Unlock the Android app with your fingerprint or a PIN code Expand Sections

You can quickly and securely unlock Dashlane on your Android device without typing your Master Password each time. Learn how to turn on and use either your fingerprint, called biometric authentication, or a PIN code to unlock your Dashlane Android app.

You can only turn on one of these settings. If your device has biometrics capability, Dashlane recommends you use the Biometric unlock setting. We discourage using the PIN lock setting because it's less secure than your Master Password.

Set up biometrics

You can use the Biometric unlock settings to unlock your device and its apps. Instead of entering your Master Password or a PIN code to unlock Dashlane, Dashlane reads your fingerprint to unlock the app.

Dashlane still asks you to enter your Master Password after restarting your device and from time to time as a security measure.

Note: If you're a Dashlane Business plan member who logs in using single sign-on (SSO), you can use your fingerprint or PIN code to log in instead of using the SSO sign-in process.

To unlock your app using your fingerprint, turn on biometrics for your device, and then turn on Biometric unlock in the Dashlane Android app.

Important: In some cases, Dashlane requires you to log in by entering your Master Password instead of using your fingerprint or face. In these cases, you can't use Master Password reset to regain access to your account: you recently added a new fingerprint to your device settings, you turned on PIN Lock on your device, or you turned off the ability to log in with your fingerprint.

Before you get started

Make sure your device supports fingerprint authentication. Although some Android devices support face recognition, this was turned off for Dashlane on Android 12 and below because the feature didn't meet our security requirements. Similarly, we don't support the fingerprint recognition feature available on older Samsung devices.

Make sure you're running the most recent version of Dashlane. Check to see if there's an update available on the Play Store.

Check for updates on the Play Store

Turn on biometrics in the Android device settings

First, turn on biometrics for your Android device. Then turn on Biometric unlock in the Dashlane app.

1. Open your phone's Settings and locate the security or biometrics menu.
2. From this menu, set your biometrics preferences to fingerprint.

Note: Dashlane supports biometric authentication by fingerprint only.

Turn on Biometric unlock in the Dashlane Android app

After you turn on biometrics for your device, turn on Biometric unlock in the app.

1. Log in to the Dashlane Android app.
2. Select Settings and then Security.
3. Turn on Biometric unlock. If PIN lock is on, Dashlane turns it off. You can use only one of these settings.
4. Follow the tutorial in the app to turn on the setting.

If you have any problems turning it on, complete these steps:

1. In the Dashlane app settings, turn off Biometric unlock.
2. In your Android settings, turn off biometrics and turn it on again.
3. In the Dashlane app settings, make sure PIN lock is off and turn on Biometric unlock again.

Unlock the app with your fingerprint

After you set up biometrics on your device and the app, you can unlock the app using your fingerprint instead of your Master Password.

If the app fails to recognize your fingerprint, it asks you to try again. After three unsuccessful attempts, you need to enter your Master Password.

Unlock the Android app with a PIN code

You can use the PIN lock setting to unlock your Dashlane app instead of using your Master Password or fingerprint to unlock Dashlane.

If you use PIN lock, you can't use Biometric unlock. You can use only one of these settings. If your device has biometrics capability, Dashlane recommends you use the Biometric unlock setting. We discourage using a PIN code to unlock the app because it's less secure than your Master Password.

Set up a PIN code

1. Log in to the Dashlane Android app.
2. Select Settings and then Security.
3. Turn on PIN lock.

   

4. Choose a four-digit number to use as your PIN code and confirm it on the next screen.

After you set it up, you unlock the app using your PIN code instead of your Master Password. Remember that you'll still have to enter your Master Password instead of your PIN code periodically for security reasons.

Important! If you forgot your PIN, don't panic. Enter an incorrect PIN three times. Dashlane asks you for your Master Password. You can also turn PIN lock off and on again to set another code.

Set the app to lock when you're inactive

The Auto-lock setting locks your app automatically after you've been inactive for the time you specify. After this amount of time passes, you need to unlock the app. This setting is helpful if you lose your phone and want to ensure no one can access your data.

1. Log in to the Dashlane Android app.
2. Select Settings and then Security.
3. Select Auto-lock timeout.
4. Select the amount of time after you've been inactive that the app locks.

The timeout is set to 5 minutes automatically when turned on, but you can choose between 10 seconds and 10 minutes. Selecting Never turns off this setting, but we strongly recommend keeping it turned on for greater security.

Set the app to lock when you exit

The Lock on exit setting locks your app automatically whenever you leave it, such as when going back to the home screen, switching between apps, or closing the screen. We recommend keeping this setting turned on for greater security.

1. Log in to the Dashlane Android app.
2. Select Settings and then Security.
3. Select Lock on exit.

Can my fingerprint or a PIN code replace my Master Password?

No. Fingerprints and PIN codes are efficient and secure ways to lock and unlock your device, but they can't replace your Master Password entirely because it's required to decrypt your data.

When you add a new fingerprint to your device settings, turn on PIN lock, or turn off the ability to log in with your fingerprint, Dashlane asks you to enter your Master Password to decrypt your data. Dashlane also requires you to enter your Master Password every 14 days as a security measure.

If you're a member of a Dashlane Business plan who logs in using single sign-on (SSO), you can use your fingerprint or PIN code to log in instead of using the SSO sign-in process.