[Forcing the OTA] Samsung globally rolling out Galaxy S10/Note 10 fingerprint fix via new biometrics update

NOTICE: We’ve created an archive of all major developments related to the Samsung Galaxy S10 lineup. We are continuously updating that page with latest S10e/S10/S10+ news so that you don’t need to search for information related to the device on a daily basis. Head here to access that page.

New updates are being added at the bottom of this story…….

First of all, the article is not solely centered around Galaxy S10, as the Galaxy Note/Note 10+ units are also part of the ‘fingerprint-gate’ controversy. Interestingly, the budget-friendly Galaxy S10e is not at all affected, as Samsung opted for traditional capacitive fingerprint scanner in that variant.

Galaxy S10e: The absence of ultrasonic fingerprint reader seems handy! 

However, the after effects are monumental. Several banks and other financial organizations started to blacklist the entire Galaxy S10 family for this gigantic security vulnerability. Due to the usage of the similar ultrasonic fingerprint reading tech, Galaxy Note 10 lineup is in the same pipeline as well.

Samsung took a very quick step and pushed a minor software update to resolve the glitch. Later on, the OEM decided to deliver the updated fingerprint firmware separately from system software. They started to distribute a special ‘Biometrics update’ in South Korea & announced to do the same for global units within 24 hours.

The announcement via Samsung Members app

Matter of fact, they are able to keep the promise! Samsung customers across the globe are now reporting about receiving a tiny fingerprint scanner update on their Galaxy S10/S10+ and Note 10/Note 10+ units. The version number of the new firmware is 2.0.24.20 – a significant jump from 2.0.16.12.

Biometrics update prompt on Indian Galaxy Note 10+ (Source)

The size of the package may vary, as we notice it as large as 7 MB in some cases. Besides global Exynos variants, Canadian and some US carrier unlocked models also reportedly got the update prompt. Guess carriers like AT&T will roll it out after testing out the compatibility. 🤪

Update notification on Galaxy S10, Canada (Source)

At this moment, we are still not sure about the actual preventive measure. They probably increased the efficiency of the ridge detection algorithm and/or boosted the capability of the ultrasonic emitter. However, it would be better to stay from cheap, third-party accessories.

If your Galaxy S10 or Galaxy Note 10 fingerprint update hasn’t arrived, you can use some simple ADB commands to force the update on your phone right away. Details here.

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