TL;DR
- Strings in the latest Android 15 beta suggest the OS can automatically delete biometrics that aren’t working well.
- Android will delete your face or fingerprint unlock when they aren’t working well and then prompt you to set them up again.
- We don’t know how the OS determines when a biometric isn’t working well or if this feature is even live yet in the latest Android 15 beta, though.
_Your face isn’t well.
Delete._
I have no mouth and I must scream.
Well I hope it prompts first and deletes after…
I’ve been waiting for technology that can delete my face
So phones with under screen fingerprint sensors are just going to be prompting their users ever day right?
Never had a problem with mine
The one on the pixel phones suck, constantly have issues with mine
A vocal bunch bitched about this, but I’ve had the 6+7+8 Pro pixels (with under-screen sensors) and I’ve never had an issue, all ordered during product announcement. Family (who I hand-down when I upgrade) have never complained either. I use my phone near constantly and unlock actually hundreds of times a day. 🤷♂️
That’s one of the few things that works good on my pixel 6A. This thing has been nothing but shit
My Pixel 6 only has an issue with one finger. Unfortunately it’s my right thumb. The finger I want it to work with the most.
have you tried additional entries that are the same thumb?
Oh yeah it’s on there 3 times. I’ve even tried to retrain them again several times since I got it. Just doesn’t like that finger for whatever reason. Can’t see any reason why looking at it, but it’s extremely annoying since it’s the most convenient finger.
The screen sensor is also noticeably slower than the rear sensor from older models, and I do have more issues with other fingers occasionally. I much prefer the placement of the rear sensor as well. I rarely use the phone while it is sitting on the table, and was able to unlock the phone while still pulling it out of my pocket with the rear sensor since there was an actual physical spot for it you could feel, not just a specific spot on the glass.
Easily the biggest step down for usability with the Pixels in my opinion.
That rear sensor worked flawlessly.
I never had an issue with it. The sensor unlocked the phone every single time without exception.
Every in screen sensor I’ve used has had issues at one point or another. Power button sensors are theoretically good, but I rarely use the power button to turn on my screen. With all the alternative ways to wake up the phone, I rarely wake it using the power button.
So glad for whatever reason they decided on a power button sensor for the Fold lol
Yeah I recently picked up a Pixel 6 Pro and the fingerprint reader works well. You do need to press down somewhat firmly sometimes, maybe people aren’t and that’s why they’re having issues?
I have a pixel 7 and it’s totally garbage. I read a tip that you should set your fingerprint with the brightness on as low as it goes, and in a dark room. It’s better with that tip, but still shite.
There are two types of underscreen sensors. The ultrasonic ones work great, even better than the back sensors I’ve used. Your finger taps and it’s unlocked, simple as that.
The second type are the optical sensors, and these are the bad ones. You tap it and have to hold for the scan to complete, but it might fail because the screen is slightly smudged, or the light didnt hit your finger on the right angle, the room might be too dark/bright…
My experience differs. I found optical in display fingerprint to be quite reliable. It even happens to work with slightly wet hands. The room being too dark or bright has also never been an issue since my finger covers the sensor completely.
I guess it depends on the quality of sensor used by the manufacter. Pixel phones are known to have issues.
I purposely only registered the bare minimum of my fingerprint on my pixel 6. so long as I hold my digit correctly it unlocks every time, if I am off by a few millimetres (and I know when that is) it fails to unlock, I like it that way. Don’t auto delete my preferred setting, ty
I have an ultrasonic one. When it decides not to recognize my finger it just doesn’t. And sometimes it rumbles as if it had a wrong match while laying on the table on its own
idk my optical sensor works really well, it only fails if i place my finger at a weird angle, but ultrasonic’s not going to fix that either
I like the optical ones as it works with wet hands
Huh? I’ve never had a problem with mine.
I have a realme smartphone with under display fingerprint sensor. I had last done setup in December for fingerprint and face unlock. It works fine without issues even now. Like the article mentioned it depends on the manufacturer and the hardware tuning. Pixels are known to have frequent issues to warrant this change.
They’re going to delete… my face?!?
Better hide it fast. Little green droid is coming for it
Don’t know how I feel about this. I already get sick of the security prompts every three days to manually enter my passcode. If Google starts just deleting them and making me redo them might just fucking go back to the passcode. Hope it’s optional or it at least prompts you before deleting an old one. Not really trusting Google get it right.
What about bad actors which swipe the phone, and it’s behind the biometric lock? Too many failed attempts may or may not be a sign of it not working well, so if it bases part of it on the failed attempts, it would lower the chances of being further protected. I know they would ask for the pattern/pin or password to re-enroll the biometric, but let’s assume that’s already known, then game over.
I swear it did this on 13 and 14, too.
What ROM? Can’t be a pixel
Not the Pixel, no; I’ve had it happen on my previous phone like twice. It was the dual screen LG V600.
Ok, so if I wanna get into your phone, I just gotta wait and fail to unlock it.
Somehow I don’t think it also deletes the password too
Oh right!
That’s not how it will work.
You guys use biometrics?
Yeah, lol. Who has the time to type a passcode or pattern unlock when a single click or glance can unlock your phone within a second.
The legal precedents that have been set in this area basically boil down to this: if the police could unlock your phone while you were unconscious (e.g. by placing your finger on it or pointing it at your face) then they are allowed to do so.
You cannot be legally compelled to reveal your password or unlock a device with your password. Obviously you could be forced anyway, but evidence collected this way would be inadmissable in court.
Police and airport staff almost everywhere are able to force you to unlock your phone if it uses biometrics but not patterns/passwords
If you’re concerned that might be about to happen you could just hold the power button until it shuts down or reboots, Android always asks for the password at boot AFAIK
PSA: Stock Android phones, since… maybe Android 12.x or so(?), have a Lockdown mode in the power button shortcut menu that disables bio unlocks and forces pin or password.
Should it arrive to that they can still seize your devices and also force you to unlock your devices biometrics or patterns/passwords regardless. I wouldn’t trust law enforcements in this regard.
I just stay away from countries where they have the authority to do that.
I never had contact with police or airport staff where they wanted me to unlock my phone. And I doubt that this will happen anytime soon if ever.
It’s not a problem, until it is a problem.
“It hasn’t happened yet” is not a valid basis for making decisions.
It probably heavily depends on where you are from. I guess you are from the US?
It probably heavily depends on where you are from.
What makes you think so?
Because generally the TSA in Yankland are overly aggressive, but to be fair it can happen anywhere and here in the UK if they snag you into the backroom and want to search your phone you’re screwed either way since they, can.
I don’t get why it can’t be more specific. like only unlock if im smiling or making this specific face or such.
I use, but I believe biometrics should be used as username, not as password.
