Since Marshmallow version 6.0, Android now supports the fingerprint scanner natively. This change provides greater comfort when unlocking the terminal if it is located in an easily accessible place, and a greater sense of security by depending on our fingertips to access the mobile or any of those services, like those of the bank.
It is now, when most smartphones that are launched on the market come with a fingerprint scanner, so we are going to help you configure the fingerprint screen lock. Some very simple steps but that we are going to comment on in each of them to make things clear about this element of the phone that for many users has become essential due to the ease of use and the security that it implies for the phone.
In most terminals, we can access the fingerprint settings from the “Security” option. In the Xperia Z5 the option “Fingerprint manager” appears, while in the Galaxy S7, we have to go to “Lock screen and security” to go directly to “Fingerprints”.
The most normal thing is that when you access the option “Fingerprints” or “Fingerprint manager”, you have to enter the PIN or password of the terminal, which will depend on the type of security you have in “Screen lock”. If you do not have any type of security system, you will not need to enter any.
Adding a secondary unlock method
The next thing we will do is add a secondary unlock method. This screen appears if you don’t have any configured, so you will be presented with the different ones that you have on your phone.
You can choose between Pattern, PIN or password as one of the options in case the fingerprint does not work and you want to access your smartphone. You will have to confirm the additional unlock method to go to the next screen that will be the fingerprint configuration screen
Registering your fingerprint
We have everything ready to start with the fingerprint registration. Here we will see an animation of how we should place the finger in the location where the fingerprint sensor is located.
- Rest your finger on the scanner as if you were going to unlock it to register that fingertip location
- You will notice a slight vibration that affirms that it has registered so that you move your finger again to register another part of it
- Repeat this same process as many times as prompted until you finish registering the fingerprint.
When you have finished, you can register another fingerprint so that you can unlock the terminal with another finger or with the index finger itself. The more fingerprints you register, the easier it will be to unlock it, so it is interesting that you do a good run through your fingers, those that you will use to go directly to the desktop of your mobile.
Some tips
You have to know that the fingerprint is not as secure as a good password can be , especially since passwords can be changed whenever you want, while the fingerprint cannot. If someone knew your password, you could change it, but this cannot be applied to fingerprints. I say this because fingerprint sensors can be “hacked” by cloning the fingerprint, so it is important that we know this fact.
Regarding possible failures when recognizing your fingerprint, sometimes due to the sweat of your hands, some sensors may not always work, so it is responsible that you register different fingers several times to ensure that you do not get problems.