How to Enable Fingerprint Scanner in Linux Ubuntu 16.04 | 16.10 | 14.04

Many people have a Fingerprint scanner on their laptop but when they install Ubuntu Linux it doesn’t work for them. It is easy to make it work in Windows 10 but many people find it difficult when it comes to Linux Ubuntu.  They asked me “how to enable fingerprint scanner in Linux Ubuntu”. Most people want it for legitimate security reasons and for some people it is an only nifty feature that allows them to feel vaguely techie, have checkered support for Linux Ubuntu. However, there is always a solution for every problem in Linux Ubuntu.

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Enable Fingerprint Scanner in Linux Ubuntu Latest 16.04

Fingerprint scanner sometimes knows as a fingerprint reader and it is a very important feature of my laptop. I was slightly annoyed and sad with my nonworking fingerprint scanner in Ubuntu. This one is only hardware feature of my laptop that was not working fine in Ubuntu.

However, I have faced the similar problems in my HP ELITEBOOK 8470p so I have taken the step to fix this problem. I tried to find out a solution on the Internet by searching on google. And finally, my search end when I came across a PPA for Ubuntu with the latest libraries.  Also, it contains a cool user interface for managing your hardware device like fingerprint reader for enrolling fingerprints.

To enable hardware support for fingerprint-based authentication in any Linux Ubuntu 16.04 or other operating systems as well as the related GUI, you only required to add PPA using terminal commands given below and install the few packages of the same.

Linux Ubuntu Commands to Enable Fingerprint Scanner in Laptops: –

[sudo apt-add-repository ppa:fingerprint/fingerprint-gui && sudo apt-get update]

[sudo apt-get install libbsapi policykit-1-fingerprint-gui fingerprint-gui]
Note:- PolicyKit packages for fingerprint will remove the default(policykit-gnome etc) thus if you “wanted to remove fingerprint PPA  then you must reinstall these packages manually, or risk a broken device for the same”.

How to Configure Fingerprint Scanner in Linux Ubuntu after Installing it using sudo commands: –
The new defaults packages will take effect when you’ll run the GUI of your system and enroll a few fingers for the same.
Then finally restart the session of your system by logging out and Logging in.
Finally, you can enjoy by unlocking your system screen by logging out and logging in using sudo-ing and run things with root privileges. Jus by using your fingerprints (or toeprints etc, you chose to register after installing) –of course, you can still use your password as an alternative for the same.

List of Laptops where fingerprint scanner tested and working please leave a comment to make it up to date: –

1. Dell Vostro 3460
2. HP DV3500
3. Thinkpad
4. Dell Vostro V131
5. X1 Carbon
6. Toshiba Tecra
7. System76 Pangolin.
8. HP DV3-2010el
9. Acer TravelMate
10. Dell Latitude E5500
11. HP ProBook 4430s
12. HP Elitebook 8560p
13. Lenovo W530
14. Lenovo x220
15. HP Elitebook 8470p
16. Thinkpad W53
17. 138a:0011
18. Vostro V131’s
19. ID 147e:2020 Upek
20. Linux Mint 18
21. notebook, a Dell Vostro 5470
22. Lenovo IdeaPad B590 i5 2.5GHz.
23. Dell Vostro V130
24. HP Envy
25. lenovo ThinkPad x220 i5 running ubuntu 16
26. samsung NP300E5x
27. Linux Mint 18 on a Thinkpad X200s
28. Lenovo Thinkpad X230 16.04
29. HP ProBook 650 G2
30. lenovo w520
31. Lenovo Thinkpad W541
32. Lubuntu 16.10 with ThinkPad SL300!

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