Fingerprint login in 20.04

Question

I saw an OMG Ubuntu article about Ubuntu offering fingerprint support. But I do not see any such option in 20.04.

Is it really possible to login using fingerprint scan in 20.04? If yes, how?

Solution

What you need to do is to enable PAM Fingerprint authentication method.

1. Issue sudo pam-auth-update
2. Select Fingerprint authentication
3. Press Spacebar
4. Hit Enter

Comments

[ubfan1]

Take a look at frpintd, but keep in mind you'll still need a password to unlock your keyring, so not as useful as you might hope.

[snapcrack]

Go to users -> Automatic login, and that should display the option for fingerprint login. I can't get mine to work, but if it does work, that's where it'll be

[user227495]

It works without auto login under user settings. Thanks.

[Paul Bissex]

OP, I have the same question. I have a ThinkPad X1 Carbon with a fingerprint reader that is recognized by 20.04 I have "enrolled" my fingerprint via Settings > Users and "Fingerprint Login" there is marked "Enabled". But on the login screen there is no visible option to activate fingerprint scanning, and simply trying it does nothing (i.e. password still required). I'm wondering if this is DM related. I upgraded from 19.04 after long use and may not have the stock DM active.

[CpILL]

@PaulBissex I have the same setup but i don't get anything on Settings > Users. Did you get this working?

[Paul Bissex]

@CpILL - I did. I didn't change anything in the config (that I remember). I gave up looking for on-screen indicators; the reader itself has an LED that flashes to say it's active. After realizing that it was a matter of adjusting to how it works -- how many swipes (it's a bar-type reader, not a pad), how fast, how firm I'd say it works reasonably about 85% of the time. Not as good as the fingerprint sign-in on my work-issued MacBook, but passable.

[CpILL]

thanks @PaulBissex but it can't seem to see my fingerprint reader? Which is strange if we have the same machine...? I'll see if i can get the LED to light up. Did you install special drovers for it?

[Paul Bissex]

@CpILL I didn't install any extra drivers, it "just worked" starting with 20.04 for me. Light might not have happened until after I registered a print. 2nd gen X1 Carbon FWIW.

[gionni]

This answer solved it for me, it should be the accepted answer.

[Kjell Hedström]

It probably depends on the HW support installed. Did not work for me on my out of the box Dell XPS 15, after I fresh installed ubuntu 20.04

[Dominik Goltermann]

works for me but after rebooting its disabled again (but showing up ad enabled)

[Albert Zhang]

Just figured it all out by following the answer above.

[CpILL]

No work for me on 20.04 on a Lenovo Thinkpad Carbon X1 :(

[wajdi_jurry]

Some laptops manufacturers have no drivers yet for fingerprint working on linux distributions

[silpol]

triggering pam-auth-update is last step, one might need to do all steps few steps from guide for non GNOME remixes