Validity Sensor 138a:0090 libfprint driver

A linux driver for 2016 ThinkPad's fingerprint readers

Installation process for Thinkpad X1 20FC, T460s

138a:0090 Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS7500 Touch Fingerprint Sensor

This tutorial was invaluable in getting this guide trimmed down

Ubuntu/Kubuntu installation

Check the original branch for the general install process, INCLUDING ACTIVATING THE FINGERPRINT SENSOR. This guide is more for re-installing after an update.

First we need to remove any fingerprint software, including libpam-fprintd or any other fprintd instance.

• sudo apt-get remove libpam-fprintd
• sudo apt list | grep 'finger\|fprintd' should return no libpam-fprintd or fprintd packages

Now we start to install the package

• sudo add-apt-repository -u ppa:3v1n0/libfprint-vfs0090
• sudo apt install libpam-fprintd
• sudo systemctl enable fprintd
• reboot -f will reboot your computer to enable the fprintd service

Let's start enrolling fingerprints! Make sure to wash your hands before starting, moistening your fingertips can help with the process if you run into trouble.

• fprintd-enroll -f "right-index-finger" "$replace_with_your_username" enrolls just the right index finger
• for finger in {left,right}-{thumb,{index,middle,ring,little}-finger}; do fprintd-enroll -f "$finger" "$replace_with_your_username""; done enrolls all fingers. Remove entries if you lack these hands/fingers
• fprintd-verify tests whether these enrollments were stored and identify successdully

Finally, we edit SDDM to properly utilize the reader

• sudo nano /etc/pam.d/sddm
• Add auth sufficient pam_fprintd.so max-tries=3 below the file header and save
• sudo pam-auth-update, press ENTER, and select Fingerprint Recognition with the arrow keys and SPACE. ENTER will close the session.
• reboot -f for good measure