Fingerprint actuation is described for unlocking a mobile device and activating customized mobile device functions by using a fingerprint authentication technique. The mobile device uses a fingerprint sensor to authenticate a user for allowing secure access to certain mobile device functions or contents, and provides a utility in addition to unlocking the mobile device. This allows the user to control access to one or more mobile device functions concurrently with invoking fingerprint authentication in order to unlock the mobile device when the user presses a finger to the fingerprint sensor. The mobile device may be unlocked using a designated finger that activates a panic mode of operation, wherein personal data stored on the mobile device is not accessible or viewable to the user. In other implementations, the user may register particular fingerprints to be associated with different modes of operation and activate the different modes based on the particular fingerprints.