No matter if you buy a budget smartphone or a flagship one these days, every phone out there has a fingerprint sensor because it is one of the most demanded features. But oftentimes, it has been seen that fingerprint sensors actually start to cause some problems or don’t work properly. If let’s say your phone’s fingerprint sensor is not working properly, then there could be a few different reasons for that. And today, we are about to take a good look at just that and will share some fixes that you can try to resolve this problem. Alright, here we go now.
Common Reasons for Fingerprint Sensor Issues
- Software Bugs or Glitches: Fingerprint sensor issues can usually be attributed to software bugs, you know, oftentimes, the fingerprint sensor is the prime target of your phone’s software updates. In case the phone has had an upgrade recently or the software is at an outdated version, it could also be the thing causing the problem.
- Dirt or Moisture: A build-up of dirt, oil, or moisture over the fingerprint sensor may, in fact, cause the sensor to not work properly as it should. Like, if you have been using your phone while your hands are wet and filthy, this could probably be the reason the sensor is having difficulty in recognizing your fingerprint.
- Screen Protector Interference: And for phones that have like the newer in-display fingerprint sensors, in that case, it could be that you have installed a new screen protector and that is causing the sensor to not work properly.
- Physical Damage to the Sensor: And yes, if the sensor is physically damaged, then of course you’d have a hard time unlocking your phone using the fingerprint sensor. This is not a common issue, however.
- Environmental Conditions: The temperature fluctuations, the humidity as well as the alterations on the skin, such as dryness or cuts, can affect the performance of the fingerprint sensor in scanning the fingerprint. Usually, though, these are just temporary issues.
Some Simple Fixes You Can Try
- Clean the Sensor and Your Finger: Well, this one is a no-brainer. All you really need to do is clean the fingerprint sensor, and then ensure your fingers are also clean. You may use a soft cloth for the sensor, while hard, dry hands help as well. Even the slightest oily smear or moisture can really prevent the sensor from working properly, you know?
- Remove Screen Protector (for In-Display Sensors): Well, if you installed a new screen protector for your smartphone that has the in-display fingerprint sensor, yes, you’d have to say goodbye to the screen protector and try out another one that works.
- Restart Your Phone: This fix is underrated, but it may save your phone from even minor issues, you know? When you restart your smartphone, it also resets the software that may affect the fingerprint sensor, by clearing its temporary glitches or bugs.
Software-Based Fixes
1. Update Your Phone’s Software
Your phone’s software is crucial for the correct operation of your fingerprint sensor, did you know that? Like, if you have not recently updated your phone’s operating system or security software, this could be the cause of the inconsistency in fingerprint sensor workings. Go to the phone settings to see if there are any available updates and install them. This is particularly essential if the problem began after a recent software update since the manufacturer may have released a patch to fix some bugs.
2. Re-Register Your Fingerprints
If your fingerprint sensor still doesn’t work after trying other fixes, you may want to try re-registering your fingerprints. Sometimes the fingerprint sensor’s data can get corrupted, and resubmitting your fingerprints may solve the problem. Here’s how: Open your phone’s settings and select Security or Biometrics. Tap the Fingerprint option and then delete all the existing fingerprints. Add your fingerprints again, making sure to cover your finger from all angles to register. And just so you know, you can add the same fingerprint as many times as you want for better accuracy.
3. Disable Face Unlock
If your phone has another method of unlocking it through facial recognition besides fingerprints, there is a possibility that both of them are causing each other to malfunction. You can try to deactivate the face-unlocking function temporarily and see if the fingerprint recognition works more accurately, you know?
