This week, Google’s impressive new Nexus 6P smartphone has finally started shipping to eager buyers who want Android 6.0 Marshmallow. The new Nexus 6P has a lot to offer, including an all-aluminum design, but it’s also Google’s first Nexus with a fingerprint scanner. Here we will explain how to set up and add fingerprint for security to Nexus 6P.
Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P were announced at the end of September. Two impressive new phones from Google running the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow. Now pre-orders are shipping out a month later and those who buy the Nexus 6P will need to know how to set it up.
The Nexus 6P fingerprint reader can unlock the smartphone, make secure wireless mobile payments with Android Pay, sign in to accounts or websites, and even sign in to banking apps and more. BofA has recently updated its app with this feature and more are coming soon. Here we’ll explain how to set them all up and even add multiple fingers if users skipped this step during the initial setup.
With Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Google added native fingerprint support, which will come in handy for Samsung owners and users who are now getting a Nexus 5X or Nexus 6P. Google calls it the Nexus Imprint, and it works a little differently than TouchID or Samsung’s own fingerprint scanners.
However, almost everything is the same. In case their finger is non-working, wet, burned or covered, users need to create a backup password or pin, and setup and startup only takes a minute.
This will be available when you first get the Nexus 6P during initial setup, but the user may still be confused, not to mention those who skipped this process during setup and were super excited to try their new phone. Either way, let’s get started.
Instructions
The video below is from our implementation with the Nexus 6P, but we’re starting halfway through where we set up a fingerprint as a lock screen security measure. It’s one of the fastest fingerprint scanner apps we’ve ever used and owners will love it. It’s faster to set up than Apple or Samsung’s method, unlocks the phone faster, and looks more accurate. Extremely impressive.
We’ll start with the hands-on video and instructions first, then move on to the actual setup below for those who skipped this one during setup.
It’s that easy. Users simply add a backup password, pattern or pin, then set the finger up with six taps. With Samsung, 10-12 finger taps take more time, take longer to set up, and don’t seem to work very well. My Note 5 is very accurate, but the Nexus 6P is even better. Google and Huawei have done an excellent job with the Nexus 6P fingerprint scanner.
So, if you skipped all this during installation and now need or want to add it as a security measure, let’s do it now.
Start by going to settings by pulling down the notification bar twice or swiping once with two fingers and tap the gear-shaped settings button. Here are the screenshots and full instructions. The same steps work the same on Nexus 5X.
- >
- Tap on
- Press continue, set up a backup
- To enroll a fingerprint, follow the steps
- Add more fingers or add a finger from your other hand after you finish
- Nexus Imprint learns as you use it and gets more accurate over time
We recommend users to adjust both index fingers as that makes the most sense, then users can add more if they want. However, we doubt that users will thumbs up unlocking the Nexus 6P as they would with the iPhone or Galaxy Note 5. After setting up a fingerprint, add a card to Android Pay and start using NFC and wireless mobile payments. Android Pay is accepted in thousands of places, just like Apple Pay.
That is all. Now just take the Nexus 6P in your hand and your index finger will already be properly resting on or next to the scanner, tap it for a moment (less than a second) and the phone will be fully unlocked and instantly unlocked. Ready to use.
It’s worth noting that Google requires entering the password, pin code or password on first use after reboot, before using fingerprint. So make sure it’s something you’ll remember. You’re done. Enjoy your Nexus 6P.
