Unsurprisingly, Android 7.1.2 Nougat update was released first for Google's Pixel and Pixel XL phones as well as for the Nexus 5X and 6P but it's better to skip the OS bump for now. Reports said the new firmware will break the fingerprint functionality of the devices mentioned.

Pixel and Nexus users have been reporting that following the installation of 7.1.2 Nougat, the devices refused to be unlocked via the fingerprint sensor, Mashable reported. It appears that the biometric system on the devices just went haywire and users can only point to the latest OS update as the culprit.

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"The update also prevents users from registering new fingerprints as well; deleting old fingerprints doesn't seem to fix the issues," the report said.

Thankfully, it seems only the software side of the imprint sensors for the Pixel and Nexus handsets were crippled by the update as Android Police reported that the notifications moves gestures remain operational. Swiping down on the screen will still bring the notification panel, indicating that the update did not brick the devices' sensor mechanism.

Mashable said the issue is likely to be resolved by a new patch coming from Google but a schedule for update ort fix deployment is yet to be announced.

In the meantime, users are left to make do with the passcode system to protect their security and for optimal protection it is best to reconfigure the same system with the same recommending the use of longer passcode keys or more complex unlocking pattern.

And it goes without saying that with the fingerprint sensor out of order for now, purchases that go through Android Pay is out of the question for now.

As mentioned, self-repair so far proved futile in solving the problem. Per Android Police, attempts to refresh the system by deleting programmed fingerprints only led to further frustrations. "Error messages are preventing new prints from being added to the devices," the report said.