FAIRPHONE 3 and 3+ A13 - Fingerprint sensor update

[Alain_Guillet]

Thank for the update.

Would it be possible to upgrade the fingerprint reader if the FP3 with a newer module sold by Fairphone ?

[Roli]

+1 for the answer from Alain_Guillet.
Even for around 50€ i will buy an up2date Fingerprintreader-Modul.

[tjeb]

Is there a way to check which apps have this requirement? One of the multi-factor apps that I need for my work only supports fingerprint access; if that stops working I’ll be forced to get a new phone.

[anon9989719]

@Alain_Guillet

Would it be possible to upgrade the fingerprint reader if the FP3 with a newer module sold by Fairphone ?

I only know 3 people with FPs who would buy so I would image the cost would not warrant the ‘few’ buys

[Ingo]

@tjeb

Is there a way to check which apps have this requirement?

The “Fairphone community way” of doing this is to create a wiki and have people report their findings.

I’ve just prepared such a topic with the findings from the beta group:

List of apps and their status of fingerprint support on FP3 with Android 13

FAIRPHONE 3 and 3+ A13 - Fingerprint sensor update explains what happened to the fingerprint support in apps on FP3 with Android 13. So people have a chance to know in advance if they are affected, let’s compile a list of apps and if they still work as before or not. Apps confirmed working as before App name additional Remarks Remarks Airlock 2fa Alternative Bank Switzerland Switzerland Clearscore This is a UK Credit Reference Agency app UK Commerzbank photoTAN Consorsbank only…

[elhefe38]

Seconded. I would (kinda) happily upgrade the fingerprint reader if it restored the functionality present on Android 11

[merome]

Not only fingerprint, BT also makes now problems.

How can I roll back zu Android 12?

Bob

[AnotherElk]

Welcome to the community forum.

@merome

How can I roll back zu Android 12?

There was no official Android 12, the Fairphone OS upgrade went from Android 11 to 13.

Manual installation is still available for Android 11 (as well as 10 or 9) …

https://support.fairphone.com/hc/en-us/articles/360048050332

[peci1]

@Marta_Artigas Does FP consider the possibility of writing your own firmware for the sensor that would raise its trustowrthiness? Or is the reason Google doesn’t trust it somewhere in the hardware and thus not fixable on the current hardware?

[Eelco]

With users having the option to stick to Android 11, will you keep sending security updates for that version as well?

[AnotherElk]

Welcome to the community forum.

If the last years with prior Android versions are any indication, security update support for base Android 11 will end somewhen in early 2024.
Might be enough to bridge the time to the Fairphone 5 probably, but whether Fairphone have the resources to service 2 Android versions simultaneously, I don’t know.

(I don’t use the fingerprint sensor at all … and even if I would, I’m not using Fairphone OS, on custom ROMs not bound to Google certification the fingerprint sensor continues to be accepted as before. Banking Apps might not like custom ROMs, though. Tough call then.)

[Michael_Huebler]

@Marta_Artigas

the affected apps can still be accessed using a password or pin code for login

This is not true.
I have to use an app for authentication when logging in to certain webservices. It is only possible to use this app using my fingerprint and not by a pin or password.

This is a real problem for me and i dont have the time to backup all data on my device, so i can also not easily go back to version 11 without losing data…

[Ingo]

@Michael_Huebler

I have to use an app for authentication when logging in to certain webservices. It is only possible to use this app using my fingerprint and not by a pin or password.

Would you mind adding it in the wiki below once you reach the basic “trust level” to be allowed to edit wiki posts?

List of apps and their status of fingerprint support on FP3 with Android 13

FAIRPHONE 3 and 3+ A13 - Fingerprint sensor update explains what happened to the fingerprint support in apps on FP3 with Android 13. So people have a chance to know in advance if they are affected, let’s compile a list of apps and if they still work as before or not. Apps confirmed working as before App name additional Remarks Remarks Airlock 2fa Alternative Bank Switzerland Switzerland Clearscore This is a UK Credit Reference Agency app UK Commerzbank photoTAN Consorsbank only…

[anon9989719]

@Michael_Huebler

It is only possible to use this app using my fingerprint and not by a pin or password.

Is there no option with the app in question to reset, not use a fingerprint and use a code etc.

What app is this you are using?

[Michael_Huebler]

No it is not possible, it requires a fingerprint sensor to work.

The app is called “Digitales Amt” and is used to access services related to the government. This also includes financial services from the government which makes it super annoying that it does not work…

it’s also used for digital signatures that i use very often.

[ontheair]

@Marta_Artigas

[…]so we want to make users aware of the issue. We have stopped the roll-out (at 10%) of the update, for now, to make sure the information for the end users is well-written and clear enough.

[…] but failed to include it in the release notes. […]
We realize that we need to be more proactive about how to communicate and present known issues/regressions and potential workarounds before releasing updates to the public.

This means, that this information will be better communicated to the user. That’s good. But it is not a solution to the problem.

Will there be any solution at all? Maybe by rolling out a different firmware to the fingerprint reader? Or a user-selectable switch to accept not-so-safe fingerprint readers for all apps?
Or anything else?

Any information about that would be helpful and end speculations.
Thank you very much!

[urs_lesse]

Before people start downgrading by themselves … can anyone can say if the anti-rollback mechanism that bricked some FP4s now affects the FP3/FP3+ on Android 13, too?

[HolosericaCaligo]

@ontheair

Will there be any solution at all? Maybe by rolling out a different firmware to the fingerprint reader? Or a user-selectable switch to accept not-so-safe fingerprint readers for all apps?
Or anything else?

@ontheair

Will there be any solution at all? Maybe by rolling out a different firmware to the fingerprint reader?

hmh I am not sure but I suppose this firmware for that fingerprint reader is closed-source and not openly available source code. So fairphone might not have any rights to release modified firmware.
But regardless of that:

@ontheair

Or a user-selectable switch to accept not-so-safe fingerprint readers for all apps?

Since these security measures are implemented by Google, I can’t imagine how Fairphone could get around these security decisions without loosing Google certification and thus all Google-related things like GPS (Googl Play Services) and GMS (Google Mobile Services).

I use the LineageOS fork iodéOS and so far all my banking apps are working flawlessly even with fingerprint and Magisk Root activated.
But that might depend on every specifiv app, of course.

[ontheair]

I agree, that’s what I am thinking, too. But still: We are just users, speculating. Would be nice to have an official statement, how Fairphone will continue with this issue.

In the end it is as simple as that: We need a solution.