Days ago, Google started rolling out an Android 7.1.2 Nougat beta update to all compatible devices. With this, the fingerprint ‘swipe for notifications’ gesture, which was earlier only reserved for the Pixel phone, now spills over to the Nexus 5X smartphone. Apparently, the Nexus 5X and 6P share the same fingerprint sensor hardware as the Google Pixel. However, both phones did not receive this feature with the Android 7.1 roll out, as even though the sensors are identical, the firmware was an older version which did not support gesture control.
Users on the Nexus 5X, who have the latest beta version installed, are able to use this feature. However, folks using the Nexus 6P are still awaiting the beta release and will have to wait until they can use the fingerprint sensor to swipe down notifications. The addition of this particular feature comes after a lot of feedback, where users found it tough to swipe down notifications on phone screens which are becoming larger by the day. But the human digit size, has remained the same.
If you happen to be using a Nexus 5X that runs Android 7.1.2 Nougat’s public beta version, the feature can be found in the Settings menu, under the option ‘Moves’. While Google has confirmed that an update for the Nexus 6P will be released soon, beta version 7.1.2 is on the way for the Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, Nexus Player, and Pixel C devices. This particular UT version of Android 7.1.2 is also available for compatible devices and the final release of a stable, public version is expected to arrive in a couple of months.
