Google might have just fixed the Pixel 6’s fingerprint scanner woes

The Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro are two really impressive devices, but that doesn’t mean that there haven’t been issues causing headaches. Aside from the availability and stocking problems, the device’s under-screen fingerprint scanner has been unreliable, at best. It’s really frustrating to try and unlock your phone quickly to snap a picture or respond to a message, only to have to try and get your phone to recognize your fingerprint.

• How to fix the Pixel 6’s unreliable fingerprint scanner

There are some workarounds for this, including adding multiple fingerprints in the settings or just using Smart Lock. However, Google surprised everyone with a mid-month update that came out of nowhere. Shortly after the update arrived, a corresponding Reddit thread is filled with users saying that the scanner is much more reliable than before. This is even true of those who are using a screen protector with the Pixel 6, which previously only caused more issues.

The update itself is not a very big one, measuring in at just around 15MB, and carrying a build number of SD1A.210817.037. And while Google didn’t provide an official changelog, Verizon took care of that, providing the following information:

• The current software update improves the performance of your device’s fingerprint sensor.

So it’s clear that Google has listened to the feedback from its users so far and is attempting to improve the reliability of its in-display scanner. Unfortunately, even after the update, you might still find that the scanner is slower than the ones found on the OnePlus 9 Pro or Galaxy S21. Nevertheless, make sure you check the settings for your Pixel 6 or Pixel 6 Pro and update so you can try and enjoy a better fingerprint scanner.