# Connecting fingerprint scanner to pico w

**URL:** <https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/connecting-fingerprint-scanner-to-pico-w/17117>\
**Category:** Raspberry Pi\
**Created:** [18 May 2023 09:47 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/connecting-fingerprint-scanner-to-pico-w/17117 "2023-05-18T09:47:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Rhodes247023](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Rhodes247023](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Rhodes247023)\
**Post date:** [18 May 2023 09:47 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/connecting-fingerprint-scanner-to-pico-w/17117/1 "2023-05-18T09:47:41Z")

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I saw the youtube video about connecting adafruit fingerprint scanner to a raspberry pi. I am trying to connect my fingerprint scanner to a raspberry pi pico w. Can you help me with that because the pico w uses micropython not python. I have been trying for more than two weeks now. I am unable to do it on my own.

Thank you in advance!!!

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**Author:** ![Rooppoor212784](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Rooppoor212784](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Rooppoor212784)\
**Post date:** [18 May 2023 10:02 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/connecting-fingerprint-scanner-to-pico-w/17117/2 "2023-05-18T10:02:13Z")

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You may need to use this adafruit circuitpython library:

> **[adafruit-circuitpython-fingerprint](https://pypi.org/project/adafruit-circuitpython-fingerprint/)**
>
> CircuitPython library for UART fingerprint sensor.

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**Author:** ![Trent5487676](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex028/user_avatar/forum.core-electronics.com.au/trent5487676/32/4583_2.png) [@Trent5487676](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Trent5487676)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 06:07 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/connecting-fingerprint-scanner-to-pico-w/17117/3 "2023-05-19T06:07:29Z")

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Hi Rhodes,

Welcome to the forum 🙂

I’m assuming you are using the exact same fingerprint sensor as the one used in [our guide](https://core-electronics.com.au/guides/fingerprint-scanner-raspberry-pi/) and video, let us know if you’ve got a different one as that will change things.

The sensor is actually running using Adafruit’s Circuitpython libraries, which is their own in-house flavour of micropython, so it should work just fine on a Pico W. You won’t be able to install the libraries from the command line but you can find them on Adafruit’s Github Repo.

> **[GitHub - adafruit/Adafruit\_CircuitPython\_Fingerprint: CircuitPython library...](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CircuitPython_Fingerprint)**
>
> CircuitPython library for talking to UART-based Fingerprint sensors - GitHub - adafruit/Adafruit\_CircuitPython\_Fingerprint: CircuitPython library for talking to UART-based Fingerprint sensors

There are also more instructions on installing Circuitpython Adafruit have written here.

> **[Adafruit Optical Fingerprint Sensor](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-optical-fingerprint-sensor/circuitpython#circuitpython-fingerprint-library-installation-2979252)**
>
> Secure your project with biometrics - this all-in-one optical fingerprint sensor will make adding fingerprint detection and verification super simple. These modules are typically used in safes - there's a high powered DSP chip that does the image...

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**Author:** ![Rhodes247023](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Rhodes247023](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Rhodes247023)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2023 10:29 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/connecting-fingerprint-scanner-to-pico-w/17117/4 "2023-05-19T10:29:12Z")

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Yes I am using the same finger print scanner. In fact I followed the guide and tested it using my raspberry pi 4 model B. It works just fine.

For more context, I am running both micropython and circuitpython by the help of adafruit\_blinka library. I tried using the library you are suggesting. I am getting this error “RuntimeError: Failed to read data from sensor”.

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**Author:** ![Rooppoor212784](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Rooppoor212784](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/u/Rooppoor212784)\
**Post date:** [20 May 2023 05:13 UTC](https://forum.core-electronics.com.au/t/connecting-fingerprint-scanner-to-pico-w/17117/5 "2023-05-20T05:13:26Z")

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I think you have to check your wiring and baud rate: [Python & CircuitPython | Adafruit Optical Fingerprint Sensor | Adafruit Learning System](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-optical-fingerprint-sensor/circuitpython)