Surface Duo - Fingerprint reader not working

Anonymous
2020-09-10T20:59:14+00:00

Any idea how to get the fingerprint reader working? Out the box the fingerprint sensor below the power button is not registering fingerprints. Perhaps the sensor is a dud. I tried restarting...powering down...powering up...nothing seems to work.

Surface | Surface Duo | Install and update

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-09-30T21:41:43+00:00

    Everything was going well until a few days ago. The finger print reader does not respond to any touch. Does not register any new finger prints when I tried to add a new one. I have restarted the device numerous times and will be trying a hard reset soon (annoyance as it is currently my daily driver). I have gestures turned off. I do not get any feedback (small vibration) when touching the sensor. 

    Update: did a factory reset with no avail. The device would still prompt me to add a finger print during the setup but since it is not registering any touch I would have to skip the step. Did both a backup and new device hard reset.

    Will be sending in my device for a replacement as it is most likely a hardware issue. My only issue with this process is that it is a great inconvenience as it is my daily driver and I am required to ship my device and have them receive it before sending me the replacement.

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-09-30T23:43:18+00:00

    I couldn't get my Duo fingerprint sensor to register my right thumbprint because it kept saying "sensor dirty" even after repeated cleanings.  After trying for weeks, out of frustration, I moved my thumb so my first knuckle accidentally landed on the sensor and it accepted it!  I repeated it until the circle was completed and now it works.  It's a weird spot to use, but sure beats punching in my pin every time.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-10-03T05:02:05+00:00

    I have the same problem after using my surface for 2 weeks , what is unique in the problem that the fingerprint option disappeared from the setting menu 

    -          I have been using the device since 17 Sep and it was working perfectly with the fingerprint

    -          Today fingerprint reader suddenly stopped working, and I got a message on the screen fingerprint not working, logged through the pin and went to setting security to add additional fingerprint the option was there but disappeared briefly after that. Now when I log to settings under security I only have the options of Screen lock (None, Swipe, Pin, Password ) and Smart lock, nothing for the fingerprint

    -          Since then the fingerprint option disappeared completely from the menu (under security)

    -          Troubleshooting done

    o   Power on /Power off

    o   Factory reset and start as new device (not recovering from backup)

    o   Recovery image

    -          Unfortunely all my troubleshooting went in vain

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-10-05T15:05:20+00:00

    I had the same issue and my battery was low at the time so I plug power cord in then do a power off option, waited a few minutes for it to automatically come back on after it recognize power is there, unlock it with the pin. 

    Lock it then unlock it with my fingerprint and now it's working again. 

    When I go back to Security settings I see the Fingerprint option is there now, hope this helps.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-10-05T17:41:42+00:00

    After the phone was fully charged the Fingerprint stopped working. 

    It has error message " Fingerprint hardware not available". 

    I power it off/back on a few times still no change and the fingerprint option is gone from the security settings again.

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