# Dell Latitude 5300 Fingerprint Sensor on Ubuntu

After struggling for several months, I have finally managed to get the fingerprint sensor on my **Dell Latitude 5300** laptop working with Ubuntu. The steps were quite straightforward. I'm not sure why I never attempted them before.

Let's get to the real stuff. First, you need to add the official Dell apt repositories to your system.

```bash
# add these lines to /etc/apt/sources.list.d/dell.list 
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-dell public
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-oem public
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-somerville public
deb http://dell.archive.canonical.com/updates/ focal-somerville-melisa public
```

Next, update the system keyring with Dell repository GPG keys to ensure that apt does not raise concerns about package signing.

```bash
sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys F9FDA6BED73CDC22
```

Now, update the package metadata and install the fingerprint drivers. `lsusb` showed that mine was `0a5c:5843 Broadcom Corp. 58200`, but I installed the `goodix` driver just to be on the safe side.

```bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y fprintd libfprint-2-tod1-broadcom libfprint-2-tod1-goodix libfprint-2-tod1
```

Once completed, you need to verify if the device is detected by `fprintd`. Run `fprintd-list` with your username, and you should see something similar to the following.

```bash
sudo fprintd-list minhaz
...
found 1 devices
Device at /net/reactivated/Fprint/Device/0
Using device /net/reactivated/Fprint/Device/0
```

If not, double-check that the driver is installed correctly. If a device is detected, it's time to provide some sample fingerprints to the system.

```bash
sudo fprintd-enroll minhaz
```

You will need to press the sensor **several** times. Once completed, the system will confirm that your username is enrolled with the fingerprint.

Finally, you need to allow PAM to use the fingerprint sensor as an authentication mechanism. Run the following command, enable `Fingerprint authentication`, and you should be all set.

```bash
sudo pam-auth-update
```

From this point forward, simply place your finger on the sensor after executing `sudo -i`. This should also work for login and lock screens.

Let me know how this works for you.