Galaxy S9 Eye Tracking: How to Use It

Yes, the Galaxy S9 has an eye tracking feature, but it is not a general-purpose cursor control. It is a hardware-based feature called Intelligent Scan that combines iris scanning and face recognition to unlock the phone, plus a separate software feature that keeps the screen on while you look at it. This article explains what eye tracking on the S9 actually does, how to set it up, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

What Eye Tracking on the Galaxy S9 Really Does

The Galaxy S9 has two distinct features that use your eyes:

• Intelligent Scan – This is the unlock method. It uses the front camera and an infrared iris scanner to recognize your eyes and face. It works in low light and is more secure than a simple face unlock because it checks the unique pattern of your iris.
• Smart Stay – This is a display feature. It uses the front camera to check if you are looking at the screen. If you are, the screen stays on; if you look away, it times out normally. This is not a cursor or gaze-tracking feature.

There is no feature on the S9 that moves a pointer or scrolls the page based on where you look. That kind of full eye tracking is not available on this phone.

How Intelligent Scan Works

Intelligent Scan combines two biometric methods:

• Iris scanning – A dedicated infrared camera and LED light map the unique patterns in your irises. This works even in complete darkness because it uses infrared light.
• Face recognition – The front camera takes a 2D image of your face and compares it to the stored data.

The phone tries both methods simultaneously. If either one matches, the phone unlocks. This makes it faster and more reliable than using iris scanning alone, which can fail if you wear glasses or if the phone is not held at the right angle.

How to Set Up Intelligent Scan

Follow these steps on your Galaxy S9:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Biometrics and security.
3. Tap Intelligent Scan.
4. Enter your PIN, pattern, or password.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions. You will need to look at the phone with your eyes open and hold it at a comfortable distance (about 20–35 cm).
6. Once registered, you can enable or disable it for unlocking the phone and for accessing secure folders.

If you have trouble, make sure the camera area is clean and that you are not in direct sunlight, which can interfere with the infrared sensor.

How to Use Smart Stay

Smart Stay is a separate feature that prevents the screen from turning off while you are reading or watching something. To enable it:

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap Advanced features.
3. Tap Motion and gestures.
4. Toggle Smart stay to on.

When it is on, the front camera checks periodically to see if your eyes are on the screen. If they are, the screen stays lit even if the display timeout is set to a short duration. If you look away, the screen will turn off after the normal timeout.

Common Problems and Fixes

Users often report the following issues:

• Intelligent Scan doesn’t work in bright sunlight. The infrared sensor can be overwhelmed by strong sunlight. Try covering the sensor area or use a different unlock method.
• Glasses or contact lenses cause failures. Iris scanning may not work with certain glasses (especially those with blue-light filter or anti-reflective coatings) or with contact lenses. Try removing them or repositioning the phone.
• Smart Stay doesn’t keep the screen on. Make sure the front camera is not blocked and that you are holding the phone at a normal angle. Also, Smart Stay only works if the screen is already on and the phone is not in a dark environment where the camera cannot see your eyes.
• Intelligent Scan is slow. This can happen if the phone is not held at the correct distance or if there is a lot of motion. Try holding it steady and closer to your face.

Comparison: Iris Scan vs. Face Unlock vs. Fingerprint

The Galaxy S9 offers three main biometric unlock methods:

• Iris scan – Most secure of the three, works in the dark, but requires you to hold the phone at eye level and look directly at it.
• Face recognition – Fast and convenient, but less secure because it can be fooled by a photo. Works best in good light.
• Fingerprint scanner – Fast and reliable, but requires you to touch the phone. The S9’s fingerprint sensor is located on the back, below the camera.

Intelligent Scan combines iris and face, giving you the security of iris scanning with the speed of face recognition. It is a good middle ground, but it still requires you to look at the phone, unlike the fingerprint scanner.

Security and Privacy Considerations

Iris scanning is considered more secure than face recognition because it is much harder to spoof. However, no biometric method is 100% secure. Samsung stores biometric data locally in a secure enclave, not in the cloud. You can always fall back to your PIN or password if the biometric fails. Be aware that in some countries, law enforcement may require you to unlock your phone with biometrics, but you cannot be forced to provide a password. This is a legal nuance, not a technical one.

Alternatives to Eye Tracking on the S9

If you want true eye tracking (e.g., to control a mouse or type with your eyes), the S9 does not support it natively. You would need an external eye tracker device that connects via USB or Bluetooth, but such devices are rare for phones. For accessibility, Samsung offers Switch Access and Voice Access in the Accessibility settings, which allow you to control the phone with switches or voice commands. These are more practical alternatives for users with limited mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Galaxy S9 have eye tracking for gaming?

No. The S9 does not have a feature that tracks your gaze for gaming or general cursor control. It only uses eye detection for Smart Stay and iris scanning for unlocking.

Can I use Smart Stay with the screen brightness set to low?

Yes, but if the screen is too dim, the camera may not be able to see your eyes clearly. Increase brightness or enable auto-brightness for best results.

Why does Intelligent Scan fail when I wear sunglasses?

Iris scanning uses infrared light, which is blocked by most sunglasses. You need to remove them or switch to a different unlock method.

Is iris scanning safe for my eyes?

Yes. The infrared LED used in the S9 is low power and is considered safe for the eyes. It is not a laser and does not cause damage. Samsung has implemented safeguards to prevent eye strain.

Can I use Intelligent Scan to unlock apps?

Yes, you can use it for the Secure Folder and for Samsung Pay (if your region supports it). However, for banking apps, you may need to use the fingerprint scanner or a PIN.

Does Smart Stay drain the battery?

It uses the front camera periodically, so it does consume a small amount of battery. If you notice significant battery drain, you can turn it off and rely on a longer screen timeout instead.

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