Fingerprint sensor generally unreliable. Any fix?

I’ve been having trouble with the fingerprint sensor on my Framework 16, and I’ve noticed others with this same problem. When I first set it up, it seemed to work alright for the first few uses, but after that, it has been about a 80/20 chance whether it will actually authenticate, or if it will rapidly use up all of the attempts and I’ll just need to manually input my password. Has anyone else had this problem, or have a potential solution? I’ve also noticed that occasionally, at the login screen after closing the lid, the prompt for a fingerprint is missing.

Specs:
Model: Framework 16
OS: Fedora 41
CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 7 7840HS
GPU: N/A (empty expansion bay)
Bios Version: 03.05
Kernel Version: 6.13.5-200.fc41.x86_64

I’m experiencing after some resumes, the fingerprint reader has timed out. Pressing enter on the password input field ( fails as expected as I’ve not entered the password ), the fingerprint reader is working again and this is only happening on resume

I think it’s a software issue, not sure where exactly yet.

Maybe a coincidence but since Linux 6.14-rc6, it’s been happening less frequently but I’ve also just updated linux firmware last night too

Could you update your post to show what linux firmware and desktop/gui environment your using

Specs

  • Model: Framework 16
  • CPU: AMD Ryzen™ 7 7840HS
  • GPU: Radeon 780M
  • BIOS version: 03.05
  • Linux distribution: Gentoo 2.17
  • Linux kernel version: 6.14-rc6 mainline - realtime PREEMPT_RT
  • Linux firmware: commit b69d4b74, tag 20250311
  • Desktop/GUI Environment: KDE Plasma 6.2.5 - Wayland

I think you should have posted this in Framework Laptop 16 - Linux - fedora forum too

Same experience here with my FW13. I just gave up, deleted the fingerprints in settings, and type the password when prompted. Life’s too short to mess with or get frustrated by Ill-behaving machines.


Rod

I have a fingerprint sensor from the 11th gen Framework 13 that I am using. I have a 12th gen mainboard in there now and have installed at least 15 different OSes on it over 50 times. In all of that the fingerprint sensor has worked super reliably. I did have to clear saved prints when switching between some OSes but in general things worked the way they should.

I just did a quick experitment. My FW13 is setup dualboot F41/Win11. I setup fingerprint login in win11, it just works. It was quicker and easier to set up than in Fedora, and when logging in, a single light tap on the sensor un-locks the computer, boom done. None of the try, try again BS I was seeing in Fedora. So I’m thinking it is more of a Fedora issue.

I’ll keep fingerprint login active in win11 and see how it holds up. That will take some time, I don’t use win11 very often.


Rod

It’s been ~2weeks since I configured Win11 to use the fingerprint scanner. Things continue to work just fine. So I’m convinced that whatever Fedora 41 is doing is just problematic. When F42 is out and stable I’ll set up the fingerprint scanner again & see if it works any better.


Rod

Haven’t really looked into it but if I had to guess, it might be some kind of regression on KDE.

Can’t test on Gnome right now how it would work there.

yeah, I think this too