So I have a T-Mobile LG G8 with the reader on the back, below the camera lenses. When I first add fingerprints the reader works fine. But after a while, when I try to use the sensor to unlock something, all I get is an error message that says "fingerprint reader is dirty".
I have tried adding multiple fingerprints but the result is the same. I can delete a fingerprint, and then re-add it, and it will work for a while, like a day or so. But inevitably it will always return to that error message.
I have repeatedly tried cleaning the sensor, to no avail. When I look at the sensor, it appears blotchy, with light and dark blotches. It's almost like a plastic protective covering, maybe like a screen protector with tiny bubbles underneath. That is the best way I can describe how the sensor looks.
So the blotches are preventing the sensor from reading my fingerprints, right? Except for when I delete fingerprints and re-add them it works fine for a day. Suggestions?
Related
Bought this for my wife's phone. Pretty unhappy with it. First off there was some glue in the middle of the glass when i was about to apply it to the phone. So i already had to wipe this off otherwise there would have been a glaring mark on the screen. I used some glass cleaner and had to scrub pretty hard with a microfiber cloth to get it off. Once I dealt with that the screen itself fit pretty well.
But we shortly after we noticed that there was a major problem with the proximity sensor. You could see a faint red glow always on and the phone would not detect how far our heads were from the screen. Using a third party app the sensor would always read 0.0 cm. Once I removed it, everything was operating fine again. Lastly, we also noticed that the touch sensitivity was decreased while using the screen which was extremely annoying. Some screen swipes or taps just didn't register with the phone.
Overall, I would not recommend this product.
Currently, I'm still trying to email them about replacing it with a normal skin.
Hi, I've searched this forum and the Internet in general about proximity sensor problems but it seems like basically every problem that someone else had was fixed by removing tempered glass/screen protectors/cases/covers. I'm having a proximity sensor issue and I'm not using any screen protector or case.
This has happened twice now. Once when I was listening to visual voicemail, once when I was making a call. The screen goes dark and will not respond to any wake commands. Every now and then it will turn on for half a second when I hit the power button but then turns back off again. The first time when I was listening to visual voicemail, I had to hard restart the phone by holding volume up and power. The second time during the call, I managed to hang up the call in the half second the screen came back on, which ended the problem.
Right after that, I tested the proximity sensor using the SMMI test (calculator .12345+=). The test makes you put your hand near the sensor, then away, then near again. During the test, the phone immediately sensed my hand near the sensor except that my hand was nowhere near the sensor and there was nothing else near the sensor either.
I did a reboot and ran the test again. This time, the test finished correctly. The phone did not detect my hand until I actually put it near the sensor.
I'm running stock everything except I do have root(ZE551ML). I'm leaning towards this being a hardware problem and I've only had the phone for a week so I'm well within my replace period with Amazon. Is there a solution to this I'm missing or should I just replace? I'm a firm believer in troubleshooting first. Plus, setting up the phone the way I like again will be a huge PITA.
Thanks.
I would replace. It does sound like a hardware issue, and your better off getting a replacement instead of a possible pain for the life of your phone.
I get the same, and the flickering screen happened once to me after I I have just put a tempered glas protector on it ... removed it and so far no problems, but who knows.
I think the SMMI test works correctly the first time you start it, and incorrectly the 2nd, 3rd etc ... dont think it is a hardware error ...
Hi all, i have a zen2 with this same problem, i think doing sensor calibration can resolve the issue... but i can´t found how to do, by code, or by app...
Any body know how to do calibration of sensor aproximty?
Thanks in advanced!
Ps. I dont have screen os glass protector...
i don't having tempered glass or any screen protector. my proximity sensor is not working. Even i checked .12345+= but it gives error in proximity sensor. what to do? plz anyone?
same problem
Hi to everyone,
I have the same problem with the proximity sensor.
After a device reboot, the simmi test work correctly, but after some hours the test fails.
Someone know as I can calibrate the sensor ??
Thanks
I just fixed mine, cause I was having that issue for a LONG time now.
I actually just stuck a piece of paper in front of the light sensor part of the sensor window on the screen. It's the right side of the sensor window.
To be more clear, a while back my screen broke, so I ordered a screen online and changed it. Ever since then my prox. sensor didn't work, so I couldn't use the keypad during calls (the screen would go black).
My screen still isn't attached properly, so it's just being held in by the floppy protective case I have on it right now. This allowed me to pull the screen away from the phone a bit and slide a piece of paper behind it right in front of the light sensor. As soon as I blocked the light sensor then the proximity sensor started reading properly.
I got the idea because I was trying to clean the screen, thinking that it might just be dust blocking it or something. That didn't help, so I tried cleaning the sensor, but had the calibration test running at the time, and it instantly worked!
So I kept playing around with it and noticed that every time I blocked the right side of the sensor, it worked, but as soon as I removed the brush I was using to clean, it stopped working.
I stuck a piece of paper in, and BOOM, worked just fine.
People might want to build on this and maybe try sticking a piece of tape over the right part of the sensor. I haven't tried it, and since I finally have it working now, I really don't want to play with it too much and mess it up.
Hope this helps anyone else having this issue.
Hi all,
I am using zenfone 2 laser z550kl. Screen blackout during call and did not come up till the call is cut. I changed only the cover of proximity sensor and phone is working fine. Change the small rubber covering of sensor and it will work.
Hope this will help all if still using asus phone.
so I have my A70 for two weeks now and I am happy with it. the fingerprint scanner is okay, not as fast as the physical one but I do not mind. my security update version is 1 may 2019.
so yesterday I noticed that, at work when I take my phone out of my overall chest pocket I find it unlocked and many apps open. it did this consistently throughout the day. after a lot of experiments and investigation I figured out that fingerprint scanner reads the fabric of the overall as my fingerprint and unlocks the phone!! just the slightest touch of the fabric to the sensor and it opens immediately. so I went to fingerprints setting and through (check added fingerprints) I figured out what fingerprint the sensor was recognizing and I deleted it, but the fabric was recognized again and again until I deleted all of the added fingerprints.
when I went home I enrolled my fingerprints again and tested it on the fabric many many times and other types of fabrics also and it did not unlock, so I thought that solved the problem, but today at work the same thing happened again!!
I am really disappointed in the fingerprint scanner now, I really like the phone but I do not want to go back to PIN unlock.
so, what is going on?!
note: I work in an office and I had the phone for two weeks without problem and I always put it in my chest pocket, but yesterday and today we had site visit and it is hot here and I got really sweaty. may be the sweat is causing the problem?
Be it sweat or anything else, this shouldn't happen. Take your device to the nearest Samsung customer service center and tell them to have a mechanical check on the device.
durguy said:
so I have my A70 for two weeks now and I am happy with it. the fingerprint scanner is okay, not as fast as the physical one but I do not mind. my security update version is 1 may 2019.
so yesterday I noticed that, at work when I take my phone out of my overall chest pocket I find it unlocked and many apps open. it did this consistently throughout the day. after a lot of experiments and investigation I figured out that fingerprint scanner reads the fabric of the overall as my fingerprint and unlocks the phone!! just the slightest touch of the fabric to the sensor and it opens immediately. so I went to fingerprints setting and through (check added fingerprints) I figured out what fingerprint the sensor was recognizing and I deleted it, but the fabric was recognized again and again until I deleted all of the added fingerprints.
when I went home I enrolled my fingerprints again and tested it on the fabric many many times and other types of fabrics also and it did not unlock, so I thought that solved the problem, but today at work the same thing happened again!!
I am really disappointed in the fingerprint scanner now, I really like the phone but I do not want to go back to PIN unlock.
so, what is going on?!
note: I work in an office and I had the phone for two weeks without problem and I always put it in my chest pocket, but yesterday and today we had site visit and it is hot here and I got really sweaty. may be the sweat is causing the problem?
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I had this problem when I was on the older version. Issue went away after software update
Hi,
Do you have cases when the fingerprint wont unlock the phone (until 5 failures are reached)
This happens to me every now and then and is quite annoying. I don't have a screen protector and have disabled battery optimization for biometrics. Wondering whether to bring the phone for repair.
Did you update to ATE6? If not, please do.
Also try to re-add your fingerprints again, i found that speed and quality of fp sensor depends on how "good" you scanned your fp-s.
Another trick is to press harder when scanning and unlocking (which also works).
Yes, I am on ATE6. Will renroll fp to see.
The issue that I've noticed what it could be is the scanner is always active. The problem I face is when I pull the phone out of my pocket I've reached my attempts and have to use my pin.
In the case of the other post, just add 2 of the same finger. My thumb and pointer are in it twice each
creep138 said:
The issue that I've noticed what it could be is the scanner is always active. The problem I face is when I pull the phone out of my pocket I've reached my attempts and have to use my pin.
In the case of the other post, just add 2 of the same finger. My thumb and pointer are in it twice each
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Click to collapse
I don't have this experience with pulling out of the pocket. Added the finger again and now I am trying to train myself how to press harder and hold the finger patiently until it unlocks.
Adding same finger twice solved this problem for me, when adding second time make sure to scan your finger in different angles, almost like youre trying to miss scanner
S20 here. New tip. I think ultrasonic fingerprint reader is located slightly off-center to the left, so when adding and scanning your fingerprints, aim slightly left.
I discovered this yesterday while cleaning the screen under a bright table lamp, I noticed that you can actually see exact reader's location, where it is bonded to the screen underneath it. I assumed it's not visible.
Reader appears to be letterbox shaped, length around 1.6, width around 0.7 centimeters.
When you turn the screen on, fingerprint icon is located in the center of the screen, you can almost fit another icon next to it to the left, to represent reader's length.
Combined with other tips, some also mentioned by the users above, I rarely have to scan twice now, three times tops. Before I often ran out of allowed number of attempts and had to enter password. Still not perfect or super consistent, but much better. Soo..
Main tips:
• When adding and scanning your fingerprints, aim slightly left. Always keep reader's shape and position in mind. Turn off your screen, and examine it under bright desk lamp, to determine exact reader's shape and location.
• Register your thumb two times for each hand, while rotating your phone (slowly from portrait to landscape, back, and beyond until phone hits space between your thumb and index finger) and move thumb slightly towards finger's bend point and then towards fingertip (do it all over something soft in case you drop it while rotating).
• After you added your fingerprints, lock and unlock your phone multiple times (let's say 10 times) using each hand before you decide if doing it all over is necessary. Maybe even keep it for a day, see if phone manages to optimize data, or maybe you will get used to positioning your fingers in a certain way.
• Make sure to moisturize your hands, noticed scanner struggles with dry skin.
• You may also try to register both left and right thumbs (or other fingers) at the same time, this may speed up unlock, though not sure how secure this is.
• Don't hold your finger for too long, simply firmly tap and lift, phone should unlock.
I would try extra sensitive screen setting in display and try re register fp again.
I've heard some registering same finger twice but I don't really have any fp issues after disabling optimization of the biometrics apk
jasons1004 said:
I would try extra sensitive screen setting in display and try re register fp again.
I've heard some registering same finger twice but I don't really have any fp issues after disabling optimization of the biometrics apk
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I remember having Touch Sensitivity alway set to on, believe it helped with gaming a bit, but found it had little or no effect on fingerprint reading, was constantly running out of attempts, and was forced to enter password, which is very inconvenient when you're in a public place. But I think it's still worth a try, maybe on S20's that option is somehow interconnected with fingerprint scanner, and boosts something in it as well, but I personally noticed no improvement.
Disabling battery usage optimization for "com.samsung.android.biometrics.app.setting" in "Optimise battery usage", did not improve recognition. I think you should still do it, as it can reduce occasional delay, but if you're using your phone all the time, locking and unlocking, etc, and having reader problems, this will not improve recognition. When it says no match (press harder, cover entire sensor, etc), it means software and scanner are working and reading your fingerprints, but failing to match patterns, so disabling optimization will not improve anything in this scenario. You should delete and try adding your fingerprints again.
Now, after registering same finger twice I noticed immediate improvement in recognition, and looking online for different tips of how you should hold your phone while adding fingerprints, was able to improve recognition even further.
Along with tips mentioned in my previous post, I now rarely have to go beyond two attempts.
Maybe this improvement also has to do with us instinctively learning what works and what doesn't.
Maybe this also has to do with finger size, skin (space between and width of friction ridges), and skin type (dry, oily, etc), that's why we have so many mixed reports. Also hygiene. I noticed with excessive hand washing, number of successful recognitions decreased, even with well moisturized hands.
In conclusion I'll say there is definitely room for improvement here, maybe larger more powerful ultrasonic readers are the answer, maybe better software. Because even with all the tips and tricks, it's not perfect, at least in my experience.
Oh, almost forgot, that factory screen protector has to go. Better fingerprint reading and much better picture quality without it.
And of course, make sure all the latest updates are installed, to all the people who just got their phone out of the box.
I typically enroll 4 of the same finger. I only use my right thumb and really haven't had any issues. I have the WhiteStone Dome glass installed. I have increased touch sensitivity turned on.
Using a poly screen protector with only two registered finger. Working perfectly with absolute zero issue.
I'm new to in-screen fingerprint scanners. I've had this S20 for less than one week and miss the back of the phone scanner of my previous phone. Maybe in time I'll be able to reliably find the scanner without looking at the screen. Do long time users of this sensor eventually develop muscle memory to reliably find the it?
I've found a flawed, low tech method to unlock the phone without looking at the screen. I put a small piece of clear tape on the screen centered on the fingerprint scanner, see attached photo.
After finding the tape with my thumb I need to lift my thumb and put it right back down. I was having a high rate of success unlocking the screen this way. Unfortunately putting the phone in my pocket rubbed off the tape. I cleaned the screen protector (factory installed one) and reapplied the tape but it still came off in my pocket.
Just having the tape there for about 30 minutes of unlocking seemed to help train my thumb. Even after losing the tape I had about a 60% success rate in unlocking the screen without looking at it. I wouldn't call 60% acceptable but it's better than I was achieving before.
Maybe someone has a suggestion for a better method? Better tape? A small drop of super glue or some other adhesive? Maybe use this tape method short term to train my thumb to find the sensor? Something else? Maybe someone will eventually develop a screen protector with a subtle dimple or divot.