How to Fix Fingerprint Issue on Galaxy S24 Ultra

Nov 01, 2024

It has been a couple of days since I got my hands on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, and the device is one of the best I have used. It is evident that Samsung has managed to outdo itself in almost every aspect and the device feels so much more premium than before. My only subjective gripe is that the Titanium Black is not the darkest shade of black, but that aside, the phone is perfect.

However, the phone has one thing that I cannot get over is just how inaccurate the fingerprint sensor can be. If you are pulling your hair out trying to figure out how to fix the fingerprint issue on Galaxy S24 Ultra, then you are not the only one, as I have been dealing with the same issue. In this tutorial, I am going to help you figure things out.

Now, I was under the impression that the flatter screen on the Galaxy S24 Ultra would mean that we are no longer going to have to deal with the woes of curved tempered glass screen protectors. You see, using a curved tempered glass screen protector on any Galaxy phone would hinder the fingerprint unless you are using one with a liquid adhesive that's cured with UV light. Sadly, despite having a flat screen, the Galaxy S24 Ultra still does not play nicely with screen protectors, and if you are trying to fix the fingerprint issue on the Galaxy S24 Ultra, then this guide is for you.

One thing that you should know is there is no definitive way to fix the fingerprint issue on Galaxy S24 Ultra at the moment. Some users claim that it is a software issue, while other users are asking you to remove the screen protector from an expensive screen, something that I would not suggest. if you are like me and you have to have a screen protector on your device, then keep reading.

Removing and re-registering your fingerprints

The first method that worked for me when I was trying to fix the fingerprint issue on the Galaxy S24 Ultra was removing and re-registering the fingerprint sensor on the phone. I normally keep four fingers registered, which made it a tedious process, it did work but not for long. Once registered, the fingerprint sensor would continue to recognize the scan 9 out of 10 times before getting back to its original state and not working at all.

After fiddling with the Galaxy S24 Ultra for about a week, I strongly believe that the issue with the fingerprint stems from the software. That is the only explanation for this behavior where the fingerprint starts working normally, and then it stops working without any factor being changed. Another thing that I noticed is that, for some reason, turning the touch sensitivity off fixes the issue. Other times, it completely breaks the fingerprint sensor until it starts working on its own. If you want to try this out, you can open Settings > Display and scroll down to Touch sensitivity

I currently have it turned on, which leads me to believe that something with the software is causing this erratic behavior.

Although I strongly believe in skincare, I never thought I would have to invest in it just so the fingerprint on my phone could work properly. If you go on the internet and look for ways to fix fingerprint issues on Galaxy S24 Ultra, you will see several people talking about how licking their fingers fixed the issue and allowed them to unlock their phones. This might sound bizarre, but it does work. The key here is moisture, so if you are using some sort of hand cream or a moisturizer, this will work - but only for a while. Sadly, it is far from ideal, just another hit and miss solution.

Now, this is the one that I would advise works the best and has the most consistency. Changing the screen protector can help you fix fingerprint issues on Galaxy S24 Ultra. However, it is not as simple as one might think because not all tempered glass protectors are equal, and not all of them are going to work the same way despite being made out of glass.

Rokform sent me their tempered glass screen protector, which simply did not work. I used both of the pieces provided, thinking that maybe I botched the installation, but that was not the case. The ones I have tried that work are listed below:

I am sure there are more, but these are the ones I have used, and I can confirm that they work with the fingerprint scanner without any issues. The third one is the one that I would not recommend only because it's a film-type protector rather than a glass protector. If you know of more, feel free to mention in the comments below.

After testing the device for a week, it is more than safe to conclude that the fingerprint sensor is acting up because of a software issue and I have a feeling that Samsung is going to fix it soon. I do understand the frustration because sometimes, you just want to be able to unlock your phone like your muscle memory is used to, and not being able to do so can lead to annoyance. Especially after the fact that you are in possession of a $1,300 device that simply refuses to work the way it should. However, knowing Samsung's history and concern for its users, I am sure we will see an update in the near future.

That is all for now, folks. If you know more ways to fix fingerprint issues on Galaxy S24 Ultra, feel free to mention them below, and I'll be sure to check them out and verify. May is not far, so we might see this issue resolved next month, but until then, be sure to check out the tips we have mentioned in this post.