How to Calibrate the Fingerprint Sensor in your Google Pixel Phone

Written By: Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Comments: 39

How to Calibrate the Fingerprint Sensor in your Google Pixel Phone

Difficulty

Easy

Steps

Time Required

3 - 5 minutes

Introduction

Use this guide to calibrate the fingerprint sensor in your Google Pixel phone. This guide is only applicable for the Google Pixel 6 and newer phones.

You need to calibrate your fingerprint sensor whenever you replace the screen, as most replacement screens come with a new fingerprint sensor pre-attached. If you don't, your fingerprint sensor will not work.

Step 1

Follow these instructions to enable developer options and USB debugging mode.
If you're using a Windows operating system, download the Google USB driver and follow these instructions to install it.
Navigate to this page to prepare the calibration software.
If your phone isn't turned off, do so now.
Hold down the power and volume down buttons on your phone for three seconds to enter Fastboot mode.
Your phone will show a red warning triangle with the caption "Fastboot mode."
Plug your phone into your computer.

I'm in "Fastboot Mode" as described.

A connection to my PC is not yet possible.

A selection menu can be seen on the Pixel 6 display:

- Start

- Restart bootloader

- Recovery mode

- Rescue mode

- Bar code

- Power off

Which option to choose to install fingerprint calibration software?

Andreas -

Step 2

Select the "Connect Device" button.
Choose your device from the pop-up menu.
Depending on your browser, your pop-up menu will look different.
If your device isn't showing up, select the "Troubleshooting tips" link near the bottom of the page to diagnose your issue.
Once your device connects, select the "Install software" button.

Hi, I'm stuck because there is not Italy in the carrier country selection and with "other" says that is not able to determine the software installed on the phone. The phone is with stock android 13 latest update. Anyone encountered this same issue? There is a workaround?

Alessandro Colombo -

Had to go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyanuJwV... to get help with driver install

drbret -

Hi, Whenever I want to download the software, I get "Couldn't find the unique calibration software for this device".
I would appreciate the assistance.

Cornelius L. -

this solution doesn't work with android 14 in the newest version 14/AP1A.240305.019.A1.

It seems that the ifixit sofware needs an update to the newest version of Android 14.

Any chnce to get it done?

Guido Esser -

Step 3

Wait for the calibration software to download and install.
The program will run automatically and restart your phone.
After you receive the "Install successful" prompt, unplug your phone and manually restart it again to complete the calibration.
If you don't manually restart your phone, your fingerprint sensor will not work properly.

Si vous voulez pas vous embêter, utiliser un Chromebook (même un vieux). Ça prend 1 minute et aucun logiciel à installer. Il suffit de suivre cette page . Redémarrer une fois encore votre Pixel et s'est réglé. Génial non?

Toully -

Conclusion

Your fingerprint sensor is calibrated and ready for use.

If the calibration fails for any reason, repeat the calibration procedure.

Author

Alex Diaz-Kokaisl

Member since: 16/01/22

117881 Reputation

33 comments

When I try and use the calibration tool on my Pixel 6 I get an error message whilst downloading the software that says "Couldn't find the unique calibration software for this device". Any suggestions as to what is causing this?

Isheanesu Gambe -

Same problem. Pixel 7 android 14 latest update

Gleb -

Same problem. Pixel 6 android 14 latest update

Pavel Dolínek -

Same problem, pixel 7 android 14 January update

Sunggat Yerzhan - 09/01/24

same problem. Please help

Stalyn Moreno Briones -

Have you had a screen repaired by a non-authorized warranty repair center? I made that mistake and ran into this error. Google Support basically informed me that I can pack sand. We need right-to-repair legislation so that a software fix such as this cannot be denied.

Scott Hammer -

Same, Pixel 7 android 14. "Couldn't find the unique..."

Антон Кондрашкин -

Bonjour et pour les utilisateurs de mac?

nicolas ROUX -

Bonjour @nicolasrou74085 malheureusement Apple réserve cette manipulation à son réseau de réparation agréé :( Vous trouverez toutes les infos sur l'appariement de cette pièce dans notre article : https://fr.ifixit.com/News/83553/la-vue-..., en particulier le tableau récapitulatif des iPhone 5 aux iPhone 15 vers la fin de la page.

Claire Miesch -

I am in fastboot mode and my device appears in the list to connect but it consistently comes up with 'Unable to connect device' - I am using Ubuntu 22.10 (Linux) and my Pixel 6 is not rooted. I can't proceed past this point.

Chris Howe-Jones -

This worked for me. Much appreciated!

Ryan L Barber -

Tedious but was able to figure it out and calibrate the fingerprint sensor.

Metalman -

pour installé les drivers il faut passer le téléphone en fastboot et ensuite le connecter au PC pour pouvoir installer les drivers approprié, si le téléphone est en mode normal rien ne se passe une foi connecter au pc (lorsqu'on veut installer les fameux drivers).

après l'installation du logiciel de calibration sur le téléphone n'oublier pas de redémarré votre appareil une nouvelle foi si non le capteur ne fonctionnera toujours pas. bon courage

MrVaddle -

thank you guys I bought a genuine screen for my pixel 6 and change it it's great but the fingerprint wasn't working , now after I followed these steps it's working just fine

Ibrahim Maslati -

I completed the calibration on my P8 Pro, worked fine. There is one point however for anyone attempting it: Use proper, quality cable! My phone wasn't recognized as a device after I connected it with some random cable from my drawer (works fine for charging the phone), after I used something better it worked like a charm.

Such a simple and dumb thing, but it can make a difference between failure and success.

Josip Rosandic -

On my Google Pixel 7 Pro I get the following error. I can't calibrate my Finperprint Reader. I'm trying for hours now. Nothing helps.... : "Your device's current software version:UQ1A.240105.004 is newer than this repair tool has."

What am I doing wrong ????

Der Doss -

Me as well..

Sebastian Schaeffer -

I got this message when I try to run the tool on my Pixel 7 Pro. Your phone's current software version is newer than this repair tool has.

Sebastian Schaeffer -

Sucessfull on my Pixel 6. Do not forget to reboot your phone after having disconected it otherwise the calibration error stays.

cybertrand -

Hi, May I know what Android version are you on?

Cornelius L. -

Yes! Have pixel 7 pro; After software download, reboot your phone, go back into settings to set up fingerprint unlock. This was with replacement screen #3. Ifixit stands by their 'Never take broken for an answer.'

C * -

Did not work for me. Got the message "can not complete the fingerprint setup". https://i.imgur.com/xrU5VNu.png

Avtandil Kikabidze -

Dans l'ordre, pour que cela fonctionne bien, après passage en mode fastboot, se rendre dans le gestionnaire de périphériques, chercher votre appareil mobile qui doit être non reconnu, et la seulement mettre à jour son pilote avec le google usb driver.

Suivez ensuite les indications.

FABRICE BAUDOIN -

I have tried several Pixel6Pro and cannot activate the fingerprint sensor.

I have disassembled multiple Pixel6Pro and tried different combinations and the following is the situation.

[combination that works].

Pixel6Pro + any screen + the sensor that was on that device

(It should work without any calibration in the first place, right?)

[Combination that cannot be used]

Pixel6Pro + any screen + the sensor that was on another Pixel6Pro

Is this calibration app not to enable any fingerprint sensor that was moved from another device, but just to enable the new sensor that came with the new screen? Is that correct?

- Fastboot mode: Yes

- Reboot twice: Yes

- Use Google Driver for Fastboot mode: Yes

("Android Device/Android Bootloader Interface" on device manager)

It still does not work.

Nona - 07/02/24

I finally got this to work but I had to blaze a trail, as it seems no one had the same set of issues. Using Chrome 121.0.6167.160 on Ubuntu 22.04, I was getting an error "Unable to connect to device" (In the developer console, it printed "The selected device was not able to be opened. Confirm it is not in use by another application and then try removing the device and reconnecting it to continue."). The only thing that ended up working was:

1. Go into the Pixel 7a Settings > About Phone > Build number

2. Tap build number 5 times to enable developer options

3. Back in Settings > System > Developer options, enable USB debugging

4. Connect the phone to the computer with a good USB cable

5. (optional, can't remember if necessary) From Ubuntu, apt install adb and run adb shell from a terminal

6. On phone, allow the computer to access the phone in debug mode (check the "remember" box)

7. Power down phone, power back up using Fastboot (volume down + power)

8. Follow the instructions above starting with Step 1

Gerald Tilma -

For the people who get this error: Your device's current software version:UQ1A.240105.004 is newer than this repair tool has.

I found the solution on this website: https://xdaforums.com/t/fingerprintsenso...

-enabled usb debugging on the phone

-Get your best usb c to usb c cable (I think this was a big part of my problem, I tried 3 or 4 cable options and ended up with it working while using -my $79 quest 2 link cable.)

-boot into fast boot, power + vol down. Do not go into rescue mode.

-installed the google driver while connected in fast boot

-went to https://pixelrepair.withgoogle.com/carri..., scrolled down to the link to "Install fingerprint calibration software" (https://pixelrepair.withgoogle.com/udfps)

-connecting the phone while in fast boot (Not rescue like it says on the repair wizard)

-deploy the software

-REBOOT

-setup fingerprint

-enjoy success

Thank you pixelguyfromca

Alchalide -

Thanks a lot! I was having lots of connection (or not connection, better said) problems. Your guide worked perfectly!

Juan del Río - 28/02/24

Question: are there any options to calibrate the Pixel 6a fingerprint sensor that do not require Windows? I have no Windows available - only Android (on my pixel tablet) MacOS (on my wife's Macbook). Honestly I'm shocked that Google would require Windows for anything!

Ed Fair -

The process worked fine on my MacBook

Nils Liebherr -

Pixel 6a: before I could not even add the fingerprint (it recognized one in a few attempts but failed in the middle). The calibration process described above worked flawlessly. After the calibration, the rate of recognition did not improve, but I was finally able to add a fingerprint. Nevertheless, the fingerprint sensor on my Pixel 6a has so poor performance that it is useless.

Marcin Kawalerowicz -

Worked great, got a little confusing on the part that mentions downloading OEM drivers but in the end everything worked on the first go, cheers!

Cayde-6 -

Salut à tous. J'ai galéré avec un PC Windows 2 soirs sans jamais réussir à calibrer l'empreinte. Je me suis tout à coup rappelé que j'avais un vieux Chromebook et j'ai tenté. Ça m'a pris 1 minute et tout fonctionne. Aucun logiciel a préinstaller. Il suffit de se mettre en mode Fastboot, brancher le Pixel au Chromebook, lancer le process ci-dessus et s'est terminé. Malgré le redémarrage qui se fait après la mise à jour du calibrage de l'empreinte, redémarrer une fois le tél et tout est OK.Fait avec Pixel 7 Pro

Toully -

Chromium worked as an alternate to the chrome browser.

Christopher Solomon -