The modern fingerprint sensors in smartphones are contact-only. You don't have to drag your finger across the sensor. It is usually placed in the front, on the side or at the rare of smartphones as a protruding sensor component just like the camera component. Hence, it is prone to damages just as much as the camera of smartphones. Following are some of the ways in which this fingerprint sensor can get damaged: When the smartphone is dropped and the fingerprint sensor makes an impact with the surface in contact: the sensor might get dents, scratches or completely broken leaving it useless unless it is repaired. When the smartphone is dropped in water: Unless the smartphone is water-resistant. Tampering, scratching or disassembling the smartphone without expertise. Could happen due to faulty hardware equipment within the smartphone. This is due to an internal issue. Could also happen due to a corrupt software which might render the fingerprint sensor unusable.