Fingerprint reader in ubuntu 18.04

Question

I'm using a Lenovo Thinkpad e580 with Ubuntu 18.04

I tried fingerprint-gui but it says "no devices found!".

lsusb command results this:

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 06cb:00a2 Synaptics, Inc. 
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 04f2:b604 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd 
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 8087:0a2a Intel Corp. 
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

I suspect my device is Bus 001 Device 004: ID 06cb:00a2 Synaptics, Inc.

I tried a few online solutions, but I'm not able to find proper driver support for my system.

I found this link for Lenovo Thinkpad L390, it also has the same fingerprint device and it is certified by the ubuntu, given all hardware support.

As I understand the driver support is available for Synaptics, Inc. 06cb:00a2, but I'm not able to find it.

Please help me in figuring this out.

Solution 1

As far as I know you don't need fingerprint-gui in 18.04.

You need to install these packages to get it working:

sudo apt install -y fprintd libpam-fprintd

and then update your PAM configuration.

sudo pam-auth-update

Then you need to open Settings - Users, enable Fingerprint Login.

---

P.S. (if you use gnome-keyring)

Gnome-keyring is still cannot be unlocked with the fingerprint, you will need to enter your password at login or in the gnome-keyring propmt window to unlock it.

Solution 2

UPDATE: Some readers work with https://github.com/uunicorn/python-validity . It is your best bet to use in thinkpads produced between 2017 and 2019.

There are no Linux drivers for these fingerprint readers. There's a reverse engineering project that is in progress. Also Lenovo support staff made a claim that drivers are being developed for some of the synaptics fingerprint readers. Right now these devices are not usuable in any Linux distro. There is no point to try.

Comments

[Mehul Prajapati]

Did you solve this issue, I also have the same problem.

[karel]

There is a bounty for fingerprint reader support on Lenovo T480 if anyone is interested at bountysource.com/issues/56155233-add-support-for-06cb-009a.

[QkiZ]

Synaptics is your touchpad, not fingerprint reader

[jahirju30]

Didn't work on my Lenovo Yoga 720.

[Sachin]

doesn't work. It cannot identify the fingerprint device. Which is why it doesn't show the fingerprint option in the user settings.

[wittich]

github.com/nmikhailov/Validity90

[Sachin]

the concerned fingerprint device (06cb:00a2) is not present in this project. Is it still helpful?

[trinimac]

There will be a driver for these machines but nobody knows when. See: linuxunplugged.com/323?t=3161 .

[fear_matrix]

Thank you, your solution worked for me on Thinkpad L470.

[ohnoplus]

didn't see any changes under users after making these changes

[pat]

The above worked on Lenovo X1 Carbon Ubuntu 18.04 3rd Gen

[devdob]

This works on Ubuntu 20 Lenovo X1 Carbon 6th Gen. Thanks!