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The Nexus 5X has a fingerprint scanner located at the back, which can be used to unlock your phone. Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

You can now use your fingerprint to purchase apps from Google Play*

*Provided you’re lucky enough to have access to Android Marshmallow.

IT HASN’T BEEN long since the latest update to Android began rolling out – when it will arrive will depend on the kind of device you have – but while you wait, there are some features worth looking forward to.

One of the features included with Android 6.0 Marshmallow is fingerprint scanning as standard, meaning you can use it instead of a password for authentication.

Not only is it useful for those wanting to unlock their phone quickly – which it does a good job of so far – but it can now be used to verify purchases on the Google Play store.

Of course, you need a Marshmallow-powered phone to do this (the only ones that include fingerprint scanning so far are Google’s own devices, the Nexus 5X and 6P) but if your phone updates to Marshmallow anytime soon, you can activate it by going into settings and scrolling down to user controls.

Fingerprint authentication will be an option found under user controls so tick it and enter your password to activate it.

Google Play fingerprint

That said, it’s taken Google a bit of time to catch up to this trend. iOS users have had the same functionality ever since Touch ID arrived on the iPhone 5s two years ago, and the official rollout will be slower since you’ll likely need a new device to take advantage of it, but still, better late than never.

Read: Not using widgets? Then you’re missing out on one of your phone’s handiest feature >

Read:  How do you go from stock images to showcasing at the biggest tech event in the world? >

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15 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SCO Electrical
    Favourite SCO Electrical
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:28 AM

    No more In App Purchases while I’ve me Marigolds on so…

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute JohnAbbs
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:30 AM

    That little Chip in the hand yet another step closer.

    One also must remember that Google’s birthday falls on the 27th September.

    27 is the reduced value of 666+666+666.

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:34 AM

    666+666+666=1998 according to Android Calculator… but that is Google developed. Maybe the answer IS 27…..

    14
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    Mute JohnAbbs
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:43 AM

    Reduce it further 1+9+9+8 = 27

    10
    See 8 more replies ▾
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    Mute David Fortune
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:46 AM

    Reduce it even further, 2+7 = 9, turn that upside down and it’s 6, say that 3 times and you get 666. Proof that Google is Satan. Checkmate atheists.

    21
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    Mute John Judd
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:53 AM

    Oh no the trolls and conspiracy theorists !

    5
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    Mute SCO Electrical
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:58 AM

    Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice

    16
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    Mute JohnAbbs
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    Oct 26th 2015, 11:07 AM

    27 like 13 and other significant numbers should not be reduced to their single digit values.

    777+777+777. = 2331>2+3+3+1=9

    Beatles wrote Revolution 9 that lasted 9 minutes precisely .

    When multiplied 9 always reproduces itself ( 9 x 5 = 4 + 5 = 9)

    3
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    Mute JohnAbbs
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    Oct 26th 2015, 11:08 AM

    A dead beetle was found in John Lennon’s coffin.

    4
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    Mute Chief
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    Oct 26th 2015, 11:21 AM

    I hope you’re happy Frank!!!!

    5
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Oct 26th 2015, 4:24 PM

    Welcome back Frank. How many accounts is that now……..13?

    2
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    Mute JohnAbbs
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:36 PM

    13

    reduced

    1
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    Mute Eleanor
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    Oct 26th 2015, 10:46 AM

    no thanks

    19
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    Mute fuve
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    Oct 26th 2015, 2:43 PM

    What a sneaky way to get fingerprints of people all over world without asking them. No way.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute MrsWoman
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    Oct 26th 2015, 1:29 PM

    Ah here. My phone only updated to Lollipop recently. Pffffffth

    4
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