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I'm trying to install fingerprint-gui on my Lenovo Ideapad 520 having Ubuntu 20.04 on which fingerprint isn't working for now.

I tried going directly to Settings → Users → Automatic login and enabled the fingerprint login, but the error is:

Could not access any fingerprint readers Please contact your system administrator for help!

I also tried to install Fingerprint GUI:

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:fingerprint/fingerprint-gui && sudo apt-get update 
sudo apt-get install libbsapi policykit-1-fingerprint-gui fingerprint-gui

but encountered this error:

E: Package 'policykit-1-fingerprint-gui' has no installation candidate
E: Package 'fingerprint-gui' has no installation candidate

What could be the problem here?

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  • Thee was never fingerprint-gui package in Ubuntu repos. You probably installed it from some PPA.
    – Pilot6
    Apr 26, 2020 at 11:55
  • Fingerprint GUI is no longer maintained and is not compatible with Ubuntu 20.04 and newer
    – sarru1291
    May 27, 2020 at 3:06

4 Answers 4

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Follow this guide for non GNOME remixes:

https://ubuntu-mate.community/t/fingerprint-login-ubuntu-mate/20852

Fingerprint login setup is available via a GUI for Gnome, however there is no current GUI for Ubuntu MATE.

The following steps will enable Fingerprint Login and user privilege escalation in Ubuntu MATE, please note that some of this will be dependent on the specific laptop you are using.

First step check your laptop for an available fingerprint reader

lsusb

If you have one listed then please follow the steps few steps:

sudo apt install fprintd libpam-fprintd

Now you need to enroll your fingerprint:

fprintd-enroll

Follow the prompt and swipe your right index finger across your scanner 5 times until you get the following: Enroll result: enroll-completed

Now you need to enable access:

sudo pam-auth-update

This will open an ncurses interface. Add an * next to Fingerprint authenication and tab over to OK and exit.

At this point you will be able to use your fingerprint scanner to authenticate to elevated privileges, ie. sudo. It will also allow you to login and unlock your system using the fingerprint reader.

This has been tested on Ubuntu MATE 18.04, 19.10, and the current daily 20.04.

(Also I can confirm Xubuntu 20.04.)

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Fingerprint GUI is no longer maintained and is not compatible with Ubuntu 20.04 and newer. There is a built-in fingerprint login feature in 20.04 under Settings->Users->Authentication & Login.

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  • sounds awesome. I'll check that when I get to the Laptop where it was a thing, thanks for the info
    – My1
    May 4, 2020 at 20:11
  • 2
    I tried going to Settings -> Users -> Automatic login and enable the fingerprint login, But the error is: Could not access any fingerprint readers Please contact your system administrator for help!
    – Prince Kukreja
    May 5, 2020 at 9:33
  • You may need to add the drivers for that particular reader.
    – Alan Brooks
    May 5, 2020 at 21:22
  • What about Xubuntu?
    – fleamour
    May 20, 2020 at 12:04
  • @AlanBrooks , By any chance, Do you know what drivers do I need for an Asus Laptop for enabling fingerprint scanner?
    – Jdeep
    Aug 25, 2020 at 16:37
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You need to add the PPA first.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:fingerprint/fingerprint-gui

Luckily it already supports focal.

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  • I did add the PPA first, and then I installed libbsapi policykit-1-fingerprint-gui fingerprint-gui. And it gave me this error
    – Prince Kukreja
    Apr 26, 2020 at 17:08
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    except it kinda doesnt its build for focal is having a dependency wait for libpolkit-qt-1-dev which straight up is as far as I saw not being built for focal.
    – My1
    May 4, 2020 at 20:10
0

sudo pam-auth-update

works fine with standard (not tuned) U20.04.2 finally I can confirm sudo actions via fprint reader

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