Oct 19, 2023

Can I expect a significantly better fingerprint scanner experience on Pixel 8 Pro than the Pixel 7?

Pixel 7 fingerprint scanner barely worked for me and I had to return it to Google. I have hearing issues and need the Clear Calling feature but not at the sacrifice of fingerprint security.

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Joe Ellett

Platinum Product Expert

Oct 21, 2023

I have no big problems with the Pixel 8 Pro fingerprint sensor, but I wish they hadn't moved it from the back of the phone. "On-screen" may be sexier, but in practice I could put my finger in the dimple on the back of the phone while I was taking it out of my pocket and have it unlocked by the time I had it in front of me, AND there was zero delay or inaccuracy in reading the fingerprint. I'd go back to "fingerprint-on-the-back" instantly if given the choice.

Pixel's "fingerprint-on-the-screen" is as good as anyone else's, but still a downgrade from "on-the-back".

Original Poster D Dean Carroll marked this as an answer

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User 12923756272725255653

Dec 18, 2023

I loved the rear fingerprint unlock on my Pixel 3. I recently upgraded to the 8 and find the fingerprint reader is poor. Facial recognition is great for when there is enough light but I find the fingerprint reader rarely works and usually defaults to me having to use my pattern to unlock, which is annoying.

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IdahoJoe

Platinum Product Expert

Oct 20, 2023

There is also face unlock as well and the 7 and 8 series are not bad. I would suggest making multiple fingerprint setups to have more versions of it even if one finger. I use it with no issue and it's better than my work iPhone having to pick it up and face unlock it every time.

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All Replies (14)

IdahoJoe

Platinum Product Expert

Oct 20, 2023

D Dean Carroll - Welcome to the Google Fi Wireless Community! I have 6 Pro 7 Pro 8 Pro and the last 2 are better but the 8 Pro to me is about the same fp timing and accuracy. Just did a test between the two and they felt the same.

Big features this year are camera, AI, brightness of screen but fp seems the same to me.

Idaho Joe

Joe Ellett

Platinum Product Expert

Recommended Answer

Oct 21, 2023

Pixel's "fingerprint-on-the-screen" is as good as anyone else's, but still a downgrade from "on-the-back".

Original Poster D Dean Carroll marked this as an answer

User 9514341206142823645

Dec 9, 2023

Face unlock only "unlocks" your phone from the lock screen. Most of the apps (such as banking apps) still requires you to use fingerprint to "authenticate".

Setting up multiple fingers and hope one of your fingers will work is a "workaround", not a "solution" of the problem.

D Dean Carroll

Original Poster

Oct 31, 2023

Nothing in my original question or my replies is outdated, irrelevant or AI generated. I read all answers but have yet to be convinced to give up the dependable and intuitive fingerprint scanner on my Pixel 5A for a Pixel 8 Pro.

john leazer

Jan 11, 2024

I agree, wish I had never traded mine in. My pixel 7 sucks 😞

Davide Gentile

Mar 10, 2024

I came to the pixel 6a from a 4a and agreed with this 100%. Google need to solve the front sensor or return to the back sensor. I turned my fingerprint sensor off in my 6a and just enter a pin to unlock like it's the Cretaceous.

M. A 8818

Nov 19, 2023

After "upgrading" from OnePlus 8 Pro. I would rate the finger print scanner of Pixel 8 Pro as terrible...for a flagship phone, I don't understand why is it absolute garbage.

I've had brilliant finger print scanners.on OnePlus 8 Pro and OnePlus 6T. SONY experia 4 back in 2016 I believe was not as good but still functioned better than the Pixel 8 Pro!!! I shouldn't have switched to Pixel.

User 9732329356268879834

Jan 3, 2024

please help with a new finger print sensor for the pixel 8 pro please

Bigs73

Nov 27, 2023

The fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro is not that great. I try to unlock and it does nothing, you have to wake it up, even though it is already awake (at least 50% of the time). Personally, I think it's worst that the Pixel 7 Pro. Google needs to fix this, as many people have this issue. It should just work as soon as you pick up your phone and press the FP scanner. IMO sounds pretty darn simple and why ship phones if this issue is not resolved? Frustrating AF especially for the price you pay. Face unlock is not an option for me and should not be used as a fix. It's a lame workaround..

Last edited Nov 27, 2023

Malimal

Dec 4, 2023

Yeah it's bad now. I used a lot of phones. This is about the worst.

SOE,6332897836

Dec 9, 2023

https://fi.sds.modeaondemand.com/en-us/tutorial/app-googlefi-android-smartphone/latest/getting-your-full-speed-limit/

User 14928572547917979057

Dec 5, 2023

The finger print sensor on my Pixel8 is HORRIBE!. The only good fingerprint scanner that google has made was on the Pixel 4a. The scanner was on the back and worked flawlessly.

Google needs to return the sensor to the back and make it a dedicated sensor like on the 4a.

Had I known it was this bad, I would never have bought the phone. I have been using google phones back to the early Nexus ones!

Davide Gentile

Mar 10, 2024

Same. The 4a sensor was instantaneous and never failed.

User 12923756272725255653

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Dec 18, 2023

Original Poster D Dean Carroll marked this as an answer

Dinesh Srini

Dec 23, 2023

Surprisingly still sucks! It does not work all the time. My LG G6 was 100 times better when it comes to reading finger prints.

Joe Ellett

Platinum Product Expert

Dec 24, 2023

Recently there have been multiple posts in various forums recommending that you recalibrate your fingerprint sensor. Apparently that's worked for several people.

Recalibration requires that you connect your phone to a PC. If you Google "recalibrate pixel 8 fingerprint sensor" you'll find lots of information on the topic. One good article is Ifixit's How to Calibrate the Fingerprint Sensor in your Google Pixel Phone.

I don't have any problems with my sensor, so I'm not going to try the process. If you do, please let us know what your results are.

Bigs73

Jan 3, 2024

Hey Joe, that makes me old as well! :D

OK it didn't do anything. At first I thought it was better but I soon saw it wasn't. Personally, I don't think the issue the the FP sensor, it's the phone not waking up the FP sensor. I need to press power OR double tap the screen to wake it up properly as my touch doesn't do it.

What I did:

1. Updated the driver

2. Rebooted twice afterwards. (and a few other times here and there)

3. Deleted ALL registered fingers and re-did them

4. Removed screen protector (on or off, the same including the increased sensitivity for the FP scanner)

I now enabled Watch Unlock so I can be less frustrated. My P7P did the same but not as bad as this one. My Galaxy S20FE was even better for the FP Sensor.

Anyways, thanks for your help Joe, too bad I couldn't continue this TC stuff but was conflicting with my work. :)

User 11923763193905819668

Feb 29, 2024

Didn't know you could double tap the screen to wake. Has made the screen fingerprint experience much better. Thank you!

User 14264335004495207040

Jan 2, 2024

I got my pixel 8 pro over winter break and I was impressed with the features at first. Upgrading from the 5a I then noticed issues with the fingerprint reader on the 8 pro. I have attempted all the tricks to get it to work: adding same fingerprints multiple times, removing my glass protective cover, and licking my finger before using the scanner ( I live in a climate where the weather gets cold and dry). None worked. Unfortunately, I decided to return the phone and go back to my 5a. I value the ease of use of the scanner than all of the AI tools at the moment. I look forward to the next product and hope they work the bugs out.

Andrew Billen

Jan 6, 2024

I.think the fingerprint scanner has been improved a bit by the January update (although it is not mentioned in the accompanying literature).

User 3975360321282763391

Jan 9, 2024

Lightly moisten your finger, OK I lick my finger then wipe it against another finger THEN I put it on the sensor .. works each and every time . Google (alphabet boys) use a POC sensor to save 50 cents instead of putting in a good sensor.

User 12795340230506461328

Feb 9, 2024

The fingerprint sensor on the Pixel 8 Pro is defective on my phone. Do not buy this phone. I fact, I think the whole phone is a disappointment and have had many issues and google does not seem to care because there is little if anything consumers can do.

User 4855642798844480346

Apr 4, 2024

Hey, we are screwed anyway, coz we all, signed up to accepting that for example, if in 6 months any kind of defaults happens to a lot of us, like a screen growing a zip etc...we opted out of being able to sue them etc. without us knowing. Google....plase dont be like CRAPPLE!.

You telling me after all these years you can't sort a fingerprint?

geez, I was a super-happy Google fan dude...got over 30 of their collectables, loads of stuff....but my Oneplus 8 Pro from 2020 would EASY demolish this phone.

A Pixel Pro?

Proffesional idiot more like.

BRING BACK THE LG v30 fingerprint scanner.

Whats with this hollow Poundland sounding screen?

User 11043038290113354936

Apr 23, 2024

https://support.google.com/pixelphone/answer/13537318?hl=en#zippy=

You can change your settings so your display always shows the fingerprint sensor, even when it’s asleep.

Open your phone's Settings app.
Tap Display Lock screen.
Turn on Always show time & info.

Tip: To improve access to the fingerprint sensor when your phone is asleep, you can also turn on Tap to check phone or Lift to check phone.

Tennen

Apr 25, 2024

For a flagship phone such as Pixel 8 Pro I rate the fingerprint scanner 3 of 10..

If its humid or you are cold it wont work. You need pin.

Or try face, but it only works in proper light. You need pin.

Many times you try it for max number of attempts and then its pin again...

So useless for s flagship phone. Embarrassing tech and implementation from a tech giant like Google.

I came from a ert old Huawei P20 pro and the fps worked flawless on that much older phone.

This is at the level were i consider to not buy another Google phone because the quality of this central functionality is just too bad.