I’ve been using this gross hack to help unlock my phone as winter weather rolls in
Cold weather can dry out your hands and make using a fingerprint scanner much harder. But I use this gross trick to get into my phone quickly and easily.
As winter's cold weather began, it started causing problems for many who use their phones. The primary issue was with the under-display fingerprint scanner found on premium Android phones. Dry skin interferes with the scanner's ability to recognize fingerprints. The best solution is to keep hands moisturized, but people often forget this until it becomes a problem.
One helpful trick, often referred to as the "gross hack," involves wiping your finger across your nose. This action utilizes the oils found on the nose and forehead, which may temporarily resolve the issue. This tip was first shared in 2023 following reports of fingerprint sensor problems on the Pixel 6 and Pixel 7. While Google's optical fingerprint scanner might be partially to blame, the older ultrasonic scanners also struggle with dry skin.
The nose-touching method works for Tom, although it's far from ideal. He has to remind himself to use this trick every fall.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
