How to Set Up Fingerprint Attendance in Your Gym
Attendance codes are quick and need no hardware, but they have one weak spot: a code can be shared. A member tells a friend their four digits, and suddenly two people are training on one membership. Fingerprint attendance closes that gap. The member still types their code, then confirms it is really them by placing a finger on a small USB scanner at the front desk. This guide walks you through what you need, how to set it up with Strakly, and how to keep your members' fingerprint data safe.
How Fingerprint Check-In Works in Strakly
Fingerprint check-in is an extra step on top of the attendance code, not a replacement for it. The member enters their 4-digit code as usual. If they have a fingerprint registered, Strakly asks them to place their finger on the scanner and checks it against the fingerprint saved for that member. On a match they are marked present, and the visit is recorded as a fingerprint check-in.
Members without a registered fingerprint keep checking in with their code exactly as before, so you can roll it out gradually, starting with the members you are most worried about.
What You Need
Fingerprint check-in turned on for your gym: it is an optional add-on, not part of the standard plans. Contact Strakly and we will turn it on for your account.
A Windows PC at the front desk: Windows 10 or 11, the same PC you already use for Strakly.
The Strakly app for Windows: fingerprint check-in works in the desktop app only, not in a web browser, tablet or phone. Download it free from strakly.com/download.
A USB fingerprint scanner: Strakly supports the Mantra MFS100 and MFS110, which cost roughly ₹2,000 to ₹3,000. When you buy, ask for the version that comes with the developer SDK and client service, not the "Aadhaar RD service only" version.
Step 1: Install the Scanner on Your PC
Install the driver and the MFS100 client service from Mantra's website or the CD that came with the scanner. The client service is the small background program that lets Strakly talk to the scanner, so don't skip it.
Restart the PC after installing, then plug the scanner into a USB port. Its light should come on.
Step 2: Open the Strakly Windows App
Install the Strakly app for Windows if you haven't already, sign in with your normal Strakly account, and go to Attendance. If the scanner and its service are working, there is nothing else to configure. If Strakly says the fingerprint service is not running or the scanner is not connected, see the troubleshooting section below.
Step 3: Register Members' Fingerprints
Open the member's profile in the Windows app. In the Fingerprint section, click Register.
Ask the member for their consent, then tick the consent box. Strakly will not let you scan without it.
Choose a finger (the right index finger is the default) and click Start scanning. The member places the same finger on the scanner three times, lifting it between scans. Strakly checks that each scan is clear enough and that all three match, and asks for a rescan if one doesn't.
Click Save fingerprint. You can register a second finger as a backup, in case of a cut or bandage on the first one.
Tip: ask members to press firmly and cover the whole scanner window. Dry or very dusty fingers scan poorly, so a quick wipe of the finger and the scanner glass helps.
Step 4: Check Members In
At the front desk the member types their code as usual. Strakly shows their name, then asks them to scan their finger. Press Enter or click Scan, and the member places their finger on the scanner.
If the fingerprint matches, they are checked in. If it doesn't, they can try again up to three times. After that, staff can check the member's identity and use Staff override, which is recorded as a manual check-in so you can review it later.
Step 5 (Optional): Make Fingerprints Required
By default, staff can still check a registered member in with just their code. To stop that, the gym owner can turn on Require Fingerprint in Settings > General. Members with a registered fingerprint then can't check in on their code alone; they need a fingerprint match or a staff override. Members without a fingerprint are not affected.
You can also choose which managers and cashiers may register or delete fingerprints, under the Fingerprints permission on each staff member's Permissions tab.
Keeping Fingerprint Data Safe
Fingerprints are personal data, so Strakly is careful with them. A fingerprint image is never stored, only a template: a set of points that can be matched against a new scan but can't be turned back into a picture of the finger. Templates are encrypted on our servers and are never shown in member profiles, exports or reports.
Consent is recorded when a fingerprint is registered. A member's fingerprints are deleted automatically when they leave your gym, and staff can delete them at any time from the member's profile, for example when a member asks. Members who don't want to register a fingerprint simply keep using their code.
Troubleshooting
"The fingerprint service is not running": open Windows Services, find the Mantra MFS100 service and start it, or reinstall the client service and restart the PC.
"The fingerprint scanner is not connected": unplug the scanner and plug it into another USB port, preferably directly on the PC rather than through a hub.
"Scan quality is too low": clean the scanner glass and the finger, and press a little harder. Very dry fingers scan better after touching the forehead or a slightly damp cloth.
A member is often rejected: register their fingerprint again, or add a backup finger. Scanning the same finger the same way each time makes matching more reliable.
The Bottom Line
Fingerprint attendance stops shared codes and proxy check-ins for the price of a ₹2,000-₹3,000 scanner, with no turnstile or biometric machine to buy. Set it up once on your front-desk PC, register members as they come in, and turn on Require Fingerprint when you're ready. Download the Strakly app for Windows from strakly.com/download to get started.