocket.
Anyone using non-MIUI rom, do you also have this problem?

General Why must unlocking my phone be so cumbersome?

The simple user experience of unlocking the device on is so bad on Pixel 6. There's just no winning option.
Smart Lock randomly kicks in, so I can't be sure that a single tap of the screen will turn on the phone.
The fingerprint sensor sucks, and requires a tap on the screen just to bring it up. And sometimes I don't even get the option to use my fingerprint.
I don't even like the single-tap gesture to begin with. It means I'm accidentally turning my screen on all the time just when carrying the phone. It almost started a call with my deadbeat father, who I haven't talked to in 20 years
I could go with no screen lock but then I'm locked out of several key features (like viewing my account passwords). Also, pressing the Power button at all on a phone this big is cumbersome, since I then have to reposition my entire hand to go from pressing it to then interacting with the screen.
I'm already rooted because I absolutely needed the Back button to be on the right side. Now I'm hoping modders can fix the unlocking experience because it's the next big issue in my mind.
The fingerprint scanner is actually very good if you set it up right, and will always be displayed with always on display... No tap required. Problem solved
turbosrrgood said:
The fingerprint scanner is actually very good if you set it up right, and will always be displayed with always on display... No tap required. Problem solved
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or lift to check turned on rather than AOD.
turbosrrgood said:
...and will always be displayed with always on display... No tap required. Problem solved
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not my experience at all. Sometimes I get a fingerprint sensor icon. Other times my phone is unlocked via Smart Lock and I get an Unlock icon in place of the fingerprint sensor. Other times I get a Lock icon indicating Smart Lock is expired. Other times I get no icon there at all.
If the fingerprint sensor is there and I'm on the dimmed screen, sometimes it'll just light up and deny, and other times it won't even acknowledge that I've put my finger on the sensor.
If the Unlock icon is there, it requires a tap to unlock (no holding!). So that means I have to actually look at the screen and discern which icon is there to know whether I need to tap or hold.
And Lift to Check Phone would be even more problematic for me, since I'm trying to avoid accidental screen interactions and this would only cause more.
On all my other Pixel phones I just touch the back fingerprint sensor and the phone is on. I don't have to think about a dozen different possible states the phone could be in every time I want to turn it on.
Have you tried to recalibrate it via the Pixel tool thing Google has?
Google Pixel - Update and Software Repair
gavingt said:
The simple user experience of unlocking the device on is so bad on Pixel 6. There's just no winning option.
Smart Lock randomly kicks in, so I can't be sure that a single tap of the screen will turn on the phone.
The fingerprint sensor sucks, and requires a tap on the screen just to bring it up. And sometimes I don't even get the option to use my fingerprint.
I don't even like the single-tap gesture to begin with. It means I'm accidentally turning my screen on all the time just when carrying the phone. It almost started a call with my deadbeat father, who I haven't talked to in 20 years
I could go with no screen lock but then I'm locked out of several key features (like viewing my account passwords). Also, pressing the Power button at all on a phone this big is cumbersome, since I then have to reposition my entire hand to go from pressing it to then interacting with the screen.
I'm already rooted because I absolutely needed the Back button to be on the right side. Now I'm hoping modders can fix the unlocking experience because it's the next big issue in my mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like smartlock working as intended (which I find useless, and poor security). It will give you an unlock icon instead of the fingerprint. Maybe you simply don't want smart unlock, which is more useful for password only. This seems like more of a matter of figuring out what features you want to use.
If you changed the Animation Scale in Developer Settings then the AOD fingerprint icon can disappear.
turbosrrgood said:
It sounds like smartlock working as intended (which I find useless, and poor security). It will give you an unlock icon instead of the fingerprint. Maybe you simply don't want smart unlock, which is more useful for password only. This seems like more of a matter of figuring out what features you want to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never used to use Smart Lock, but on this phone it means I don't have to deal with the inconsistent fingerprint sensor as often.
gavingt said:
I never used to use Smart Lock, but on this phone it means I don't have to deal with the inconsistent fingerprint sensor as often.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try setting up the fingerprint scanner again, slightly moving your finger with ever press during set up to get every angle and view of the print. It's been pretty much perfect for me. I suppose Google could have helped instruct people to do that better in the process.
turbosrrgood said:
It sounds like smartlock working as intended (which I find useless, and poor security). It will give you an unlock icon instead of the fingerprint. Maybe you simply don't want smart unlock, which is more useful for password only. This seems like more of a matter of figuring out what features you want to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just restarted my phone, and then repeatedly unlocked and locked it (sometimes by fingerprint, sometimes by tapping). By the end of the video, the fingerprint sensor icon disappeared completely and wouldn't come back until after another restart:
Streamable Video
Watch this video on Streamable.
streamable.com
This is just one example of the inconsistencies. I haven't changed the animation settings either.
I did see it happen a couple of times in your stream. I don't recall seeing that on mine, but I haven't been looking for it. The only other thing I can suggest is make sure you have the latest updates and/or factory reset.
Edit - I tried to replicate your stream, and the sensor showed in all 30 attempts for me. For whatever it's worth, so might be something specific to your device, maybe settings or software issue
turbosrrgood said:
I did see it happen a couple of times in your stream. I don't recall seeing that on mine, but I haven't been looking for it. The only other thing I can suggest is make sure you have the latest updates and/or factory reset.
Edit - I tried to replicate your stream, and the sensor showed in all 30 attempts for me. For whatever it's worth, so might be something specific to your device, maybe settings or software issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be a bug related to my specific settings:
Rooted device, still on the October update
Lock after screen timeout: 30 minutes
Power button locks instantly: Off
gavingt said:
I just restarted my phone, and then repeatedly unlocked and locked it (sometimes by fingerprint, sometimes by tapping). By the end of the video, the fingerprint sensor icon disappeared completely and wouldn't come back until after another restart:
Streamable Video
Watch this video on Streamable.
streamable.com
This is just one example of the inconsistencies. I haven't changed the animation settings either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what are you going on about lol. this is the kind of nonsense that is so irritating. you had 100% success rate unlocking your phone. what's the problem. looks to me like it works. so what's the big deal. and then you have the gall to complain that the sensor icon disappeared after you repeatedly locked and unlocked your phone? yea. try starting your car repeatedly. see what happens with the engine.
kramer987 said:
what are you going on about lol. this is the kind of nonsense that is so irritating. you had 100% success rate unlocking your phone. what's the problem. looks to me like it works. so what's the big deal. and then you have the gall to complain that the sensor icon disappeared after you repeatedly locked and unlocked your phone? yea. try starting your car repeatedly. see what happens with the engine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, ignore my multiple posts on the subject. It's not nonsense. I have no idea why you're trying to minimize this, and why you feel the need to be so combative.
gavingt said:
I'm already rooted because I absolutely needed the Back button to be on the right side.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know gesture navigation is a thing now right? Back buttons are so "last decade".
sic0048 said:
You know gesture navigation is a thing now right? Back buttons are so "last decade".
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Click to collapse
Yes, I know and I hate it. It's extra motion that tires out my hand and I often trigger the gestures when I don't mean to.
gavingt said:
Sure, ignore my multiple posts on the subject. It's not nonsense. I have no idea why you're trying to minimize this, and why you feel the need to be so combative.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i will just apologize and go on with my day. good luck with the phone.
I went ahead and updated to the November firmware, and wiped my data as well. Now my phone won't show the fingerprint sensor while unlocking under any circumstances. I also found an interesting bug wherein I'm still able to turn my screen on by tapping it repeatedly even with "Tap to check phone" disabled:
screen-20211102-164842[1]
Watch "screen-20211102-164842[1]" on Streamable.
streamable.com
EDIT: And, of course, as I was typing this the fingerprint sensor just magically came back. And it still doesn't work unless I tap the dimmed screen to wake it first. Watch as it straight up ignores my finger the first time:
screen-20211102-171057[1]
Watch "screen-20211102-171057[1]" on Streamable.
streamable.com
I can recreate this 100% of the time by just setting my phone down for a second and picking it back up, then trying to unlock it. And you can't see it in the video, but the sensor doesn't even light up the first time I touch it. This is clearly a software bug.
gavingt said:
I went ahead and updated to the November firmware, and wiped my data as well. Now my phone won't show the fingerprint sensor while unlocking under any circumstances. I also found an interesting bug wherein I'm still able to turn my screen on by tapping it repeatedly even with "Tap to check phone" disabled:
screen-20211102-164842[1]
Watch "screen-20211102-164842[1]" on Streamable.
streamable.com
EDIT: And, of course, as I was typing this the fingerprint sensor just magically came back. And it still doesn't work unless I tap the dimmed screen to wake it first. Watch as it straight up ignores my finger the first time:
screen-20211102-171057[1]
Watch "screen-20211102-171057[1]" on Streamable.
streamable.com
I can recreate this 100% of the time by just setting my phone down for a second and picking it back up, then trying to unlock it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but at least we know you like dunkin donuts, dominos pizza, and your mom forgets stuff
kramer987 said:
try starting your car repeatedly. see what happens with the engine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guess you don't know anything about cars. You can start and stop a fuel injected car until the battery dies, and nothing will happen to the engine or fuel system. (Yes, the battery will die if you keep starting the car and tuning it off right away) Just as proof of this, most modern cars shut off the engine when you come to a stop, and restart when you let off the brake. If you're in stop and go traffic, the engine will shut off and turn on repeatedly in a short amount of time nd distance.
Now with classic cars and motorcycles, you my flood the carb with repeated starts. Not a big deal, and not any kind of damage.
The only "damage" in repeatedly starting a car would be normal wear and tear on the starter. They do have a finite lifespan. But again, not damage, just use.

Fingerprint scanner not functional LineageOS 18.1

My phone has been running on the custom ROM for about 1.5 years now, but since last weekend my fingerprint scanner is not functioning anymore. Not at all, or so it seems.
When I try to unlock the phone with the scanner while screen is off, it's not responding at all. When I first wake up the phone through either the power button or the home button and I tap the finger scanner, the screen first flicks off, then shows my background with the little unlocking icon on the top of the screen, but then it goes back to the lockscreen.
I have already restarted my phone several times, tried the soft reset and clearing out the cache. Not of them had any effect. I also tried removing the stored fingerprints, but that also does not seem to work. When I press the garbage bin icon, the menu freezes. The phone will still be functioning, but when I return to the menu, the fingerprint I tried to delete will still be there.
Any apps that use the fingerprint scanner to verify or unlock also don't work with the scanner anymore.
I do notice a little mark on the right side of the scanner. Alsmost as if it has a speck of dried up fluid on it, but I even tried to clean it with Isopropanol and it just stays there.
For me it feels a bit like there's a bug in the software. Has anyone ever gone through something familiar with their phone? Or does someone have an idea on what to try next, apart from a hard reset or changing the scanner.
After finding out there's been a newer build of Lineage, I decided to flash it. Problem's gone now, so I guess the software was corrupted.

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