No matching devices found" for device 138a:003c (Validity VFS471) on Ubuntu 24.04 base (Linux Mint)

[michisi2000]

Hello,

I am trying to get my Validity fingerprint reader working on a fresh installation of Linux Mint, which is based on Ubuntu 24.04. The driver service fails to start because it cannot find the device, even though it is visible on the USB bus and not claimed by any other driver.

System Details:

• Laptop: HP EliteBook 8460p
• Fingerprint Reader: Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS471
• Operating System: Linux Mint 22 (based on Ubuntu 24.04 "Noble Numbat")
• Driver: python3-validity installed from ppa:uunicorn/open-fprintd on Aug 23, 2025.

---

Diagnostics:

1. lsusb shows the device is present:
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 138a:003c Validity Sensors, Inc. VFS471 Fingerprint Reader

2. lsusb -t shows no kernel driver is attached:

|__ Port 001: Dev 003, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=[none], 12M

3. The python3-validity service fails on startup. The log shows "No matching devices found":

Aug 23 13:31:55 Uranos systemd[1]: Started python3-validity.service - python-validity driver dbus service.
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: Traceback (most recent call last):
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: File "/usr/lib/python-validity/dbus-service", line 305, in
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: main()
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: File "/usr/lib/python-validity/dbus-service", line 262, in main
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: init.open()
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/validitysensor/init.py", line 49, in open
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: usb.open()
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/validitysensor/usb.py", line 50, in open
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: self.open_dev(dev)
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: File "/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/validitysensor/usb.py", line 62, in open_dev
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: raise Exception('No matching devices found')
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos dbus-service[897]: Exception: No matching devices found
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos systemd[1]: python3-validity.service: Main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Aug 23 13:32:02 Uranos systemd[1]: python3-validity.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.

It seems there might be an incompatibility with this specific hardware on newer kernels or system libraries.

Thank you for your work on this project. Let me know if you need any more information.

[papuruth]

I'm facing the same issue on Arch Linux

lsusb output
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 06cb:00c9 Synaptics, Inc.

lsusb -t output
Port 004: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Vendor Specific Class, Driver=[none], 12M