Is your Galaxy Note 20 fingerprint feature not working? Indeed, that can be nightmarish as you can’t use the most employed biometric method to unlock the Samsung phablet quickly.
The fingerprint sensor can be fixed by cleaning your screen, removing the screen protector, doing a software update, or resetting your phone. It shouldn’t be a major issue, given this fingerprint feature uses revolutionary ultrasonic technology.
If all that sounds like a tall order, fret not. In this post, we’ll show you how to fix the Galaxy Note 20/Note 20 Ultra fingerprint not working issue with seven proven ways to get it done in a jiffy — plus a final solution should all else fails.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Duration | 10 to 12 minutes |
| Things You Need | A Galaxy Note 20 or Galaxy Note 20 UltraA working internet connection |
H2: How to Fix Galaxy Note 20/Note 20 Ultra Fingerprint Not Working Issue
To fix Galaxy Note 20/Note 20 Ultra fingerprint not working issue, make sure the ultrasonic fingerprint sensor captures your fingerprint data correctly. Thus, use only a dry finger and double-check the fingerprint sensor for dirt.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series uses the ultrasonic method in fingerprint ID, a more robust method than the optical method used by older models. That means fixing fingerprint issues here should be a lot easier to handle.
With that said, it’s best to be efficient. Follow the instructions below and learn how to easily overcome the Galaxy Note 20/Note 20 Ultra Fingerprint not working issue.
1. First, clean the screen.
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Duration | 10 seconds |
If you can already see smudges on your phone’s screen, then you may already have an idea of what causes the problem. Smudges can affect how the screen sensors perform a scan to authenticate the fingerprint, so cleaning it is wise.
Follow the steps below to clean your screen effectively.
- Get a lint-free cloth that is soft and dry.
- Dampen the prepared cloth using an alcohol solution.
- Gently wipe the screen to get rid of any dust or smudges.
Now that you already have a clean screen, it is also essential to clean your finger. After ensuring you have a clean finger and fingerprint sensor, try unlocking your phone using your fingerprint.
2. Remove the screen protector
Screen protectors that are of low quality, too thick, or too dark may result in fingerprint issues. This is especially when you’ve noticed that the problem started after putting the screen protector on your phone.
Remove it, then do a test run on your fingerprint scanner. If it’s still not working, proceed to the next step.
3. Increase the screen sensitivity
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 4 |
| Duration | 20 seconds |
If you don’t want to remove your phone’s screen protector, then increasing the screen sensitivity may compensate for that extra layer added to your phone. This allows the screen to respond better with each touch you make.
This is how you can increase your screen’s sensitivity.
- Go to Settings.
- Click Display.
- Find the Touch Sensitivity option
- Tap the button beside Touch Sensitivity to Toggle On.
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4. Use new fingerprints.
There’s a chance that your old fingerprints may not match the current fingerprint you have. This happens when your fingers just had scars or you’ve restored fingerprints from your old phone and then transferred them to your current one.
Thus, a way to go around this is to delete old fingerprints stored and put in new ones.
Follow the steps below to delete old fingerprints:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 3 minutes |
- Proceed to Settings.
- Look and click the Biometrics and Security option.
- Select Fingerprints.
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- Input your Password, Pattern, or PIN when asked.
- Delete current fingerprints.
- To delete all, just touch, hold a fingerprint, and choose All that appears in your screen’s upper-left corner.
- Click remove to finish the process.
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Follow these procedures to add a new fingerprint:
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 3 minutes |
- Proceed to Settings.
- Look and click the Biometrics and Security option.
- Select Fingerprints.
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- Choose Add fingerprint.
- Carefully follow the tutorial on how to scan your fingerprint.
- Select Done to complete the process.
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After adding a new fingerprint, test whether the phone unlocks using the feature. If it is working, your phone will unlock immediately after placing your fingerprint in the scanner.
If not, proceed to the following steps below, as this issue may not be whether your phone’s stored information and your current fingerprint match.
5. Delete cache partition.
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 7 |
| Duration | 5 minutes |
Your fingerprint information is stored in your phone’s cache partition. This is so that when you want to access the data, you can do so quickly.
This Fingerprint issue is also caused by the stored data as it may be corrupted and therefore cause the fingerprint scanner not to work. So deleting it is one way to get over Galaxy Note 20/Note 20 Ultra fingerprint not working issue.
Check the steps below to remove the cache partition
- Turn off your phone.
- Hold your device’s Volume Up and the Power button.
- Continue holding both keys until you see the Android Recovery screen.
- Press the Volume down button to choose the Wipe cache partition option.
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- Then press the Power key to select the option.
- Press the Volume down key again so the yes option will be highlighted.
- Then press the Power button to select it.
- After all the processes, the Reboot system now option should be up.
- Lastly, press the Power button so your device will restart.
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6. Perform a software update
| Difficulty | Very Easy ●○○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 3 |
| Duration | 2 minutes |
When your phone has outdated software, you may encounter a wide array of issues, such as not working fingerprint scanners. Downloading Samsung’s software updates is essential as this may address your phone’s software problems.
Here’s how to update your device’s software
- Go to settings.
- In the bottom part, click Software Update.
- Click the Download and Install. (If your device’s software is not up to date, clicking the Download and Install option will start downloading the update.)
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When you have already performed a software update, try unlocking your phone using its fingerprint scanner feature and assess if it is already working. Otherwise, a more robust solution is necessary, which you’ll encounter in the next process.
7. Factory reset your phone
| Difficulty | Easy ●●○○○ |
| Number of Steps | 6 |
| Duration | 5 minutes |
If you are already in this section and none of the steps before worked, performing a factory reset on your phone may solve this fingerprint issue.
| WARNING: Factory reset means all your data is erased as it puts your phone in the original state when it left the factory. So, it should be a last resort. |
A factory reset erases all your data from your phone. So to do it right, it’s highly recommended to have a backup of all essential documents and files on your device before doing this.
This may look like a drastic solution, but this procedure is very effective, especially when dealing with software issues, just as fingerprint scanner concerns. You’re all set for this process if you’re done backing up essential data from your device.
Follow the procedures below to factory reset your Samsung Galaxy Note 20 device:
- Go to Settings.
- Click General management.
- Choose the Reset option.
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- Then tap the Factory data reset.
- Scroll down until you see the Reset button, then click that.
- To continue with the Factory reset, click Delete all.
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This process will just take minutes to be finished. After this process, your phone will reboot, which is a cue for you to test your device’s fingerprint sensor.
Otherwise, it’s time to bring out the big guns. We mean consulting your nearest Samsung Service Center for a detailed inspection by their technician, as this may be more of a hardware problem than software-related.
Wrapping Up
With all the details above, we certainly hope your fingerprint issue is resolved. Indeed, learning how to fix the Galaxy Note 20/Note 20 ultra fingerprint not working issue should be a walk in the park with this guide.
FAQs About Galaxy Note 20/Note 20 Ultra Fingerprint
Samsung Galaxy Note 20 series uses ultrasonic pulse captures instead of the optical method used by older phones. Ultrasonic has a higher recognition rate as it isn’t affected by brightness or lack of light; plus, it’s spoofing-proof as the user’s print is mapped in 3D.
Typically, fingerprint recognition should be just a matter of microseconds after putting your fingerprint in the screen’s scanner. However, if it’s already more than 1-2 seconds and your phone still does not respond, it may be an issue.
This is probably because the always-on fingerprint feature was enabled. Accidental touching can activate the fingerprint scanner, so deactivating the always-on fingerprint feature is wise.
Here’s how you can deactivate the always-on Fingerprint feature:
•Go to settings.
•Click Biometrics and security option.
•Tap Fingerprints.
•Toggle Off the button beside Fingerprint always on to deactivate it.
You can notify Samsung using your phone’s Samsung Members app, where you can report concerns or ask questions to them. If an issue persists, notifying the manufacturer is always best.
You need not worry about your privacy, as any problem and question you relay is sent and received by Samsung anonymously. Most importantly, your submitted case is only held during their team’s investigation.
