Samsung flagship smartphone users report fingerprint scanner issues

A recent software update appears to have bugged fingerprint security/unlock feature on Samsung’s flagship smartphones, for many users are chiming about their scanner’s glitchy behavior.

There is no one particular use-case being reported, as complainants are coming up with different observations, with some facing issues while operating apps like Samsung Pay, and others while unlocking their units.

Among all the reports, fingerprint scanner is seemingly the common link. So let’s take a look at some of the reports to catch a better hold of the issue in question.

Fingerprint scanner acting up

Going by what users say, some encounter errors like ‘An error has occurred with the fingerprint sensor. If this message appears repeatedly, restart your phone‘, while in other cases, the phone reportedly turns off on using fingerprint to unlock the unit.

Here’s how those affected explain (1,2,3,4) the problem:

My phone turns off randomly when using fingerprint as a biometric unlock. I have sent it to a warranty repair center but I received it back with the problem still presisting.

I have the same issue too only my phone turns off whenever I try to use the fingerprint sensor be it registering fingerprints, trying to access samsung pass, or just plain enabling fingerprint unlock.

I just got the same problem today. I tried all your troubleshooting steps and no luck. I seriously can’t think what changed to cause this problem. The message that comes up is, “An error has occurred with the fingerprint sensor. If this message appears repeatedly, restart your phone.” Tried that multiple times too.

So when i look at the screen down it says :fingerprint scanner not respondind.try again later. when i open setting and go to fingerprint it doesnt let me see my fingerprints or anything saying it doesn’t work. i tried your metod of testing the scanner and after i pressed normal scan it said fingerprint scanner initiation failed. what can i do?

The phone just restarted after signing g out of my samsung account, restarting into safe mode and signing back into my Samsung account and enabling fingerprints.

Samsung Pay users say…

On the other hand, users operating the company owned pay app report login-related issues, wherein the app doesn’t accept their fingerprint or PIN.

A quick go through the following selection of user comments (1,2,3,4,5) will give you more clarity about what’s actually happening:

Samsung Pay no longer works for me. When I open it, the cards appear, but there is no response when I try to use my fingerprint, iris, or PIN. When I tap on “PIN” nothing happens. I uninstalled it and now it never gets past the “Verify with fingerprint” screen with a spinning wait thing in the middle of the screen. Eventually the spinning thing disappears, and the app is just frozen, waiting for a fingerprint it refuses to acknowledge. “Skip and use Samsung Pay PIN” changes color when tapped, but otherwise has no effect.

Samsung pay stopped allowing me on my note 8 to authenticate via either biometrics or pin. For me it was Saturday after I accepted an update. Chat and phone support have been off no help and seem to be clueless to the connection.

My initial problem was that I could open Samsung Pay but when I pressed on the Pin button, it wouldn’t do anything. Now that I’ve reinstalled, I press the Get Started button and it has the same results. It just doesn’t do anything. I’m at a loss, it worked fine a couple times and then nothing.

Anyone having issues of using your fingerprint or pin for Samsung Pay? Somehow I can’t seem to activate any of my cards anymore. I restarted my Note 8 and tried it again, but it’s not available. Did an update break it?

Is Samsung aware?

While there is no official confirmation yet, some of those who got in touch with Samsung support have shared that the company is aware of the problem.

I just wanna give a quick reply here to everyone that’s been having this issue because I have too. I am currently on my second galaxy s9+ from samsung and both have done the finger print issue. I just spoke with a Samsung customer service rep after receiving my second unit that did the same thing right out of the box and he told me it’s a software issue they are working with android to get fixed so sending it in wont help.

Just my experience, he told me in the meantime just disable the fingerprint scanner and please be patient.

Another user mentioned

I called Samsung support and they said this is a known issue

So going by user reports, Samsung is not only aware of the fingerprint scanner glitch, but also working to fix things up. If so, we hope they come up with an official statement soon to give more clarity to those affected.

Rest assured, we are keeping an active tab on all related developments and will update as and when anything news worthy comes up.

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