[Home](./index.md) > [@digitalpersona/devices](./devices.md) > [FingerprintReader](./devices.fingerprintreader.md) > [startAcquisition](./devices.fingerprintreader.startacquisition.md) ## FingerprintReader.startAcquisition() method Activate a fingerprint acquisition mode. This call will produce a [AcquisitionStarted](./devices.acquisitionstarted.md) event if activation was successful. After that the reader will wait for a finger placed on the reader. When a finger is placed, a [QualityReported](./devices.qualityreported.md) event will report a scan quality, and a [SamplesAcquired](./devices.samplesacquired.md) event will return a scanned sample in case of a successful scan. Signature: ```typescript startAcquisition(sampleFormat: SampleFormat, deviceUid?: string): Promise; ``` ## Parameters | Parameter | Type | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | sampleFormat | SampleFormat | | | deviceUid | string | | Returns: `Promise`