The Google Pixel has been in the news for all the right reasons. Quite easily the best Android smartphone of 2016, with the best camera in a smartphone (with a DXOMark score of 89) and overall a very well balanced device. However, one of the less talked about features of the Pixel is the awesome fingerprint gestures it offers, which is part of Android 7.1. When you swipe down on the fingerprint scanner on the Pixel, the Notification Shade will come down. This is really cool and can definitely be useful in many situations. If you want Pixel-like fingerprint gestures on your Android smartphone, there is a way.
Get Fingerprint Gestures on Your Android Phone
While Google Assistant doesn’t rely on it (you can get it from your rooted non-Pixel Android Nougat smartphone), features like this can make you feel like you’re missing out on a non-Pixel smartphone. We have good news for you: XDA user ztc1997 created an app that you can use on any Android smartphone (Android 6.0+), allows you to enable custom gestures for your fingerprint scanner.
Unfortunately, the app is not available on the Google Play Store. However, download from Official thread on XDAwhere the developer posted the link himself.
Using the Fingerprint Gesture App
Downloading and installing the application is easy. You can go to the thread of the app on XDA and download the app from the attachment at the end of the original post.
First things first, we need turn the app “ON”, in our accessibility settings. This is necessary because without it the gestures will not work.
Now that we have done the installation, let’s move on to the application. From the beginning, it is clear that the app should be a simple app. There are no complicated switches and poorly worded options (more misery than help). Globally, you can choose: Enable or disable Fingerprint Quick Actions as a whole. You also get the option to only respond. registered fingerprints. This will ensure that only you can access the Fingerprint gestures on your phone. I don’t think it’s very necessary, but it might come in handy for you, and it’s definitely not a bad option to have.
One of the more important settings you can enable is “Foreground Service“. This setting ensures that the app is not killed while sitting in the background. Enabling this will ensure that your fingerprint gestures always work. Even if the app has been sitting in the background for quite some time.
Currently there are two quick actions in the app: a one touchand one fast scrolling. The developer plans to add more in the future. These actions can be customized to do many different things. You can use them to put your device to sleep, go back, go home, show recent apps, toggle split screen, and more. In my case, I set the one touch setting to “Turn back” and fast scrolling “Expand the notifications panel“.
I noticed that “One Tap” takes more than a tap to sign up. You actually have to touch the fingerprint scanner and hold your finger there for almost a second before saving it. Fast scrolling works fine and in any direction.
SEE ALSO: 10 Google Pixel and Pixel XL Accessories You Should Buy
Get Fingerprint Quick Actions on Your Android Phone
With this great app, you can get quick actions like Pixel like fingerprint on any Android phone with fingerprint scanner. Quick actions are a great way to interact with your phone and can save you a lot of time if set up correctly for the way you use your phone. So, have you used fingerprint gestures on Pixel and tried this app on your phone? Let us know about your experience with fingerprint gestures and whether you found them helpful. Also, if you know of any other apps that add such functionality to an Android phone, let us know in the comments section below.
