Fingerprint Sensors on US Xperia XZ and X Compact Can be Re-enabled

Sony unveiled the Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact during IFA 2016 in September and pre-orders for the smartphones went live last month in the US. The smartphones are already up for sale on Amazon, but fans should know that the fingerprint scanner doesn’t work in the US.

Sony didn’t remove the components for fingerprint scanners on the two phones, but rather used software limitations to disable the scanning functionality. In other countries where the Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact are available, the fingerprint scanner is embedded in the home button, located on the side of the phone.

A post on XDA Developer’s forum shows that the fingerprint scanning functionality can indeed be made available on the two smartphones sold in the country. Since it’s simply a software matter, Xperia XZ and Xperia X Compact owners can change the smartphone’s region by flashing softwar...