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How to register more than 3 fingerprints on a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy S5

posted by Nick T. / Mar 22, 2015, 5:31 PM

How to register more than 3 fingerprints on a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy S5

One of the many perks you get with a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 or a Samsung Galaxy S5 is a fingerprint scanner embedded in the home button. Its main purpose is to replace your lock screen PIN or pattern, but it can also be used to securely sign into web sites, to verify PayPal payments, and to log into your Samsung account. However, the fingerprint scanner on these two phones does have its limitations – you're only allowed to register three fingers for use with it. At least that's what the phones' maker wants you to think. In this quick and easy tutorial, we'll teach you how to register more than three fingerprints with your Galaxy Note 4 or Galaxy S5.

Go to Settings and choose Finger Scanner

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You don't need any special apps for this trick to work. You don't need root access or anything of that sort either. You just need to register multiple fingers in a single fingerprint slot.

Start by going to Settings > Finger Scanner > Fingerprint Manager. "You can register up to 3 fingerprints," a disclaimer reads. Just ignore it.
Hit the plus sign to add a new fingerprint. You will be asked to swipe the scanner 10 times with a single finger so go ahead and do that. At this time, it is very important to not perform the same swipe over and over again. Instead, try to scan slightly different areas of the same finger, including the tip and the sides. Adjust your grip between swipes.
After the 10th swipe, you'll be allowed to register 10 more swipes for increased accuracy. Tap on the "Register" button. Now you may start swiping the scanner with a different finger. Again, try to make every swipe slightly different.
At the end of the process, you should have successfully registered two fingerprints under the same slot. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to add more fingerprints.

We should make it clear that you don't have to switch fingers after the 10th swipe. Technically, you may register 4 fingerprints with 5 swipes for each under a single slot. Or 19 fingerprints and a scan of your nose, if you wish to. We wouldn't recommend doing any of this, however, as the less swipes you register for a single finger, the less accurate the scanner will be, and the scanners on the Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy S5 aren't among the most accurate ones already.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

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9 Comments

1. UglyFrank

Posts: 2193; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

Then get that Rick Clephas app and it will be amazing

posted on Mar 22, 2015, 5:41 PM 0

2. mrej201

Posts: 226; Member since: Feb 04, 2015

I register the same finger twice so it won't fail

posted on Mar 22, 2015, 5:42 PM 0

3. Johnnokia

Posts: 1158; Member since: May 27, 2012

Before the S6, Samsung had the worst fingerprint scanner. Sometimes, I need to swipe my finger ten times to get it recognized!

posted on Mar 22, 2015, 6:07 PM 1

4. DirtyDan23

Posts: 280; Member since: Aug 12, 2014

Nifty

posted on Mar 22, 2015, 6:15 PM 0

5. sipha

Posts: 440; Member since: May 12, 2012

The one on the S5 is completely useless... i recommend staying as far away from it as possible!

posted on Mar 22, 2015, 6:19 PM 0

6. Nexus_droid

Posts: 12; Member since: Jul 02, 2014

I have a S5 and after I updated to lollipop, I found the finger print scanner much more accurate and usable than before, so I use it all the time now, for private mode and for locking apps (with finger security)

posted on Mar 22, 2015, 6:43 PM 0

7. bur60

Posts: 981; Member since: Jul 07, 2014

Max 3? I want to share my fingerprint lock with my gf, need at least 5 hehe

posted on Mar 22, 2015, 8:50 PM 0

8. AlikMalix unregistered

To be honest, I have the iP5S and even though I have 5 fingers registered, I have never used more than 3 - my thumbs and rarely right index (it unlocks the phone when I initialize siri in-case a command requires unlocking the phone while it's laying on table)... So if I owned a samsung with FpS, I would be just fine with 3!