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Asked: 2024-09-25T11:06:13+05:30 In:

I’m having trouble getting my fingerprint sensor to work on Ubuntu 22.04. Does anyone have solutions or suggestions for fixing this issue?

I’ve been trying to get my fingerprint sensor to work on my laptop running Ubuntu 22.04, and honestly, it’s been a bit of a nightmare! I thought adding biometric login would make things easier, but so far, it just feels like more of a hassle. I’ve done quite a bit of searching online, but I’m still stuck and could really use some help from anyone who’s been through this before.

So here’s the deal: my laptop has a built-in fingerprint sensor, and while it works perfectly fine on Windows, it seems like every time I try to set it up on Ubuntu, it just won’t recognize it. I installed Fingerprint GUI and followed some tutorials, but every time I try to enroll my fingerprint, the software just freezes or gives me an error. I’ve made sure my system is updated and all the necessary packages are installed, but nothing seems to work.

I’m also wondering if it’s a compatibility issue. I’ve come across some forums where Ubuntu users mention that certain fingerprint sensors don’t play well with Linux. Is there a way to check if my hardware is supported? I thought about going through the kernel logs, but honestly, the tech jargon just makes my head spin a little.

Has anyone else faced this problem? If so, did you find any specific drivers or additional software that could help? Also, if anyone has tips for troubleshooting, I’m all ears! I really don’t want to give up and resort to using passwords again when the fingerprint thing seems like such a cool feature.

And if it helps, I’m using a fairly recent laptop model — I can share the specs if necessary. Any kind of advice, recommendations, or even just sharing your own struggles with this would be super helpful. I’d love to hear what worked for you, or at least know I’m not the only one having this issue! Thanks in advance!

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    2 Answers

    1. It’s great that you’re looking to utilize your fingerprint sensor on Ubuntu, but I understand your frustration with the setup process. Unfortunately, not all fingerprint sensors have robust support on Linux, and issues can arise during installation and enrollment. Since you’ve tried Fingerprint GUI without success, you might want to consider other solutions like Fprint, which is an open-source fingerprint management tool that supports various devices. You can install it via the terminal using the command sudo apt install fprintd fprintd-gnome for GNOME. After the installation, you can try enrolling your fingerprint using the command fprintd-enroll in the terminal, as sometimes GUI tools can be buggy. Additionally, check that you have the libfprint-2-2 package installed, which might help address compatibility issues.

      To verify hardware compatibility, refer to the list of supported devices for Fprint. If your fingerprint sensor is not listed, that could be the root of your troubles. As for checking kernel logs for errors, you can open them using dmesg | grep -i fingerprint in the terminal, which filters out relevant info. Don’t hesitate to share your laptop model and specs as that can help others provide tailored tips. Lastly, remember that community forums like Ask Ubuntu or the Ubuntu subreddit can also be great places to seek help where others might have faced similar issues.



    2. Fingerprint Sensor Help on Ubuntu 22.04

      Fingerprint Sensor Troubleshooting on Ubuntu

      Getting a fingerprint sensor to work on Ubuntu can be really frustrating, especially when it seems to be working fine on Windows. It sounds like you’ve already done a lot of digging, so here are some thoughts that might help you out!

      Check Compatibility

      First off, compatibility can definitely be a big factor. You can check if your fingerprint sensor is supported by looking through this list. If your fingerprint reader isn’t mentioned, it might be time to accept that it just doesn’t work with Linux.

      Kernel Logs

      For checking kernel logs, you can use the terminal. Just type dmesg | grep -i fingerprint or dmesg | grep -i fprint to see if there are any messages related to your device. It can indeed look like a lot of tech jargon, but any “fails” or “errors” that show up might give you a hint about what’s going wrong.

      Drivers and Software

      As for drivers, if you haven’t already, try installing libfprint and fprintd with the command:

      sudo apt install fprintd libfprint-2-2

      Sometimes just getting those packages can make a difference. Also, make sure that fprintd-verify works. You can run:

      fprintd-verify

      and see if it recognizes your sensor correctly.

      Try Different Software

      If Fingerprint GUI keeps freezing, you might want to explore alternatives like fprintd as it’s often more reliable. Make sure you’ve followed any recent guides specifically for your laptop model if available.

      Community Help

      Don’t forget to check Ubuntu forums or Reddit, maybe someone else with the same laptop model can share what worked for them. Sometimes just a little tweak can solve the problem!

      Sharing Specs

      If you’re comfortable sharing your laptop specs, that could help others give more tailored advice. Details like your laptop brand, model, and fingerprint sensor type can really make a difference.

      Keep at it! It’s totally normal to hit a few roadblocks along the way, and you’re definitely not alone in this frustration!


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