Develop Bugs

Way to unlock phone with fingerprint sensor (Without storing a finger print)

Is there a way to use the fingerprint sensor to unlock the phone, but not having to keep the finger print stored? Several people use my phone, and I never keep my phone locked because there's nothing secret on there. I find it very useful to use the fingerprint sensor as its int a natural spot when you pick the phone up. But i hate having the phone locked I've tried double tap to wake before and it's always been very spotty. I would like to save my hardware buttons.

No, sorry.
Sent from my Pixel XL

Novakingwai said:
Is there a way to use the fingerprint sensor to unlock the phone, but not having to keep the finger print stored? Several people use my phone, and I never keep my phone locked because there's nothing secret on there. I find it very useful to use the fingerprint sensor as its int a natural spot when you pick the phone up. But i hate having the phone locked I've tried double tap to wake before and it's always been very spotty. I would like to save my hardware buttons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can have several different user account..

Exactly how many use your phone? Why not store a fingerprint for each one of those users.

Couldn't you just make your screen lock a swipe? Or none? It doesn't use the fingerprint sensor, but it achieves your goal.

Is the Fingerprint Scanner perminantly ON?

Hi Guys,
I'm thinking about buying this phone for a friend and need to understand how the fingerprint scanner works.
On my One Plus 3, the scanner is ON all the time which makes it awesome, (but probably eats battery.) :victory:
On my Galaxy Tab S2, you have to press the scanner to turn it on first, which makes the whole process much worse.
Is the scanner on the P2 always ON, (like the One Plus 3,) or does it require a press to wake it up? (like on Samsung devices.)
Thanks in advance. :highfive:

The scanner is always on.. you don't need to wake the phone to use it.. the battery drain is minimal
Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk

Uibon said:
The scanner is always on.. you don't need to wake the phone to use it.. the battery drain is minimal
Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Uibon. :highfive:
Is it a physical button? i.e. presses in, or is it just purely capacitive?
My Samsung also has an issue where if you lock the screen using an app, (Power Toggles,) you can't unlock the phone with your fingerprint. Any idea if the P2 suffers the same issue?

It's both. The fingerprint sensor is capacitive and works by just placing one's finger on it. There are also many gestures that work on the capacitive sensor like tap to go back long press to view recent apps. The button is also physical pressing it brings you to home screen and long press brings up Google assistant
Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk

Uibon said:
It's both. The fingerprint sensor is capacitive and works by just placing one's finger on it. There are also many gestures that work on the capacitive sensor like tap to go back long press to view recent apps. The button is also physical pressing it brings you to home screen and long press brings up Google assistant
Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok Uibon,
So to unlock the phone, do you just place your finger on the sensor (without pressing it down,) or do you have to press it down as well? I ask this as on my Tab S2, having to press down also results in many incorrect reads.
Its a pity Lenovo didn't put a lock screen gesture in the fingerprint scanner like One Plus. It by far the best system I've ever used. :angel:

It works like the fingerprint on the OnePlus.. just place the finger to make it work no pressing the button necessary.
Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk

Uibon said:
It works like the fingerprint on the OnePlus.. just place the finger to make it work no pressing the button necessary.
Sent from my Lenovo P2a42 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent Uibon, :victory:
Just need to sort out now the issue of using an app to lock the screen and understand if this takes away the ability to unlock next time with the fingerprint.

Masteryates said:
Excellent Uibon, :victory:
Just need to sort out now the issue of using an app to lock the screen and understand if this takes away the ability to unlock next time with the fingerprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried screen lock widget and it requires pin to unlock after using it. Finger does not work.

I am using nova prime and double tap to sleep and i can wake from finger print sensor iff you use timeout lockscreen method which means after you double tap the screen to lock the it screen goes black instantlly but the actual full screen lock engages after 30sec allowing the phone to screen to be locked through its own system hence the fingerprint wake works normal. I am not aware of other launchers that have this but nova prime has it.

Masteryates said:
Excellent Uibon, :victory:
Just need to sort out now the issue of using an app to lock the screen and understand if this takes away the ability to unlock next time with the fingerprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's an Android security limitation and all phones do that I believe. I think some apps can "trick" the phone by turning the screen off and let the timeout do the locking but I'm not sure.

If you have root access then they'll work. Else they won't. It's a security feature and uses device admin rights to lock the phone. Which means the device admin should unlock it by the most secure way. That's​ pin password or pattern.
It's not device specific and hence it's nothing to blame Lenovo

dannejanne said:
That's an Android security limitation and all phones do that I believe. I think some apps can "trick" the phone by turning the screen off and let the timeout do the locking but I'm not sure.
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Click to collapse
You are correct dannejanne. Some OEM's have realised how stupid it is and have sorted it out.
On the One Plus 3, you can securely unlock the phone and relock all with one finger while your phone is on your desk. You can do this better and faster than any other phone. As it's something you do so many times a day, it's time for the other OEM's to blatantly copy this.

Alternative to "tap to wake": "wave to wake"

I've seen lots of people complaining that Mi A1 does not have "tap to wake" feature. I personally don't miss it since i'm using the fingerprint reader to wake and unlock in one go.
However, I've seen and tested that small free and open source app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jarsilio.android.waveup
With this, you can wake phone by "waving" your hand above the proximity sensor.
I've put it on my A1 for 1,5 day now, and have seen no battery drain Developer explains:
Unfortunately, some smartphones let the CPU on while listening to the proximity sensor. This is called a wake lock and causes considerable battery drain. This isn't my fault and I cannot do anything to change this. Other phones will "go to sleep" when the screen is turned off while still listening to the proximity sensor. In this case, the battery drain is practically zero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But it seems on A1 we are good to go.
I know it's not exact same feature than "tap to wake", but you might still want to give it a try if you're looking for a way to wake phone without using hardware button. As well it can wake the phone when taken out of pocket!

BtB said:
I've seen lots of people complaining that Mi A1 does not have "tap to wake" feature. I personally don't miss it since i'm using the fingerprint reader to wake and unlock in one go.
However, I've seen and tested that small free and open source app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jarsilio.android.waveup
With this, you can wake phone by "waving" your hand above the proximity sensor.
I've put it on my A1 for 1,5 day now, and have seen no battery drain Developer explains:
But it seems on A1 we are good to go.
I know it's not exact same feature than "tap to wake", but you might still want to give it a try if you're looking for a way to wake phone without using hardware button. As well it can wake the phone when taken out of pocket!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've just installed it, thanks for the tip !! if you have more...

Thank you very nice. Working nice so far and no high battery usage

Thx for sharing nice app
Sent from my Mi A1 using XDA Labs

First of all, thank you for the recommendation. This app is working flawlessly for now but I'm just curious about a feature. I have enabled the feature that allows to cover the proximity sensor to lock the screen. It needed device admin permission for that. Now, when I wave to wake it up, it takes me to the enter pin screen instead of fully unlocking so I have to enter the pin to unlock the device because it says that the device is locked by admin. Is there a workaround to bypass this one extra step?

ShaggyPG said:
First of all, thank you for the recommendation. This app is working flawlessly for now but I'm just curious about a feature. I have enabled the feature that allows to cover the proximity sensor to lock the screen. It needed device admin permission for that. Now, when I wave to wake it up, it takes me to the enter pin screen instead of fully unlocking so I have to enter the pin to unlock the device because it says that the device is locked by admin. Is there a workaround to bypass this one extra step?
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Click to collapse
This looks like the Nova's "double tap to lock" feature. If you're not rooted you need to grant admin permission to lock the screen, which requires PIN everytime you log back in.

Exactly, if you're not root, the "lock" feature is no good if you use fingerprint, I have disabled it, anyway phone goes to sleep on its own.

You should also check out KinScreen (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teqtic.kinscreen), it does wave to wake and also has many options to control when the screen stays on. For example, you can set it to stay on when your phone is at more than a 45° angle (like most times you're on your phone, reading something).

BtB said:
I've seen lots of people complaining that Mi A1 does not have "tap to wake" feature. I personally don't miss it since i'm using the fingerprint reader to wake and unlock in one go.
However, I've seen and tested that small free and open source app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jarsilio.android.waveup
With this, you can wake phone by "waving" your hand above the proximity sensor.
I've put it on my A1 for 1,5 day now, and have seen no battery drain Developer explains:
But it seems on A1 we are good to go.
I know it's not exact same feature than "tap to wake", but you might still want to give it a try if you're looking for a way to wake phone without using hardware button. As well it can wake the phone when taken out of pocket!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bro

You can basically use double tap to wake with this, just enable it and tap your proximity sensor to wake.

G7 Pre Purchase Questions Please

Ready to upgrade my V30 to a G7. Trying to find out if it has lift to wake like my old Pixel. I miss being able to just pickup the phone and see the clock and notifications. Thanks for your help.

Yes it has, even better, lift to wake and face unlock without swipe up.

It doesn't have lift to wake up but it has Always on display wich shows you the clock and what nothifications you have.

Yes it has. Just enable face unlock... Also you can enable swipe up to unlock if you want to see the lock screen...

Here is the prof...

Inerent said:
Here is the prof...
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Click to collapse
Not really the same. Lift to wake turns the screen on when lifting. This option unlocks your device.

This option turns my screen on. Period. I think the OP has the sollution.

Question Scan fingerprint when the screen is off on Pixel 6 Pro

I owned Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro before, which also has an on-screen fingerprint reader. One very neat feature of it was that you could just press your finger on where the reader is when the screen is off -- the phone springs up already unlocked.
On P6P I need to either press a button or tap first to turn the screen on. Only then can I press the finger to scan.
Is this configurable somewhere or maybe moddable?

The phone should awake automatically, once you grab the phone - as long as you have AoD enabled.

My use case is often to unlock the phone just lying on the table without grabbing or moving it. It indeed reacts to me when grabbing, but it would be nice to just press on the sensor and have it unlocked.

abbradar said:
My use case is often to unlock the phone just lying on the table without grabbing or moving it. It indeed reacts to me when grabbing, but it would be nice to just press on the sensor and have it unlocked.
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Click to collapse
Again, as long as you have AoD enabled, the phone will wake the FP the moment you touch the sensor. I just tried it out a couple of times myself. The phone is lying flat on it's back, AoD is on (FP symbol is active above the battery % at the bottom) and I just lay my finger on the scanner and it unlocks, without having to move the phone, take it in my hand or anything like that.

Morgrain said:
Again, as long as you have AoD enabled, the phone will wake the FP the moment you touch the sensor. I just tried it out a couple of times myself. The phone is lying flat on it's back, AoD is on (FP symbol is active above the battery % at the bottom) and I just lay my finger on the scanner and it unlocks, without having to move the phone, take it in my hand or anything like that.
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Click to collapse
Even with AOD off you can select tap to check under gestures and a slight tap will wake the phone for the FPR.

Sorry, you are right -- I didn't have AoD enabled before (I messed up what AoD means ). Still, this is not quite the same feature I used to have:
* AoD drains battery and I don't like the screen being always on;
* Tap to Check works, but you need to do this additional tap (then up the finger and press on the reader). Just placing your finger on top of fingerprint reader and having the phone unlocked was more convenient. It's also kinda slow -- if you just quickly tap and then place your finger on the reader, it often won't work (the screen won't light up or the reader won't start).
Guess there's no such functionality at the moment, so I'll continue using Tap to Check.

abbradar said:
Sorry, you are right -- I didn't have AoD enabled before (I messed up what AoD means ). Still, this is not quite the same feature I used to have:
* AoD drains battery and I don't like the screen being always on;
* Tap to Check works, but you need to do this additional tap (then up the finger and press on the reader). Just placing your finger on top of fingerprint reader and having the phone unlocked was more convenient. It's also kinda slow -- if you just quickly tap and then place your finger on the reader, it often won't work (the screen won't light up or the reader won't start).
Guess there's no such functionality at the moment, so I'll continue using Tap to Check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could use AODNotify, which, besides giving useful notification features since we don't have a notification light on this P6P, also has two options, and I use both: 1) To completely minimize AOD, so it at minimum doesn't show as much on the screen, and 2) there's an option in AODNotify you can enable with ADB for an experimental low power mode, which effectively turns off AOD unless there's a notification that activates AODNotify.
I use it this way and I use the fingerprint reader with the screen completely off all the time.
There are other but potentially more complex solutions others have used here regarding automation apps like Tasker. If you search the P6P section for mentions of Tasker, then you'd probably find details reasonably fast if you were interested in going down that road.

AOD uses 6% battery for me over the course of 24 hrs. To me the convenience of the notifications and FPS make this more than reasonable.
Unless you have an unreliable electricity supply and you have to meticulously control your battery I can't see it having any meaningful impact.

Amos91 said:
AOD uses 6% battery for me over the course of 24 hrs. To me the convenience of the notifications and FPS make this more than reasonable.
Unless you have an unreliable electricity supply and you have to meticulously control your battery I can't see it having any meaningful impact.
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Click to collapse
Interesting! I do have such times (during travels and/or long hikes), but that's still less than I expected. Perhaps I'll give it a try.
roirraW edor ehT said:
You could use AODNotify, which, besides giving useful notification features since we don't have a notification light on this P6P, also has two options, and I use both: 1) To completely minimize AOD, so it at minimum doesn't show as much on the screen, and 2) there's an option in AODNotify you can enable with ADB for an experimental low power mode, which effectively turns off AOD unless there's a notification that activates AODNotify.
I use it this way and I use the fingerprint reader with the screen completely off all the time.
There are other but potentially more complex solutions others have used here regarding automation apps like Tasker. If you search the P6P section for mentions of Tasker, then you'd probably find details reasonably fast if you were interested in going down that road.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AODNotify implements exactly what I was looking for! Thanks I'll monitor its effect on the battery.

abbradar said:
AODNotify implements exactly what I was looking for! Thanks I'll monitor its effect on the battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! You're welcome!

roirraW edor ehT said:
You could use AODNotify, which, besides giving useful notification features since we don't have a notification light on this P6P, also has two options, and I use both: 1) To completely minimize AOD, so it at minimum doesn't show as much on the screen, and 2) there's an option in AODNotify you can enable with ADB for an experimental low power mode, which effectively turns off AOD unless there's a notification that activates AODNotify.
I use it this way and I use the fingerprint reader with the screen completely off all the time.
There are other but potentially more complex solutions others have used here regarding automation apps like Tasker. If you search the P6P section for mentions of Tasker, then you'd probably find details reasonably fast if you were interested in going down that road.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a thread or group for AODNotify to ask questions so I don't go OT here? I just installed it and I like it so far. Obviously I'll have to pay for it once I decide to keep it but the adb commands you speak of, is there a way to turn them off if you decide to? And when you say AOD minimal on screen, what do you mean? Ok so I went OT for a bit.

bobby janow said:
Is there a thread or group for AODNotify to ask questions so I don't go OT here? I just installed it and I like it so far. Obviously I'll have to pay for it once I decide to keep it but the adb commands you speak of, is there a way to turn them off if you decide to? And when you say AOD minimal on screen, what do you mean? Ok so I went OT for a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right here in this section. https://forum.xda-developers.com/se...c[nodes][0]=12313&c[title_only]=1&o=relevance
I'll reply with the rest of the answers in that thread.

abbradar said:
Sorry, you are right -- I didn't have AoD enabled before (I messed up what AoD means ). Still, this is not quite the same feature I used to have:
* AoD drains battery and I don't like the screen being always on;
* Tap to Check works, but you need to do this additional tap (then up the finger and press on the reader). Just placing your finger on top of fingerprint reader and having the phone unlocked was more convenient. It's also kinda slow -- if you just quickly tap and then place your finger on the reader, it often won't work (the screen won't light up or the reader won't start).
Guess there's no such functionality at the moment, so I'll continue using Tap to Check.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro, I was wondering why it would only work after I tapped the screen. Once the screen is on it works on the 1st try Everytime! I don't like AoD either... Guess I'll keep tapping the screen...

iLLdWes said:
Bro, I was wondering why it would only work after I tapped the screen. Once the screen is on it works on the 1st try Everytime! I don't like AoD either... Guess I'll keep tapping the screen...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or use AODNotify, like I linked to (in this section) in the post above yours. Enable two options and still technically have AOD on but you won't ever see it unless you get a notification, and even that is minimized.

roirraW edor ehT said:
Or use AODNotify, like I linked to (in this section) in the post above yours. Enable two options and still technically have AOD on but you won't ever see it unless you get a notification, and even that is minimized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I was looking at that and it actually looks pretty cool... Thanks man ..

abbradar said:
I owned Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro before, which also has an on-screen fingerprint reader. One very neat feature of it was that you could just press your finger on where the reader is when the screen is off -- the phone springs up already unlocked.
On P6P I need to either press a button or tap first to turn the screen on. Only then can I press the finger to scan.
Is this configurable somewhere or maybe moddable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too had the same phone but it was named as Redmi K20 pro that has this fingerprint scanner that works even when the display is off. But not on this new Pixel 6 pro, I think google should make use of that feature!!

roirraW edor ehT said:
Or use AODNotify, like I linked to (in this section) in the post above yours. Enable two options and still technically have AOD on but you won't ever see it unless you get a notification, and even that is minimized.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which two options do I have to enable in AODNotify? I'm not sure what you mean.
Many thanks in advance!

AR155 said:
Which two options do I have to enable in AODNotify? I'm not sure what you mean.
Many thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AODNotify Settings / General / at the top choose "Don't show", and at the bottom, after you do the necessary ADB command, choose "Power saving mode".

OP originally asked if there's a way to have the fingerprint scanner function while the screen is off, and that's till what I want. Is that possible? I don't like AOD or pick up to wake or tap to wake, I like my screen to be off and then I like it to be unlocked and I don't like anything in between, or any delay in unlocking that can be avoided.
roirraW edor ehT said:
You could use AODNotify, which, besides giving useful notification features since we don't have a notification light on this P6P, also has two options, and I use both: 1) To completely minimize AOD, so it at minimum doesn't show as much on the screen, and 2) there's an option in AODNotify you can enable with ADB for an experimental low power mode, which effectively turns off AOD unless there's a notification that activates AODNotify.
I use it this way and I use the fingerprint reader with the screen completely off all the time.
There are other but potentially more complex solutions others have used here regarding automation apps like Tasker. If you search the P6P section for mentions of Tasker, then you'd probably find details reasonably fast if you were interested in going down that road.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where can one find AODNotify?

DanHakimi said:
OP originally asked if there's a way to have the fingerprint scanner function while the screen is off, and that's till what I want. Is that possible? I don't like AOD or pick up to wake or tap to wake, I like my screen to be off and then I like it to be unlocked and I don't like anything in between, or any delay in unlocking that can be avoided.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With AODNotify's options enabled, the screen is fully off and then when I use the fingerprint reader - obviously the reader area of the screen lights up because it needs to, but then it goes directly to unlocked.
DanHakimi said:
Where can one find AODNotify?
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Click to collapse
Play Store. For me, the second search result from the left is the one for the Pixel (the first one on the left is for Samsung). Good luck!
There is also a thread for AODNotify for Pixel by the devleoper in this section.