Recently I switched to Ubuntu 14.04 trying to give Linux another chance (previously I tried Linux Mint which I find an excellent distro for users migrating from Windows) and after finishing setting up my ThinkPad W520 I wanted to enable the fingerprint reader.
I found multiple solutions describing how to enable the fingerprint reader using, one of them was using fPrint but it wasn’t so “elegant” as Fingerprint GUI.
[block id=”responsive-ads-inside-posts”]Installing ThinkPad Fingerprint In Ubuntu
To enable the ThinkPad fingerprint in Ubuntu 14.04 you will need to add the following PPA and install Fingerprint GUI: ppa:fingerprint/fingerprint
1 2 3 | sudo apt-add-repository ppa:fingerprint/fingerprint-gui && sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install libbsapi policykit-1-fingerprint-gui fingerprint-gui |
On the Finger tab you have to register one or more fingers, then log out and log in so the new defaults take effect.
Now you can unlock your screen and run commands with root privileges using your fingerprints.
Uninstalling Fingerprint GUI
If you decide to uninstall the Fingerprint GUI you must install back the standard PolicyKit daemon.
1 2 3 | sudo apt-get install policykit-1-gnome sudo apt-get remove fingerprint-gui |
More information about Fingerprint GUI can be found on the Launchpad project page.
I recently bought thinkpad t440 and just install ubuntu 14.04 with 3.16.1 kernel. And there is no device shown…anyway this is what lsusb give me
[email protected]:~$ lsusb
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:8000 Intel Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 5986:0268 Acer, Inc
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 8087:07dc Intel Corp.
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 138a:0017 Validity Sensors, Inc.
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
any idea how to make it work?
Try the following commands:
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fingerprint/fprint
$ sudo apt-get install fprintd libpam-fprintd
Install the fingerprint driver – https://www.dropbox.com/s/40v9wedgoau4akh/fprint-vfs5011_0-1_amd64.deb?dl=0:
$ sudo dpkg -i fprint-vfs5011_0-1_amd64.deb
If this doesnt work then you may have a hardware problem: the cable is disconnected or the fingerprint sensor is not working.
Dear friends, have somebidy solve the unworkability for:
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 138a:0017 Validity Sensors, Inc.
for Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2nd?
Is this info https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Lenovo_ThinkPad_X1_Carbon_%28Gen_2%29#Fingerprint_Reader
“This fingerprint reader requires libfprint to be build from the current git as yet no stable fprint release supports it. ” still actual?
I am looking Intel driver. Thanx!
You can try here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/libfprint/+bug/827669.
Even though is for 138a:0018 Validity Sensors…
I’m about to give this a go. can you use it to unlock the pc?
Yes. Today I installed elementary OS Luna and it’s also working great on it. Fingerprint GUI is at version 1.06 now.
Thanks, works perfectly 🙂
I did all process was fine, the problem is when i try to identify with it never get my fingerprint always say failed to match fingerprint, any idea? I windows fingerprint get 4 or 5 scans from same finger could be the problem but I tried as well take all my fingers scan with my right finger and do the same failed to match
Most probably is the fingerprint sensor since you had difficulties in Windows as well – it collected dust and cannot read as it should. Did you get any errors when registering the fingerprints?
I’m running a full version of Zorin on a lenovo T520. The software package works fine for the fingerprint reader and I was able to enter fingerprints. The problem is that there is no where in User Accounts, Passwords, or anywhere else to enable the function.
It never asks for a fingerprint or gives the option of a fingerprint or password for log-in. How do I tell Zorin to ask for a fingerprint?
i have copy pasted both of above commands but it’s not showing me that UI….what i need to do?