One UI 6.1 update brings fingerprint scanner and lag (or stuttering) issues on Galaxy S23 devices

Update 15/04/24 1:37 pm (IST): A community manager on Samsung’s Korean forums has confirmed that the team is aware of the problem and plans to release a patch to improve the functionality. Let’s just hope that rather than a minor improvement, the update brings a proper fix for the issue. Here’s the community managers comment (translated from Korean to English):

We apologize for any inconvenience caused when using the device.
We have confirmed that in some cases, fingerprint recognition on the lock screen does not work properly or a notification window appears.
We plan to release software that improves the problem, so please keep your phone up to date.
We apologize once again for the inconvenience caused, and please wait a little while for the software update.
Thank you for your interest in Galaxy products.

Original article published on April 2, 2024 follows:

Samsung’s recent One UI 6.1 update, designed to enhance the Galaxy S23 series experience, has instead introduced a few frustrating bugs for many users. Reports of widespread fingerprint and lag issues have flooded online forums and social media, leaving users disappointed and searching for solutions.

One of the most prevalent issues I noticed was surrounding the fingerprint sensor. Some users report the sensor takes longer to recognize fingerprints. Others say fingerprints aren’t accepted consistently, leading to multiple attempts. In some cases the fingerprint icon sometimes vanishes from the lock screen and always-on display. Here are some reports from users for reference:

After updating to One UI 6.1 yesterday, my fingerprint sensor randomly doesn’t register my input when trying to unlock the phone. There is no error whatsoever, the fingerprint icon animation re-appears once I touch the screen and I have to touch that part again to get the phone unlocked; it feels like my touch restarts the fingerprint sensor, or, sensor basically ignores my finger being there and forces me to lift my finger and touch that part again, without giving me any sort of errors. It happens so randomly, and most of the times it is totally fine. Anyone else facing this problem ? Never had this issue before. I tried clearing system cache, as well as re-registering all of my fingerprints, sadly the issue is still there. I also deleted all of my Good Lock modules, but nope.

So I just recently updated to one ui 6.1 and on the AOD and the lock screen the fingerprint icon disappeared! How can I get it back?

The sheer number of reports (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16) indicates that this is indeed a widespread problem. All these issues only popped up after users installed the One UI 6.1 update on their Galaxy S23 devices. After reading several threads and comments, I sadly couldn’t find any concrete solution for the issues. However, you can try these potential workarounds.

While there’s no guaranteed fix, some users have found temporary relief by:

Re-registering fingerprints: Delete existing fingerprints and carefully re-add them, ensuring maximum coverage on the sensor area.
Cleaning the screen: Make sure that the screen and your finger are clean of dust and moisture.

Numerous users (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13) are experiencing stuttering and lag within the One UI interface as well as while using apps. Reports suggest apps take longer to open and navigation animations within One UI sometimes appear choppy and inconsistent. Other users report stuttering, specifically when using the share button within the Gallery app. Some also report a decrease in overall fluidity and frame rates in various scenarios, making their S23 devices feel less responsive. Specific examples include scrolling, gaming, and general usage.

A temporary workaround doing the rounds suggests:

1. Go to Settings > Apps.
2. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner, select ‘Show System Apps’.
3. Find ‘One UI Home’, go to Storage, and then tap ‘Clear Cache’.

If that doesn’t help, you can try removing Google’s ‘Reading Mode’ app (if you have it installed). FYI: this potential workaround was posted on Reddit, but I couldn’t find any comments from users who found it useful. Either way, you can give it a shot and see.

Important: Some of the proposed workarounds might impact other features or phone settings. Proceed with caution, and always back up your data before making significant changes.

Unfortunately, there’s no official fix available from Samsung currently. It’s crucial to stress that these issues might not affect all Galaxy S23 devices. However, the sheer volume of complaints indicates a widespread problem. The bugs introduced with One UI 6.1 have understandably upset Galaxy S23 owners. Many feel that such issues shouldn’t exist on flagship devices, especially those renowned for their smooth performance.

Samsung is likely aware of these problems or at least has been seeing the in flux of complaints. Hopefully, a future update will address these bugs and restore the premium user experience Galaxy S23 owners expect. For now, users are left hoping for a quick resolution or relying on the somewhat inconsistent workarounds suggested within online communities. Apart from these pesky bugs, One UI 6.1 also took away from handy features.

That said, I’ll continue to monitor the situation and update this article if confirmed solutions or workarounds emerge. If you have personally experienced any of these issues, please share your experiences in the comments below! That’s it from my side.