This short note shows how to install the software driver for the Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS7500 Touch Fingerprint Sensor which can be found in Lenovo's T460s, T470s and many other laptops.

  1. Check your fingerprint sensor:

    $ lsusb
    ...
    Bus 001 Device 005: ID 138a:0090 Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS7500 Touch Fingerprint Sensor
    ...
    

    Go on, if you see the above entry.

  2. Add apt sources for the libfprint for Validity Fingerprint 0090 : Marco Trevisan (Treviño) PPA:

    sudo cat > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/libfprint-vfs0090.list << EOF
    deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/3v1n0/libfprint-vfs0090/ubuntu focal main
    deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/3v1n0/libfprint-vfs0090/ubuntu focal main
    EOF
    
  3. Add the repository key: 1024R/BE6CFC9508199102F68B6F683166F0E44FB01EAB

    sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv-keys BE6CFC9508199102F68B6F683166F0E44FB01EAB
    

    Expected result:

    Executing: /tmp/apt-key-gpghome.Piy92LFlVS/gpg.1.sh --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com
    --recv-keys BE6CFC9508199102F68B6F683166F0E44FB01EAB
    gpg: key 3166F0E44FB01EAB: public key "Launchpad PPA for Marco Trevisan (Treviño)" importe
    
    gpg: Total number processed: 1
    gpg:               imported: 1
    
  4. Install the package:

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install libfprint-2-tod-vfs0090 libpam-fprintd
    sudo apt-mark hold libfprint-2-tod-vfs0090
    
  5. Reboot

    sudo reboot
    
  6. Scan your fingerprint:

    sudo  fprintd-enroll
    
    Using device /net/reactivated/Fprint/Device/0
    Enrolling right-index-finger finger.
    Enroll result: enroll-stage-passed
    Enroll result: enroll-stage-passed
    Enroll result: enroll-stage-passed
    Enroll result: enroll-stage-passed
    Enroll result: enroll-completed