With the Pixel 6a now stocked in shops, some consumers have seen that any fingerprint is ready to unlock their new telephones in a relatively worrying safety lapse by Google.
Final weekend, two reviews out of India emerged about the Pixel 6a’s under-display fingerprint sensor (UDFPS) permitting anyone to unlock. This contains folks that didn’t register their fingerprints forward of time.
Simply right this moment, following the Pixel 6a launch in 13 nations, there are — thus far — six extra reviews of this occurring. They vary from with the ability to unlock with a distinct finger that was not registered to with the ability to unlock one other particular person’s 6a. One particular person mentioned the situation didn’t happen once more after eradicating all saved fingerprints and re-adding them.
The vast majority of consumers don’t seem to have this situation with the Pixel 6a. We’ve completely examined 4 Pixel 6a models and have been unable to copy the downside. This means just some telephones are impacted and factors to a {hardware} situation, with Google altering the sensor for the 6a.
The actual fact that is occurring on precise models delivery to clients is regarding. That mentioned, the software program (or {hardware}) between evaluation and retail models don’t seem to vary. Google on Thursday did launch an replace that brings the Pixel 6a to the June safety patch, up from April’s. Nevertheless, builds for guide set up are solely out there in Japan and for Verizon. As of Saturday, we’re nonetheless ready for the international replace and a model for AT&T and T-Cell phones.
It’s unclear if that replace will resolve the situation, or whether or not there’s a deeper {hardware} downside on affected telephones. This could possibly be a case of a foul batch of fingerprint sensors. If it’s certainly that, replacements will have to be despatched out. Hopefully, Google would be capable of proactively determine what gadgets are impacted and robotically provoke the course of. In the meantime, a software program bug would lead to a better repair for all events concerned.
When it comes to a short-term workaround, these with this situation can disable fingerprint unlock (Settings app > Safety > Fingerprint Unlock > delete) and simply use PIN or password unlock. From what we can collect right this moment, this downside doesn’t emerge out of the blue and also you both have it or don’t.
9to5Google reached out to Google for remark right this moment, however didn’t hear again earlier than we printed.
More on Pixel 6a:
FTC: We use earnings incomes auto affiliate hyperlinks. More.